BBC journalist stunned at what Rangers fans did after 10 mins at Ibrox v Livingston
Martin Dowden was left stunned by Rangers fans after they were screaming at Livingston players for timewasting within ten minutes of the game at Ibrox.
The BBC Sport Scotland journalist claimed the reaction from the crowd was something he had never heard before with the Rangers supporters frustrated at Livingston slowing the game down at every opportunity.
It followed a frustrating first half for Rangers in which they struggled to test the Livingston defence or goalkeeper before Fabio Silva found the net with minutes to go until halftime, and Rabbi Matondo followed up with another.
Writing via the BBC Sport live blog [3 January, 15:17], Dowden shared: “I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a crowd screaming at the opposition within ten minutes about wasting time but it’s happening here.
“Livingston are slowing the pace right down at every opportunity and why not? They are out to frustrate for as long as they can.”
Livingston frustrating Rangers at Ibrox
Time wasting is always annoying for the fans and the players inside the stadium. A free-flowing game with the ball in play allowing the players to express themselves would suit Rangers, but Livingston won’t let that happen here.
Particularly following the result at Pittodrie earlier in the day which saw Aberdeen draw 1-1 with league leaders Celtic, opening the door for Rangers to narrow the gap to the top, Philippe Clement and his side will know what they have to do.
The cries of frustration from the Ibrox crowd will come along with a weight of expectation, knowing the opportunity ahead of them and seeing it pushed further away with every second Livingston can waste, although, after Silva’s goal, that tension was eased.
Rangers need some inspiration in this game to get over the time-wasting of their opponents, because at the end of the day, the only way to stop it is to keep scoring goals, and the Rangers players were warned to expect this.
After a January transfer window with plenty of focus on Lawrence Shankland, having him score in the first half for Hearts will be another frustration at Ibrox.
In other Rangers news, a new transfer twist has emerged after the window.
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