SEVILLE remains the watchword at Ibrox as the Europa League final next week looms large in the minds of Rangers supporters, players and staff alike.
But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side, packed with experience, refused to lose focus on domestic matters as they strolled to success in Glasgow.
It would be forgivable with a European trophy up for grabs next week if minds wandered from the task at hand, but Rangers were ultra-professional as they took another step towards the Europa League final with a comfortable triumph over Ross County.
Some among the Rangers support might’ve already been in Seville with beach balls and sombrero’s scattered around the stands. And so relaxed was Allan McGregor in goal that he may as well have been lounging on a sunbed in Spain for most of the match rather than trying to keep warm with little action all night other than once collecting the ball from the net.
The veteran keeper was one of seven changes made by Van Bronckhorst as he again shuffled his pack in the build-up to both the Europa League final and Scottish Cup final later this month.
In also came Calvin Bassey, John Lundstram, Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Alex Lowry and Ryan Kent.
There were suggestions in the run-up to kick-off that key players be sat out to avoid any injuries, but Van Bronckhorst named a strong side to take on the Staggies. Ultimately it paid off with three points, four goals – and most importantly – no injuries.
Malky Mackay also switched his side for the trip to Glasgow as his side looked to push for a European spot in the top-half after an incredible turnaround from a dire start to the season – but ultimately they fell short.
Perhaps with one eye on the home match against Dundee United which could’ve proved pivotal, Regan Charles-Cook and Jordan White dropped out with Joeseph Hungbo and Dominic Samuel among the four players coming back into the starting line-up.
From the first-minute there was a calmness around Ibrox with the match very quickly taking shape in attack versus defence for the hosts as they dominated the ball for the majority of the 90 minutes.
The visitors were firm in their game plan and were rooted to their 18-yard box essentially from the first whistle.
But with so much of the ball, Rangers were always going to create, and in the first-period they did it in abundance. Joe Aribo was the first to try his luck after five minutes when he took aim for the bottom corner, but a deflection saw his effort bounce wide of the target.
Three minutes later and Rangers should’ve been ahead. Aribo again was finding pockets of space in the County rearguard as he jinked down the right of the box, muscled clear of a desperate challenge and lay off on a plate for John Lundstram; but the midfielder’s effort was straight at Ross Laidlaw who saved well with his chest.
With 12 minutes on the clock Rangers began to turn the screw again, this time Kent burst into the box from the left flank to fizz a ball across the face of goal, Kamara collected and set for Tavernier who watched his deflected effort spiral out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Rangers would go ahead. Barisic floated to the front post where Connor Goldson flicked on for Scott Wright to turn home with a first-time effort.
The restart brought little respite for County who were immediately back under pressure as Rangers went on the hunt for a second. If ever there was a demonstration of Rangers domination it should be the link up play between Tavernier and Goldson in the opposition box. The centre-back strolled into the box and crossed before Tavernier went down under pressure from Jack Baldwin prompting faint appeals for a penalty. Andrew Dallas waved play on, but just before the half-hour he would point to the spot.
Tavernier exchanged passes with Lowry before driving to the byline where he was fouled by a clumsy Alex Iacovitti sliding challenge. The Rangers skipper stepped up and duly dispatched his 18th goal in all competitions.
For all the Rangers dominance, Ross County were stubborn in defence and did their best to pack the box and put their bodies on the line to keep themselves in the match.
Baldwin did exactly that five minutes from the break as he threw himself in front of a Joe Aribo effort which looked destined for the net.
Two minutes later Goldson should’ve made it three as he was again free from a set-piece as he pounced on a ball which made it through to the backpost, but he could only hook over the bar.
Van Bronckhorst made use of his bench in the second-half as he offered minutes to Leon Balogun, Amad Diallo, Steven Davis, Scott Arfield and Fashion Sakala.
But for the width of the post Balogun would’ve extended Rangers’ lead seven minutes after the break as his towering header struck the base of the post before being cleared.
Moments later, stunning blocks from Iacovitti and Keith Watson were required to deny Lowry and Kent as they slammed goalwards.
County were severely limited in attacking opportunities, but when sub White had a sight of goal, he made no mistake. With 72 minutes on the clock the powerful forward curled a sublime shot into the top corner to somewhat dampen the party atmosphere inside Ibrox.
There was little threat of ending the carnival mood among the Rangers support with the goal coming despite huge swathes of Rangers possession and pressure.
And sub Sakala would restore the hosts’ two-goal cushion eight minutes from time. Tavernier was again involved as he delivered an inviting cross from a corner where the Zambian striker was on hand to power home a diving header.
Diallo would put the icing on the cake into stoppage time as Ibrox erupted into noise on the back of another good win as the winger fired home a tap-in at the far post from a Calvin Bassey cross.
