Late burst gives Rangers big win over Livingston
Matondo #Matondo
Kieran Dowell scored the pick of Rangers’ goals in 90th minute
Three late goals gave Rangers a comfortable win over Livingston and their first three Scottish Premiership points of the campaign.
Sam Lammers struck on the rebound early on after Todd Cantwell’s cross had been pushed away by Shamal George.
Andrew Shinnie twice tested goalkeeper Jack Butland as Livingston pressed for parity after the break.
But Danilo’s tidy header from a Borna Barisic cross, Abdallah Sima’s close-range finish and Kieran Dowell’s stunning strike meant four players in total got their first Rangers goals.
Lammers came into the game having missed an excellent chance to put Rangers three up during Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Servette but atoned for that with his opener and Jose Cifuentes thought he too had a first Rangers goal at a corner. The Ecuadorian went for a header, got the break of the ball and slammed home but VAR ruled the effort out for handball against the midfielder.
Cyriel Dessers headed over in the first half and had an effort deflected over in the second, with Danilo drawing a save from Shamal George in another Rangers attack.
The two Shinnie chances – a deflected shot at a corner and another low effort from the left – gave Livi hope and home boss Michael Beale sent on Rabbi Matondo and Abdallah Sima for Lammers and Dessers, meaning Danilo moved to a more familiar central striking role.
Matondo set up Sima, who was denied by George and then Danilo got his moment with a downward header. Sima forced home at a corner after Danilo had hit the post and Dowell swept past George at the end of an enterprising Matondo run.
Player of the match – Jose Cifuentes
Though unable to mark his Rangers debut with a goal, Jose Cifuentes can reflect on a solid first start in a Rangers jerseyDanilo shift aids Rangers performance – analysis
A theme of Rangers’ pre- and early season matches has been one of a team still gelling. This performance showed more familiarity with summer signings Cifuentes and Lammers linking up with more established players like Cantwell.
The forward area, though, is still a work in progress with several attacks breaking down at the crucial moment but looking more assured when Danilo moved through the middle with wingers either side. Ultimately, the result was the most important thing for Rangers following last week’s opening loss at Kilmarnock.
Livingston kept themselves in the game and but for a John Souttar interception may have found themselves in for a leveller after the Shinnie efforts.
Scoring on the road was a problem for Livi last season and that still needs addressed, particularly if they are to push into the top six come May.
What’s next?
Rangers take their 2-1 lead to Switzerland for Tuesday’s Champions League third qualifying round decider, with the match live on BBC Scotland and BBC iPlayer. Greenock Morton at home in the Viaplay Cup follows for the Ibrox side on Saturday, when Livingston host Ayr United in the second round.
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Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number5Player nameSouttar
Squad number27Player nameBalogun
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number15Player nameCifuentes
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number14Player nameLammers
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Squad number99Player nameDanilo
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number17Player nameMatondo
Squad number19Player nameSima
Squad number20Player nameDowell
Squad number21Player nameSterling
Livingston
Squad number1Player nameGeorge
Squad number23Player nameDe Lucas
Squad number6Player nameObileye
Squad number5Player nameDevlin
Squad number12Player nameBrandon
Squad number20Player nameSangare
Squad number18Player nameHolt
Squad number22Player nameShinnie
Squad number3Player nameCristian Montaño
Squad number10Player nameKelly
Squad number19Player nameNouble
Squad number11Player nameMackay
Squad number16Player nameBradley
Squad number21Player nameNottingham
Squad number28Player nameGuthrie
Squad number29Player namePenrice
Line-upsRangers
Formation 4-3-1-2
1Butland
2Tavernier5Souttar27Balogun31Barisic
15Cifuentes43Raskin14Lammers
13Cantwell
9Dessers99Pereira da Silva
Substitutes
Livingston
Formation 3-5-2
1George
23De Lucas6Obileye5Devlin
12Brandon20Sangare18Holt22Shinnie3Montaño
10Kelly19Nouble
Substitutes
Referee:Don Robertson
Attendance:49,320
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 4, Livingston 0.
Second Half ends, Rangers 4, Livingston 0.
Attempt blocked. Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danilo.
Goal! Rangers 4, Livingston 0. Kieran Dowell (Rangers) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Rabbi Matondo.
Attempt saved. Michael Devlin (Livingston) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andrew Shinnie with a cross.
Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Rabbi Matondo (Rangers).
Andrew Shinnie (Livingston) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Livingston. Conceded by Abdallah Sima.
Substitution, Livingston. Steven Bradley replaces Joel Nouble.
Offside, Rangers. Kieran Dowell tries a through ball, but Danilo is caught offside.
Goal! Rangers 3, Livingston 0. Abdallah Sima (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Danilo (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by James Penrice.
Attempt blocked. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Michael Devlin (Livingston) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Michael Devlin (Livingston).
Substitution, Rangers. John Lundstram replaces Nicolas Raskin.
Substitution, Rangers. Dujon Sterling replaces José Cifuentes.