Ross County 0 Rangers 2 – Michael Beale post match reaction

Scottish Premiership match day 3

Ross County vs Rangers 26/08/2023

Team news:

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Raskin, Cantwell, Lammers, Roofe, Dessers. 

Subs: McCrorie, Jack, Lawrence, Cifuentes, Matondo, Sima, Sterling, Balogun, Danilo.

Kemar Roofe makes his return to the starting eleven in one of three changes, John Lundstram and Sam Lammers are the other two starters. Dropping out are Ryan Jack, Abdallah Sima and Jose Cifuentes.

Having slipped up away from home in game one, there is even more pressure today, anything less than a win is unthinkable.

Match action below 👇🏻

Match Action – First half

8 mins – Two loose balls across by Lammers and then Goldson giving County a corner and half chances.

9 mins – CHANCE! Roofe cross and Dessers heads down and at Laidlaw who keeps it out with his feet.

From the corner it bounces around before Dessers heads over.

11 mins – Baldwin cautioned for foul on Cantwell 📒

16 mins – Raskin cross is headed towards goal by Lammers but easy save from Laidlaw.

22 mins – GOOOOAAAALLLL!

Barisic corner volleyed in by Roofe!

Huge moment as Harry Watling out roaring at Tav to get away from the corner, Borna takes it to assist again.

0-1 ROOFE!

26 mins – GOOOOAAAAALLL!

0-2

HE’S JAMES TAVERNIER!

What a goal by the skipper as he pounces and drives forward before curling a beauty into the top corner!

28 mins – Almost a third a Dessers drives at goal and Laidlaw parries it out.

30 mins – Cantwell shot is deflected over as it loops up.

Rangers knocking it about well now. Tails are up.

45 mins – Magic from Lammers and his deep effort clawed away for a corner, almost a third!

HALF TIME – Ross County 0 Rangers 2

Well in control and another kills off this game, up to Rangers to do that and ensure no nerves in second half.

Two good goals, Tavs a moment of beauty. County pushed first ten but nothing much created then been all Rangers. Pressing well and you can start to see little combinations as players get more confident.

Good so far 👏🏻

Second Half action –

46 mins – Caution Loturi 📒

47 mins – CHANCE! Jordan White with a sitter, completely free, heads over and Rangers get away with one.

60 mins – Double Sub – OFF Lammers, Roofe, ON Sima and Matondo

67 mins – STRIKE! Matondo drives inside and fires a shot which is tipped over. Great effort.

70 mins – SAVE! Borna and Matondo combine and Sima’s effort is saved by Laidlaw and scrambled wide for a corner.

Double sub – OFF Cantwell, Dessers, ON Lawrence and Danilo

77 mins – CHANCE! Ball comes back to Lundstram but he rolls a tame effort wide.

82 mins – CHANCE! Sima and Danilo combine and Danilo’s effort well saved by Laidlaw.

83 mins – Sub OFF Raskin, ON Jack

84 mins – CHANCE! Perfect ball by Lundstram and Matondo is in, across face of goal and Sima can’t tap in. Matondo should take that chance.

87 mins – DEFENDING! Sima with a great defensive clearance as County have a FK wide.

90 mins – Caution Lundstram 📒

90mins – SAVE! Butland saves a low White effort.

Full Time – Ross County 0 Rangers 2

Good strong first half from Rangers with two excellent goals, a welcomed Goal return for Kemar Roofe and a moment of beauty by James Tavernier.

The second was more disciplined and hitting on the transition which Rangers done well but should have added more. Butland largely untroubled during the ninety however a number of great catches throughout, the difference in last year’s keeping position is huge, without being critical of Allan McGregor.

Borna Barisic really impressive at left back and another assist, John Souttar defended well and all in all a very efficient performance. That spell in first half enough to rightly secure the points.