James Tavernier was yet again Rangers’ man on the spot as he slotted home his 50th career penalty as Michael Beale’s team tucked into another three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
A sensational free-kick from the Ibrox captain then doubled Gers’ lead before substitute Kemar Roofe made it the perfect preparation for next weekend’s Viaplay Cup final clash with Celtic with a late third. The result handed Beale a 13th win from 14 in charge but the Light Blues didn’t need luck to stroll to their seventh win in their last eight trips to West Lothian.
While Gers remain nine points behind Ange Postecoglou’s Premiership leaders, the result could have dire consequences for the Lions - who had Stephane Omega sent-off late on - and their European ambitions after they dropped two places to sixth. Beale had insisted he would ignore the looming prospect of next week’s Hampden clash and send out his strongest team to face Davie Martindale’s men.
John Lundstram and Ryan Jack were always expected to miss out through injury but there were eyebrows raised as key man Malik Tillman’s name dropped off the team-sheet entirely. The Bayern Munich loanee, it turns out, is nursing calf and hamstring knocks so was not risked on the Almondvale astro.
Martindale’s side were looking to protect their place in fourth after seeing their Scottish Cup hopes ended in unexpected fashion by Inverness. Martindale made two changes to the side stunned by the Highlanders as former Ibrox kid Stephen Kelly and Omeonga returned in place of Jason Holt and Bruce Anderson.
Gers thought they’d snatched an early lead nine minutes in as Fashion Sakala turned home an Alfredo Morelos cross but the Zambian really should have done better to hold his run and it was an easy call for linesman Drew Kirkland to put his flag up for offside.
It was the visitors who struck first 25 minutes in - but only after another ridiculously lengthy VAR review. After what must have been a three-minute hold-up Andrew Dallas eventually opted to send ref David Dickenson to the screen and he agreed James Penrice had taken a fistful of Alfredo Morelos’ jersey as the Colombian chased a Ryan Kent cross to the back post.
Skipper Tavernier sent Livi keeper George the wrong way as he cooly slotted Rangers into the lead for his 11th goal of the season. Penrice might have made amends soon after but failed to connect with a teasing ball to the back post.
After a stop-start first half, Dickinson added six minutes of injury time but the best Gers could muster was a 20-yard Morelos drive that smashed into the roof of the stand behind George. Sakala was closer with the first opening of the second period but saw George parry away his fierce drive.
Livi had to be patient while waiting for opportunities to venture into the Light Blues box. But when they did, Stephen Kelly was guilty of rushing his shot as he skewed horribly wide from a Nicky Devlin cross.
George had his timing spot on though as he rushed from his line to block just as Kent burst clear looking to double Rangers’ advantage.
Kemar Roofe was introduced for Sakala with 20 minutes remaining and almost pounced for an immediate impact as he flashed just beyond the far post. Just as Martindale’s men were building some momentum in their chase for an equaliser, the game was taken away from them as Omeonga - on a first-half booking - collected a second for a trip on Roofe.
From the set-piece, Tavernier whipped home a stunning set-piece strike to seal the win for Beale. The fight had gone out of the home side and there was no resistance as Roofe added a third with five minutes remaining, firing home at the second attempt as Borna Barisic delivered a free-kick to the back post.
With the win secured, Rangers could afford to hand a late debut to 16-year-old midfielder Bailey Rice. Here's three talking points from west Lothian.
Livi latest to pay the Tavernier penalty
The Celtic faithful have christened him Tav-Pen but the Rangers faithful snaking round three sides of the Tony Macaroni were just pleased to see a return to form for their skipper.
It’s been a difficult campaign for the right-back, with fitness issues dogging him all year. There were times even today when he did not look totally comfortable.
But from 12 yards the Ibrox captain is normally at his coolest and showed it again as he slotted home the 50th penalty of his career to put the Light Blues in front. Tavernier had dug his side out of a hole on the opening day of the season with a sensational free-kick winner. And he repeated the trick with Gers second, whipping another pin-point set-piece past Shemal George to clinch the victory.
Not so standard response
The Union Bears had a point to make as they unveiled a banner ahead of next week’s Viaplay Cup final with Celtic that read: “Two trophies in 11 years. Uphold the standards that matter”.
If it was a dig at boss Beale in response to his act of sportsmanship against Partick Thistle last week, the timing seemed a bit off a week out from that Hampden showdown.
The Ibrox gaffer had spoken this week about trying to build a sense of harmony round the club following a difficult season but there’s no doubt a section of the Gers faithful still think their manager got it wrong when he allowed the Jags their walk-in equaliser after Malik Tillman’s controversial goal last weekend.
Regardless of that issue, taking a pop at a man who has steered his side to 13 wins from 14 seemed as unnecessary as it was unhelpful.
But Beale will not have needed the banner to know the best way to get the punters all singing from the same hymn sheet is a win next weekend.
Raskin the rascal
Livi had given Rangers all sorts of trouble as they opened the Premiership curtain back in July, with most of the credit for that going to Davie Martindale’s one-man wrecking ball Joel Nouble.
But there was little chance of the big English striker causing the same havoc this time as Gers cut off his supply at source. Much of that was down to new recruit Nico Raskin as he helped form a protective barrier in front of the Ibrox back-line.
Not just a destroyer, though, the young Belgian midfield ace was always looking to take the positive approach, playing forward his first instinct. The injury that kept Malik Tillman out is a worry ahead of Hampden but Raskin looks like he’s settling in nicely ahead of Gers’ big date at the national stadium.
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