RANGERS survived an Ibrox scare to overcome Ross County and maintain their unbeaten run under the guidance of boss Michael Beale.
Malik Tillman headed the hosts in front late in the first half but County had a shock result in their sights as Jordan White scored for the fifth time in seven fixtures against his boyhood heroes.
A deflected free-kick from Borna Barisic ensured it was in vain, however, as Rangers reduced their arrears to Celtic to six points ahead of their trip to St Johnstone on Sunday.
SUBSTANCE OVER STYLE THIS TIME
There would have been few who predicted that Rangers would be so effervescent against Hearts on Wednesday night. It looked like an evening where Beale’s side would have to grind out the win but turned into one to savour as a 3-0 victory was recorded with some style.
The bar was raised against the Jambos but the standard wasn’t maintained here. This was a largely lacklustre affair and there will be plenty for Beale to pick out of it now that he has a clean week in terms of training ahead of the Scottish Cup fixture with Partick Thistle on Sunday.
The failure to convert promising situations and clear chances will undoubtedly frustrate Beale once again. The win was deserved but it should have been more comfortable as Rangers had to respond in adversity after County equalised in the second half and then hold on in the closing stages.
Rangers are naturally still a work in progress as Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin settle into the squad and the likes of Antonio Colak and Ianis Hagi get back up to speed following their respective injury issues. This was a reminder of how far Beale’s side have to go this term.
This should have been the occasion where the Ibrox crowd got the performance that they had been waiting to witness for quite some time. In the end, it turned into another one where they could be pleased with the result but not with the manner in which it was achieved and it certainly won't live long in the memory.
TEAM SELECTION RAISED EYEBROWS
It was no surprise that Beale opted to make changes from the side that were so comfortable at Tynecastle in midweek. The selection of Cantwell, for example, was an obvious call to make following his impressive debut against St Johnstone last week and a cameo off the bench in the capital.
Few supporters would have guessed that Tillman would be rested, however. Given the form that the midfielder is in and the likely pattern of this 90 minutes, Tillman seemed like an obvious call to slot into the middle park and give Rangers some added attacking threat from the central area.
Beale opted to stick with two more defensive minded operators in there as Cantwell was joined by the returning Ryan Jack and John Lundstram. Glen Kamara dropped to the bench as he took a seat alongside new arrival Nicolas Raskin.
It gave Rangers the now familiar 2-2-2 setup from middle to front but the plan had to be altered after just 11 minutes. Lundstram received treatment before being replaced by Tillman as the team on the park looked more like the one that many would have selected pre-match.
A switch to a diamond midfield as Tillman and Cantwell operated ahead of Jack and behind Ryan Kent was intended to give Rangers more creativity.
With seconds remaining of the first half, the breakthrough came. After a largely frustrating first 45 minutes – albeit a dominant one in terms of possession – it was a reward for their perseverance as well as their quality.
TILLMAN DEAL A NO-BRAINER
The signings of Cantwell and Raskin in recent weeks have added a new dimension to the Rangers midfield and addressed issues that Beale identified in his first days back at Ibrox. Another fault has been fixed thanks to the rise and rise of Tillman.
There were times earlier in the campaign when supporters questioned his work rate and his mentality. Criticisms were valid at times but they overlooked the fact that the American was an emerging talent with relatively few first team appearances to his credit.
Rangers are now seeing just what Tillman is capable of. Just months into his Ibrox career, there is already a feeling that they should enjoy him while they still can because he is not a player that is going to be here for several years.
The agreement with Bayern Munich that gives Rangers first refusal on a deal in the summer looks like a shrewd bit of business. Beale is keen to see that clause activated and it feels like barely a fixture goes by right now where the clamour to sign Tillman doesn’t increase in the stands.
The £5million outlay that will be required to sign the 20-year-old on a permanent basis will represent a significant percentage of what Beale will spend ahead of his first full term in charge. Rather than consider whether they can afford it or not, Rangers are now in the situation where they cannot afford not to do the deal to bring Tillman to Ibrox on a long-term deal.
His eighth goal of the campaign came just seconds before the break. Morelos and Cantwell combined and a dinked cross was followed by a header from close range as Tillman provided a much-needed intervention at just the right time for Rangers.
RASKIN OFF AND RUNNING
The pursuit of Raskin turned into a lengthy affair as supporters were left to wait until the closing hours of the window to finally see the Belgian arrive at Ibrox. The move was completed on deadline day but it took until Friday for the work permit paperwork to be signed off as Raskin was finally able to get down to business with Beale’s side.
The midfielder spoke well at his unveiling press conference in the newly revamped Blue Sky Lounge and fans were understandably excited to see him in action. Beale had urged caution as he pointed out that Raskin was here for the long run rather than the short term but there was never any doubt that he would get a place in the squad for his first afternoon at Ibrox.
After 27 minutes, he emerged from the dugout and received a warm welcome from the support. The applause was reciprocated as Raskin went through his routine down the touchline.
He had to wait until just eight minutes from time to finally get on the park. The reception was again rapturous.
There was little time for Raskin to show too much but the Jags clash at the end of his first full week of training will offer the chance that he has been waiting for.
COUNTY CAME WITH INTENT
Beale spoke warmly about the job that Malky Mackay has done in Dingwall and the way in which County play at his press conference earlier in the week. Unlike some opposition teams that come to Ibrox with a damage limitation mindset, Beale was sure the Staggies would be set up to win.
That was evident as Mackay paired White and Eamonn Brophy in attack. When he made his first switch at the break, it was to introduce new arrival Simon Murray as County attempted to haul themselves back into an encounter that they had held their own in.
It was the hosts that had the first chance of the afternoon as they capitalised on a slack Lundstram pass and saw efforts from George Harmon and Brophy blocked. An Alex Iacovitti header later in the half was another chance that County should have done better from.
Jon McLaughlin had to make a smart save to deny Nohan Kenneh as – after the hour mark – Rangers toiled and County sensed an opportunity as Ibrox started to moan and groan. Seconds later, they had their goal as White rose well and nodded a Yan Dhanda cross beyond a flailing McLaughlin.
