Dominant Rangers backed up their Champions League bonanza by banking another three points as they moved top of the Premiership for 24 hours at least.
Gio van Bronckhorst ’s team we’re fresh from securing a £40million windfall by qualifying for the group stages as they welcomed Malky Mackay ’s team to Ibrox. Ajax, Liverpool and Napoli will follow in the weeks to come as the bright lights of Europe’s top tournament shine down on Govan. But domestic matters are just as vital to the Light Blues and they made sure to avoid repeating last week’s Easter Road slippage by sweeping past the Staggies.
Antonio Colak made it six goals in as many games as he followed up John Lundstram’s deflected opener. Substitute Steven Davis added the fourth mate on as Rangers dominated start to finish against a side with just one win in five league games so far.
It was a bright start from Van Bronckhorst’s team as Ryan Kent swept just wide inside two minutes. Connor Goldson was almost the unlikely scorer from open play as the centre back carried on his run into the box to meet a James Tavernier cross but Ross Laidlaw produced a vital block for County.
Tom Lawrence saw a deflected shot creep wide before Goldson had a penalty claim turned away after tumbling at the feet of Callum Johnson in the box.
But Gers offensive surges were offering the visitors hope on the break and there were hearts in mouths round Ibrox as Sands, already on a booking, tangled with Yan Dhanda while left one on one at the back, with both ending in a heap. To Gers’ relief ref Don Robertson waved away Malky McKay’s appeals for a foul and a red.
Laidlaw was again County’s saviour as he blocked two efforts from Malik Tillman. But the resistance could only last so long and the opener came in 24 minutes.
Dhanda failed to wipe out Tillman on half way and Rangers explored the space the American was driving into as Kent fed Lundstram, who swept home with a helpful nick off Ben Purrington’s head.
The lead was doubled seven minutes before the break as Colak continued his red hot start to life in Glasgow, doing brilliantly to hook home while falling backwards after Scott Wright had skinned Purrington for the umpteenth time.
Only the crossbar prevented Tavernier wrapping up an utterly one-sided first period as he thudded a header from Kent’s deep cross against the woodwork.
The relentless pressure on the Staggies goal continued into the second half. Purrington had to head clear off the line as Kent took aim at the top corner after some penalty box pinball.
But there was no stopping a move that was as slick as it was sharp as Rangers sliced through Ross County after some one touch stuff involving Kent and Lawrence, with Colak again the expert executioner as he rifled into the top corner on 58 minutes.
There was no hat-trick for the Croatian as he was replaced with 20 minutes left but the man who took his place did seal the with 10 minutes from time as Davis cooly slotted home from a Tavernier ball from out in the right.
Colak shrugs off Morelos
Antonio Colak jus can’t stop scoring right now. The Croatian was signed to provide competition for Alfredo Morelos but it’s doubtful the controversial Colombian would be able to oust his strike rival right now even if he was still in his manager’s good books. It was two more expert finishes from the former Malmo ace, first keeping his eye on the target even as he slipped over to finish off from a Scott Wright cross. And it was even more emphatic as he rammed home the third just before the hour mark. It was his goal that sealed Rangers’ Champions League slot and he fully deserves to lead the team into the group stages.
A battle at the back
Connor Goldson has been an ever present for Rangers this season but the same can’t be said for his defensive partners. Having already chalked up three different sidekicks this term he got a fourth at the start of the second half as Leon King replaced the injured James Sands. The Ibrox academy kid has had to hide his time this term but if he had any nerves coming on at the break he didn’t show it, coming through his 45 minute run out with maturity and composure. GVB still has John Souttar and Ben Davies to return but King deserves a run out with Queen of the South visit on Tuesday.
Sands red card?
Malky McKay was left frustrated this week after seeing Callachan and Jack Baldwin retrospectively banned for challenges in last week’s clash with Kilmarnock but his ire with the officials will be at an all together more furious level now after seeing referee Don Robertson fail to send off James Sands midway through the first half with the game goalless. Already on a booking, the America then appeared to for dragging down Jordy Hiwula but got away Scot free as Robertson waved play on. It’s an incident VAR would certainly have corrected but that’s cold comfort to County.
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