It’s match day! Game 1 of 38 as we begin all over again. Another season, another title chase and more anxiety, excitement and stress to come!
But we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Season 5 for this platform and excited to see more possibilities and more coverage of the club on the platform, bringing us to Livingston today. It’s a must win, we have to start well and 3pts is a must, but what’s new here at Rangers!
The big team news?!… Jon McLaughlin starts in goals as Rangers number 1 and a huge call which has dominated fan discussion this summer. In my humble opinion for how we play, it’s the right one to make but one which will be huge for the manager.
McLaughlin, Tavernier, Barisic, Souttar, Goldson, Kamara, Lundstram, Lawrence, Wright, Kent, Čolak
Subs – McGregor, Jack, Davis, Sands, Fashion JR, Arfield, King, Devine, Tillman
Good luck to the team!
First half action –
1 mins – Quick start down right, Wright and Tav combine to fire across goal but no takers
4 mins – GOAL Livingston. Atrocious from Rangers as a long ball and flick on gives Nouble chance to lift it over McLaughlin. Woeful from Barisic and Souttar who stood static.
17 mins – 📒 Kamara caution on Nouble
24 mins – 📒 Cancar caution on Wright – Lawrence drives over from fk.
26 mins – 📒 Goldson caution on Nouble. From the FK Obileye has a free header on goal which McLaughlin saves.
43 mins – 📒 Souttar caution on Nouble.
44 mins – 📒 Kelly caution for kicking ball away. Lawrence drives over from FK
Half time – Livi 1 Rangers 0
Dreadful. Awful goal to concede, long ball, flick shot. Souttar caught day dreaming and now must be a candidate to be subbed at half time. Scott Wright has looked bright but no shots on target a reflection on our performance.
One remarkable moment, Cancar on a caution catches Scott Wright high and an obvious second caution. The official Don Robertson tells him to calm down in a chat with his captain and he is immediately subbed off by Livi. Appalling officiating.
Second half action
HT substitution – Scott Wright off Malik Tillman on
49 mins – Tavernier shot, saved. First effort on target
53 mins – Brilliant ball in by Kent burried by Čolak but offside, brilliant header. Poor decision and that should count.
56 mins – CHANCE! Tillman tests Gk after Borna deep cross hits bar and comes out.
60 mins – CHANCE! Tillman volleys wide from Tavs cross.
64 mins – Just wide as Lundstram wips a left foot shot just wide
65 mins – 📒 Livi gk George cautioned for time wasting.
SUBSTITUTIONS – Sands and Arfield on, Souttar and Kamara off
66 mins – Kent cross to Tav and across face of goal, we just can’t score.
68 mins – Tavernier drills over
72 mins – GOOOAAAALLLL! Equaliser! Arfield steers a beautiful header in from a lovely Kent cross. 1-1!
73 mins – GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL! TAVERNIER! Wonderful free kick powered in and Rangers lead! 1-2!
Full time – Livingston 1 Rangers 2
Wonderful result for Rangers in a game I really worried we weren’t going to find a way through. Times we created in second, hit bar then missed rebound but eventually found a way. Ryan Kents whipped cross beautifully headed in by Arfield and wonderful equaliser.
Then a minute later Tavernier lashes in a brilliant free kick and Rangers never looked back.
Game one and it must be said officiating got two big calls wrong, Livi should have been down to ten and a goal wrongly ruled offside, it felt like one of those days.
But credit to Gio, subs were big and made the difference. Sands very strong and Tillman a baller
Rangers win, 37 games to go!
Four Lads Had A Dream 