Ross County were left to rue missed chances as they fell to a Premiership defeat against Rangers in Dingwall.
The Staggies were just beginning to make their mark on the game midway through the first half, with George Harmon and Owura Edwards unable to convert fine opportunities before the Gers netted through John Lundstram.
County remained firmly in the match and acquitted themselves well against the Glasgow side, but were unable to force a way back into it, with the victory sealing a third straight victory for new Ibrox boss Michael Beale.
Malky Mackay’s men have now lost their opening two matches since the Premiership restart, and will be intent on ending 2022 on a high when they face bottom side Dundee United in an increasingly crucial looking encounter at Tannadice on Wednesday.
The Staggies made three changes from the side which was defeated 2-1 by St Johnstone on their return from the winter break.
Jack Baldwin was out through suspension, while Callum Johnson and Kazeem Olaigbe dropped to the bench. Skipper Keith Watson, Connor Randall and David Cancola were drafted in, while Ross Callachan was fit enough to return to the bench.
Rangers dominated possession in the early stages, however, County succeeded in limiting their goal threat. Malik Tillman had a strike blocked by Alex Iacovitti which was given as a goal -ick, while Connor Goldson saw an effort comfortably held by Ross Laidlaw after finding his way to the edge of the Staggies’ box.
Fashion Sakala was next to trouble on 18 minutes after being slipped in by Tillman, but he lashed his shot wide of Laidlaw’s near post.
It was the Staggies who had the best chance of the opening stages two minutes later, though. Jordan Tillson’s pinpoint cross from the right picked out George Harmon at the far post, with his close-range header blocked by the feet of stand-in Gers goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin.
Another chance presented itself for County moments later, when Owura Edwards shrugged off the advances of Ben Davies to go through on goal, but he slipped his effort wide from a narrow angle.
The home side had certainly grown into the game, which made Rangers’ breakthrough on 35 minutes all the more of a blow.
The move came down the visitors’ right flank, with Sakala feeding the ball to Lundstram on the edge of the box, and he fired a low strike into Laidlaw’s bottom left corner.
County looked to limit the damage before half-time, with Sakala seeing an effort blocked behind following Adam Devine’s cutback.
County had the final attempt of the first period, with Dhanda’s free-kick in a promising position drifting comfortably wide.
The Staggies started the second half promisingly, with Edwards sending a low shot into the arms of McLaughlin.
Laidlaw was required to keep County in the game on 54 minutes, however, with the goalkeeper on hand to block Sakala’s close-range effort after Ryan Kent had squared the ball.
Mackay turned to his bench for the first time shortly after the hour mark, with Olaigbe brought on for Cancola to add another attacking dimension to the Staggies side.
Rangers, meanwhile. looked to tie up the points, with substitute Rabbi Matondo flashing an effort across goal after being played in behind the home defence.
Olaigbe looked eager to make his mark on the game, and struck an effort into the side netting after cutting inside from the left with intent.
Mackay threw caution to the wind by bringing on William Akio and Jordy Hiwula for Tillson and Yan Dhanda in the latter stages.
Unlike Rangers’ last visit to Victoria Park in January, when Matthew Wright struck in the dying seconds to secure a point for County, there was to be no way back into the game on this occasion.
It was the visitors who were closest to adding to the scoresheet in stoppage time, when Alfredo Morelos failed to convert from close range after Laidlaw had parried Matondo’s effort, while the goalkeeper also did well to block at the feet of Matondo.
ROSS COUNTY (4-2-3-1): Laidlaw 6; Randall 6, Watson 6, Iacovitti 6, Harmon 6; Cancola 7 (Olaigbe 62), Loturi 6; Dhanda 7 (Hiwula 85), Tillson 7 (Akio 85), Edwards 7 (Callachan 75); White 6.
Subs not used: Eastwood, D Samuel, Sims, Johnson, Paton.
RANGERS (4-3-3): McLaughlin 6; Tavernier 6, Goldson 7, Davies 6, Devine 8; Arfield 6 (Jack 67), Lundstram 7, Kamara 7; Tillman 6 (Matondo 67), Sakala 6 (Morelos 58), Kent 7.
Subs not used: McCrorie, Sands, Wright, McCann, King, Lowry.
Referee: Don Robertson
Attendance: 6,501
Man of the match: Adam Devine
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