RANGERS warmed up for their Old Firm final at Hampden with a 3-0 victory over Livingston as Michael Beale continued his unbeaten run as boss.
A James Tavernier penalty had Rangers ahead at the break. After Stephane Omeonga saw red, the skipper doubled his tally for the afternoon with a terrific free-kick.
Kemar Roofe came off the bench to complete the win and ensure Rangers maintained their momentum ahead of their shot at Viaplay Cup glory next weekend.
TAVERNIER DELIVERS FOR RANGERS
Rangers deserved their lead at the interval. It would have pleased Beale, but it must have frustrated him as well as his side required a set-piece to break the deadlock.
Some of the attacking play from the visitors was excellent and could, and should, have been rewarded. Fashion Sakala saw a goal ruled out for offside and Tavernier’s low drive after a corner was cleared was just wide of target.
Too many moves broke down prematurely. The clinical pass wasn’t there at times, while Livingston simply crowded Rangers out at others as they kept themselves in the encounter.
Tavernier’s penalty was dispatched with aplomb. A lengthy VAR check saw James Penrice penalised for a shirt pull on Alfredo Morelos and the captain made no mistake as Shamal George went to his left and could only watch on as he was beaten.
With 13 minutes remaining, he had to pick the ball out of his net once again. It was Tavernier that had done the damage to Livingston for the second time as Rangers secured their victory.
Chances had come and gone as Sakala was denied at the near post and substitute Roofe fired across target as Rangers controlled large swathes of this fixture.
But a moment of magic from Tavernier ensured those misses weren’t costly. A curling free-kick found the top corner of the net as the captain came to the fore when his side needed him most.
INJURY ISSUES AHEAD OF HAMPDEN
Beale painted a fairly bleak picture in terms of injuries when he spoke at his pre-match media conference at Edmiston House on Thursday afternoon. Once again, he didn’t have his problems to seek.
He highlighted midfield as his main area of concern and that was played out a couple of days later as the starting line-up and the squad said it all. This was far from the strongest hand that Beale has had to play during his tenure.
Connor Goldson was fit to start at the back but there was no place for Ryan Jack and John Lundstram as they missed out with calf and ankle issues respectively. The biggest blow was the news that Malik Tillman was absent as he continues to recover from calf and hamstring problems.
Beale insisted that he wouldn’t pick a team here with the final next weekend in mind. A free afternoon, it is hoped, will allow Tillman the time he needs to recover and having Jack and Lundstram fit for Hampden would be a major bonus for Rangers.
A bench that contained Leon King, Adam Devine and Bailey Rice was short of experience but there were at least attacking options in reserve with Antonio Colak and Roofe both available once again. If Beale can clear the treatment room and get midfield fit and firing, Rangers will be in a position of strength heading to Hampden.
FANS MAKE FEELINGS CLEAR
The sentiment behind the banner – which read ‘Two trophies in eleven years. Uphold the standards that matter’ can be debated and may well gather some approval from supporters. The timing of it was bizarre, however, and will surely be questioned by the majority.
Rangers arrived here unbeaten in 13 matches since Beale succeeded Giovanni van Bronckhorst as manager. A place in the Viaplay Cup final has been earned and Scottish Cup progression has been achieved.
Since returning to Ibrox in early December, Beale has held up his end of the bargain. Overall, so have his players and moans and groans about the performances are always quelled when the results come.
There is no doubt that only winning two medals in more than a decade is far from acceptable. That meagre level of success is not what Rangers fans demand or expect but there have been enough positive signs recently to suggest that Beale’s side are heading on the right track.
Beale has been open and honest about where Rangers are right now and the work – both on and off the park – that will be required to see them return to the levels that they are accustomed to. That process will continue in terms of the cup competitions this term and then be ramped up again come the summer.
Beale knows he will be judged on trophies and fans are entitled to their opinions. The time for that is at the end of the campaign, not in the first half of a Premiership fixture that was won easily.
It has been a busy week for the banner makers. One which referenced Avanti Thomas, whoever that may be, was met with bemused and confused looks around the ground.
At the start of the second half, it was Nicola Sturgeon that was the target as fans took aim over the record of the SNP during her tenure and ended it with #ThankYouNicola’.
RASKIN HAS MADE JERSEY HIS ALREADY
Those Rangers supporters who had done their homework on Nicolas Raskin ahead of his move to Ibrox were enthusiastic about what he would bring to the team. Their patience was tested as the deal was prolonged, but it was rewarded when a long-term contract was signed.
A late cameo against Ross County allowed the Belgian to show glimpses of what he was capable of. The win over Partick Thistle last weekend saw him grow into the Scottish Cup tie and it was an assured, composed first start in the middle of the park.
Raskin was signed to go straight into the team and improve it. He has done that and it is clear, even in these early stages, that he will be an integral part of the side that Beale is building for the long term.
The former Standard Liege star is comfortable and calm on the ball. His passes can be simple when required but the ability to move it quickly and move it forward is crucial and there was never a sense that he would be put off his stride on this plastic pitch and against a Livingston outfit that are strong in the middle of the park.
Beale will hope that he has big selection calls to make at Hampden if his walking wounded can prove their fitness. Raskin has already proven his form and earned his Old Firm jersey.
LIVINGSTON NEVER GOT GOING
This was an afternoon that David Martindale will want to forget. Livingston were left empty-handed at home and can have no complaints about the outcome.
Both sides of the Old Firm have found the going tough here in recent seasons and Beale would have expected nothing less on this occasion. For whatever reason, Livingston just didn’t carry the same threat and ultimately caused Rangers few problems.
It could maybe have been different if Stephen Kelly had converted at the back post with the score at 1-0. Within minutes, Omeonga had been sent off and Rangers had netted through Tavernier and Roofe.
The manner of that third goal summed up a wretched afternoon as Livingston failed to clear their lines and Roofe converted from close range. It was one of those days.
It is rare for a Martindale side to not compete in this manner. The Lions boss will no doubt get to the bottom of that issue and it would be a surprise if there is not a reaction sooner rather than later.
