John Lundstram’s stunner seals victory for lacklustre Rangers at Ross County

John Lundstram’s first-half strike gave Rangers a 1-0 Scottish Premiership win over Ross County but it was a far from sparkling performance from Michael Beale’s side. After two exciting 3-2 comeback wins over Hibernian and Aberdeen in Beale’s first two games as the new Rangers manager, it was a less eventful match in Dingwall.

The midfielder Lundstram scored what proved to be the winner in the 35th minute of a stodgy performance which made it three wins out of three for the former Rangers assistant coach, who will be pleased with the clean sheet if not the overall display.

Rangers moved back to within six points of the leaders, Celtic – who host St Johnstone on Saturday – but Beale will have been reminded that there is lots of work to be done if they are to stop their Old Firm rivals retaining the title.

Beale said: “I thought we were comfortable without being clinical, that is probably the nice way to put it. Look, we were tired. It is the end of a long week, two long travels and we’re just delighted to get down the road with three points. I think, importantly for the group, it is the clean sheet.

“I thought some of the domination in terms of having possession of the ball was quite good. At times we didn’t recognise that we could run behind and that was an area we can improve.

“The actual approach play to get there I was pleased with. We know we are a work in progress, we know that the most important thing is to keep winning and as we keep winning you will see players come back.”

Allan McGregor, the first-choice goalkeeper, was missing with illness, replaced by Jon McLaughlin, while James Sands, Ryan Jack and Alfredo Morelos dropped to the bench. Ben Davies, Scott Arfield and Lundstram came into the starting lineup.

County, with Connor Randall, the captain, Keith Watson, and David Cancola back in the side – Jack Baldwin was suspended after his weekend red card against St Johnstone – worked hard to stifle the visitors from the start. Rangers, with Lundstram initially dropping back between Connor Goldson and Davies to start attacking moves, took control of possession but struggled to penetrate.

The first clearcut chance of the game came for the home side in the 19th minute and they should have scored. Jordan Tillson’s looping cross from the right to the back post found George Harmon but his header from four yards was blocked by the quick reactions of McLaughlin.

Moments later, the visiting defence was again breached and this time Owura Edwards sent a shot wide from a tight angle.

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However, a moment of quality from Lundstram broke the deadlock and ultimately proved decisive. The Zambian striker Fashion Sakala squared the ball to the midfielder who had time and space 20 yards out to send a well-struck left-footed drive low past Ross Laidlaw in the home goal.

Rangers were no more fluid or cohesive at the start of the second half although it took a good save from Laidlaw in the 54th minute to foil Sakala, who was set up by the young full-back Adam Devine. It was the last notable action from Sakala before he was replaced by Morelos, who soon had an effort on goal fly wide.

Jack and Rabbi Matondo took over from Arfield and Malik Tillman, and Rangers continued to dominate possession but a second goal did not appear imminent. The visitors did ultimately have a chance to settle it in added time only for Laidlaw to thwart Matondo in a one-on-one battle. However, the points remained Ibrox-bound.