Ross County 3-2 Rangers: Gers slip up in Scottish Premiership title race with nightmare second half

Ross County dealt a severe blow to Rangers' chances of clinching the Scottish Premiership title by scoring a remarkable 3-2 win, marking their initial triumph against the Ibrox squad.

Philippe Clement's team still has six matches left to play. However, they are currently four points behind the leaders, Celtic. Fortunately, they do have a chance to catch up as they have one game in hand, and it's against Dundee at Dens Park on Wednesday night. You can catch the action live on Sky Sports.

After just 15 minutes of play, the Staggies captain, Jack Baldwin, made a costly mistake by scoring an own goal. This made it seem like an impossible task for the home team to win. However, things quickly changed when Simon Murray and George Harmon scored two goals in just three minutes after the break, completely turning the game around. Josh Sims then added a third goal for the team in the 69th minute, securing their lead even further.

James Tavernier, who is the captain of Gers, scored a penalty with only one minute left in the game after the use of VAR. However, the home team managed to hold on to their lead and secure a significant victory, which will also help them in their efforts to avoid being relegated.

Following 24 games against Rangers, Ross County finally attained their much-desired victory after 20 losses and four draws. This triumph has significant consequences for both teams, as County, who were previously second-bottom, are now only one point away from St Johnstone, who are currently in 10th place.

To improve your experience with the video player, we suggest utilizing the Chrome browser for better accessibility.

To enhance your viewing experience, we suggest utilizing the Chrome web browser to access our video player.

To have better access to the video player, it is recommended to utilize the Chrome browser.

For an easier time using the video player, we recommend using the Chrome web browser.

For a video player that is easier to use, we suggest utilizing the Chrome browser.

Rangers' Costly Slip-up

During the first minute of the game, County made the first shot at the goal. Michee Efete crossed the ball from the right side which found Harmon near the back post. However, since Abdallah Sima was pressuring him, Harmon missed his chance and the ball went over the bar.

The Rangers team had difficulty finding their groove, but they managed to take the lead thanks to a corner kick from Tavernier on the right-hand side. Fabio Silva made a quick touch at the front of the goal, and Baldwin tapped the ball in over the line, even though Laidlaw was unable to prevent it. However, it took some time before the fans from the opposing team realized that a goal had been scored.

During the game, more opportunities were created. Todd Cantwell made a decent shot which was saved by Ross Laidlaw. Jack Butland, the goalkeeper for Gers, also saved a low drive from Sims. Additionally, Laidlaw made saves on shots from Sima and striker Cyriel Dessers.

During the 38th minute, while County was putting on some pressure, Harmon tried to score but unfortunately his shot went too high over the bar from a short distance. The same thing happened to Dessers on the opposite side just before the halftime break.

The match had an unforeseen turn at the beginning of the second part. Murray managed to even the score after his second attempt, shooting the ball into the net after Butland had previously made an impressive save from his initial shot.

The Rangers team were still recovering from the setback when Murray found himself with an opportunity once again. He then took a shot which Butland was able to stop but Harmon scored by hitting the ball that rebounded.

Sima hit the ball into the County net with his hand, but it didn't count as a goal. After that, the home team scored their third point. Murray entered the box and assisted Sims, who remained calm and successfully scored from a short distance, beating Butland.

In the game, Cantwell made an impressive shot that hit the top bar six minutes later. Then, the video assistant referee (VAR), Andrew Dallas, asked the referee Matthew MacDermid to check the footage on a monitor located next to the field because there might have been a penalty. The ball hit County's Brandon Khela's left hand, who came in as a substitute. After viewing the footage, a penalty was awarded and Tavernier scored, but it was not enough for a comeback victory.

"Clement's Half-Time Warning To Rangers Players"

It is recommended that you use the Chrome internet browser in order to have a more easily accessible video player.

Philippe Clement, the coach of the Rangers team, informed Sky Sports:

I am quite let down by how we performed. Our playing was not up to the mark in the first half, as we lacked control over the ball. Although the situation was not perfect for playing good football, we could have done a lot better as seen in the final half-hour.

During the initial hour, there was a lack of motivation to secure the win, to net some goals, and keep the opposition at bay. This could have been achieved by scoring and obtaining a head start in the first half.

During the halftime break, I expressed my desire for the team to improve their performance. However, we ended up conceding two goals early in the second half, and had to play catch up. The outcome of the match was extremely unsatisfying for us. Our performance was unacceptable, to say the least. I must give credit to Ross County for their impressive display of determination today.

I don't recognize my team right now. They've been the top team in defense for the past few months, allowing the fewest goals. It's frustrating to see us give up three goals in the way we did today.

We lost some points in the past, but our focus is now on winning points in the near future. It's not just a matter of determination, but also a display of excellence. We must continue to do what we've been doing proficiently for many months.

Today, I didn't perform as well as I usually do in our game. I struggled to win duels and maintain our team's structure. Perhaps this is because our preparation for the game was unusual and not as effective as usual. However, I don't want to make excuses. It seemed like everyone was preoccupied with things not related to football this week, which is something we need to remember and prioritize our focus on the sport.

Cowie Challenges Team To Remain Undefeated At Home

To optimize the viewing experience, it's recommended to make use of the Chrome browser when watching videos.

Don Cowie, the manager of Ross County, shared with Sky Sports:

Our team put on an incredible show of teamwork. During the first half, we had plenty of chances to score but unfortunately, we missed them. However, our coach gave us a positive message during half-time, encouraging us to keep up the good work. We came out strong in the second half, and it paid off. I am overjoyed for our football club, as this marks our first-ever victory over Rangers.

Ever since I arrived, our performance at home has been excellent. We aimed to continue that positive momentum until the season's end. During halftime, I motivated the team by asking if we could maintain our unbeatable record. They rose to the challenge and accomplished it, which is a remarkable achievement for them.

"We maintained a optimistic attitude, continued to score and generate opportunities. We selected the appropriate options when approaching the opponent's goal in critical moments."

The Rangers team will be playing against Dundee in a game that had to be rescheduled. The match will be taking place at Dens Park on Wednesday evening and will be broadcasted live on Sky Sports. The game will be commencing at 8pm.

Ross County must hold off until the publication of the Scottish Premiership's post-split schedule.

Watch Sky Sports On NOW | Ad Content

Watch Sky Sports live without any commitment by choosing either a monthly or daily membership on NOW. You can instantly tune in to live coverage of exciting matches from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket, and many other sports.

Watch Sky Sports On WhatsApp!

Our specialized WhatsApp channel now offers you the opportunity to receive notifications and messages regarding fresh sports news, thorough investigations, comprehensive characteristics, and videos.

Discover additional information by clicking this link...