Ross County suffered a 3-1 defeat to Rangers but not without a fight in Don Cowie’s first game in interim charge.
The signs looked ominous for the Staggies when Cyriel Dessers gave Rangers a fifth-minute lead amid a heavily one-sided start to the match.
Having somehow kept the deficit down to one goal the Dingwall men levelled against the run of play through Simon Murray’s 14th goal of the season, however, they were hit by a cruel blow when Dessers netted his second on the stroke of half-time.
An outstanding goalkeeping display by George Wickens kept the Staggies in with a shout of nicking something from the match until John Souttar netted a third deep into stoppage time.
Despite the defeat Cowie will feel plenty reason to be encouraged ahead of Saturday’s trip to Dundee.
County were in action for the first time since the chastening 5-0 loss to Motherwell, which prompted Derek Adams’ resignation after only 80 days in post.
Cowie made five changes from that side. There was a return to the starting line-up for the first time since October for Eamonn Brophy, while Michee Efete was also handed his first starting outing. Victor Loturi, Ryan Leak and Josh Reid were also drafted in.
It was a mammoth first task for Cowie, with the Gers able to move top of the Premiership with a victory by at least three goals.
The start the Staggies were dreading arrived after just five minutes. Tavernier’s through-ball released Dessers in space inside the box, and he wriggled away from the advancing Leak before showing fine composure to loft an effort over Wickens into the net.
The goal provided an instant lift for the home crowd, with Wickens forced to make a fine save to deny Tavernier who tried his luck from the edge of the box following a Ross McCausland cutback.
County were living dangerously and Dessers was inches from doubling his tally on 10 minutes when he was once again released in behind before scrambling an effort through the legs of Wickens – only to be denied by the post. Another chance arrived at the feet of Rabbi Matondo five minutes later, but he sidefooted a low strike wide.
Matondo was then somehow denied by Wickens moments later after he was slipped through by Tom Lawrence, with the outstretched Staggies goalkeeper making a fine save to tip the ball on to the crossbar.
The Staggies were standing firm to keep the deficit at one goal which always left open the hope they could forge a way back into the match – and they duly delivered out of nothing on the half-hour mark.
Brophy was released down the right channel before finding the space to squeeze a cross to the near post, where Murray was on hand to supply a superb finish into the roof of the net.
County all of a sudden had something to hold on to, and they looked to slow play down at every opportunity to the increasing frustration of the Rangers support.
Another glimpse of goal presented itself for the Staggies on 43 minutes when Murray’s header released Brophy, who was unable to keep his strike down.
The Staggies survived a let-off when Todd Cantwell’s strike squirmed through the grasp of Wickens, which allowed Dessers the opportunity to slot home the rebound, only to be denied on the line by Leak.
County were seconds away from going in level at the break, however, they were dealt a cruel blow when Dessers got in front of Loick Ayina to turn home a Tavernier delivery.
Rangers looked to apply further damage after the interval, with Wickens called upon to make excellent saves to deny substitute Oscar Cortes as well as Cantwell.
Cowie made his first change on 55 minutes when Jordan White was brought on to replace Brophy, in an effort to add physical presence to the Staggies’ frontline.
County spurned a great chance to pull level for a second time on 65 minutes, when James Brown picked out Efete with a corner but the defender could not keep his effort down.
Reid was picked out by a Murray cross four minutes later, with McCausland coming to his side’s rescue.
Rangers had chances to put the game beyond doubt, though, with Cortes slipping an effort wide, while the outstanding Wickens made further excellent saves to deny Cantwell and Fabio Silva.
Souttar completed the scoring with a third goal in injury time to finally kill off the Staggies’ hopes.
Player Ratings
RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Butland 6, Tavernier 7, Souttar 6, Goldson 6, Yilmaz 6, Lawrence 7 (Diomande 79), Lundstram 7, McCausland 7 (Wright 71), Cantwell 7, Matondo 5 (Cortes 46), Dessers 7 (Silva 71).
Subs not used: McCrorie, Davies, Barisic, King, Raskin.
ROSS COUNTY (3-4-1-2): Wickens 9, Ayina 6, Leak 6, Efete 6, Brown 7, Loturi 6, King 5 (Sheaf 71), Reid 6 (Harmon 71), Dhanda 6 (Henderson 79), Murray 7 (Sims 79), Brophy 6 (White 55).
Subs not used: Laidlaw, Borthwick-Jackson, Henderson, Khela.
Referee: Alan Muir
Attendance: 48,685
Star Man: George Wickens
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