Two quick-fire second half goals condemned Livingston to an opening day defeat as they went down 2-1 at home to Rangers.
The hosts were remarkable for the opening 45 minutes and fully deserved their half-time lead, brought about by Joel Nouble's dinked effort over Jon McLaughlin on five minutes.
But the all-energy defensive stubbornness wasn't replicated after the break and there was an air of inevitability about it all when the Gers bagged two goals in the space of two minutes. Firstly, Scott Arfield glanced a header across goal from a Ryan Kent cross on 73 minutes before the skipper James Tavernier rifled a free-kick home from the edge of the box barely two minutes later to complete the turnaround.
Livingston boss David Martindale handed a debut to keeper Shamal George, while Nouble was given the nod in the lone striker's role.
And the 26-year-old got his afternoon off to the perfect start as he opened the scoring on five minutes. George's long free-kick was flicked on by skipper Nicky Devlin with the Englishman making the most of some static defending to delicately loft the ball over McLaughlin and into the far corner for his first goal in Livi colours.
The visitors, predictably, controlled much of the ball but they did precious little with it as they struggled to break down the organised hosts. Tom Lawrence tried his luck form 25 yards but fired over with perhaps their best opportunity in the opening half-hour.
Livi, on the contrary, looked a threat every time they were able to get into the opposition half with both Glen Kamara and Connor Goldson being booked for rash challenges on Nouble when the attacker looked to get in behind the Gers defence.
The Lions could have doubled their advantage just before the 30-minute mark but Ayo Obileye was only able to direct a free header into the arms of Jon McLaughlin.
Martindale smartly made a change just before the break as Aussie youngster Phillip Cancar looked a serious contender for a sending-off following a couple of poor challenges when already booked. Cristian Montano replaced him on the left-side of the back four.
Rangers noticeably had a faster tempo to their game at the start of the second half and could have been on level terms twice within the opening 10 minutes. Antonio Colak was ruled to have been offside when he nodded home a Ryan Kent cross before George pulled off a brilliant double save by first tipping Borna Barisic's effort onto the post before denying substitute Malik Tillman from point blank range with the rebound.
Livi's resolve was finally broken 17 minutes from time when Ryan Kent was able to turn inside Devlin with his delivery flicked into the far corner by Scott Arfield. And it wouldn't be long before Rangers turned the game around with James Tavernier unleashing an arrowed free-kick beyond George from 20 yards two minutes later.
Martindale introduced Bruce Anderson instantly after seeing his side fall behind in a bid to get back on level terms. They would have the ball in the net nine minutes from time as Obileye bundled home from a Devlin throw-in only for a free-kick to have been spotted by the officials.
It would be the Lions only other sniff at goal as the Ibrox side comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to start the season with three points.
Livingston: George; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Cancar (Montano 34); Holt, Kelly, Omeonga; Pittman, Shinnie (Anderson 76); Nouble. Subs not used: Konovalov, Longridge, Bahamboula, Brandon, Mullin, Bitsindou.
Goal: Nouble (5).
Rangers: McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar (Sands 67), Barisic; Kamara (Arfield 67), Lundstram, Lawrence (Jack 84); Wright (Tillman 45), Colak, Kent. Subs not used: McGregor, Davis, Sakala, King, Devine.
Goals: Arfield (73), Tavernier (74).
