RANGERS came from behind to win their opening cinch Premiership match against Livingston at the Tony Macaroni Arena this afternoon in dramatic fashion.
Second-half goals from substitute Scott Arfield and captain James Tavernier ensured that Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team picked up all three points from the fiercely-contested encounter.
David Martindale’s side had taken the lead in just the fifth minute of the first top flight game of the 2022/23 campaign when Joel Nouble netted.
But the Ibrox club battered their opponents thereafter and deserved to triumph and get their Scottish title challenge off to a positive start at the end of the 90 minutes.
The Livingston goal was engulfed in plumes of thick red, white and blue smoke as soon as the game got underway after canisters were set off by travelling supporters in the stand behind it.
Referee Don Robertson took the ball off goalkeeper Shamal George for a few seconds in just the second minute to allow the air to clear.
Neil Doncaster, the SPFL chief executive, this week warned that those supporters who were guilty of unacceptable conduct inside grounds would face severe punishments. His words, alas, have clearly fallen on deaf ears.
Livingston made an explosive start of their own to the new season. Nouble outmuscled Souttar after Scott Pittman had flicked on a long ball from George into his path and then lobbed Mclaughlin.
It was an exceptional finish from the 6ft 4in forward. But why did Barisic not deal with the initial hoof upfield? Why was Souttar brushed aside so easily?
The pair must do far better going forward to retain their places. Van Bronckhorst has decent alternatives at left back and centre after bringing in Ridvan Yilmaz and Ben Davies in the close season.
Van Bronckhorst made a big call by naming McLaughlin ahead of Allan McGregor in goals – a clear indication that the Scotland internationalist will be preferred to the Ibrox legend in the coming months.
The former could do little about the opener. But he has big gloves to fill and will need to perform at a high level with such an experienced understudy warming the bench.
The rest of the first-half was similar to numerous others the West Lothian outfit have played against the two Glasgow giants over the years; the hosts sat back and soaked up sustained pressure from their opponents, put in some, er, robust challenges and created a couple of opportunities on the counter attack.
Centre half Jack Fitzwater anticipated everything that Rangers threw at Livingston. He cut out deliveries into his area from Tavernier and Glen Kamara and hooked a Connor Goldson cross out for a corner. Tom Lawrence and Ryan Kent both tried their luck from distance to no avail.
Martindale’s side actually had far better chances to net. Ayo Obileye got on the end of an Andre Shinnie corner and forced a good save from Mclaughlin with a powerful header. He then saw a shot blocked by Tavernier.
The away supporters, who filled three stands of the stadium, grew increasingly unhappy at what they were witnessing as the match wore on and the physical treatment which their heroes were being subjected to especially.
When Scott Wright was brought down by Phillip Cancar they were outraged. Van Bronckhorst left his technical area and made his unhappiness known to fourth official as his player was receiving medical attention. Martindale replaced the defender, who had been yellow carded, with Cristian Montand shortly afterwards.
Robertson had a busy afternoon. He also booked Sean Kelly as well as Goldson and Souttar. The match official be counting the days until VAR is introduced to the game in this country.
Van Bronckhorst removed Wright, who had been subjected to some meaty tackles in the opening 45 minutes, at half-time and put on Malik Tillman, the Bayern Munich loanee who arrived in Govan earlier this month, up front.
Tillman had made his debut in the pre-season friendly against Spurs at Ibrox seven days earlier. It was asking a lot of the 20-year-old to spark a turnaround in such a difficult away encounter. Still, the United States internationalist seemed to make a difference.
Tavernier forced a save from George, Ayo Obileye was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he barged over Antonio Colak and Fitzwater headed a Kent effort clear.
The Rangers fans celebrated when Colak nodded in a cross from the winger in the 54th minute. But linesman Jonathan Bell had his flag raised and the goal was, much to the amusement of the Livingston supporters, disallowed for offside.
But Tavernier and his team mates redoubled their efforts. Tillman tested George after the keeper had flapped at a high Barisic ball into his six yard box. It seemed just a matter of time before parity was restored. It finally was after Van Bronckhorst made a double substitution.
He put on James Sands for Souttar and Scott Arfield for Kamara and the latter levelled in the 73rd minute after meeting a Kent ball with a glancing header.
Tavernier put Rangers in front the following minute after Colak had been bundled over by Fitzwater as he bore down on goal. The right back rifled the free-kick into the top right corner.
Ryan Jack came on for Lawrence with six minutes remaining and helped the Europa League finalists to see out the win.
