Rangers boss Philippe Clement after the defeat at Ross County. Credit: Sky Sports
Rangers boss Philippe Clement after the defeat at Ross County. Credit: Sky Sports

Kris Boyd reacts to 'mess' in Rangers v Ross County live on Sky Sports

Jonathan Burnett

Jonny is a University of Leeds journalism graduate who became part of the FootballInsider team in Spring 2024, and recently worked as Head of Media for Widnes Vikings Rugby League club. Writing as a freelance reporter and commentator for The Sporting News and StatsPerform, he has covered matches in competitions including the FIFA Men's and Women's World Cups, as well as the Champions League, Women's Euro 2022, Six Nations and the Rugby Union World Cup.

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Rangers took a 1-0 lead into half-time of their crucial Scottish Premiership match at Ross County on 14 April, with Kris Boyd describing their goal as a "mess" from the home side's perspective.

Rangers were ahead in the 15th minute of the match thanks to an own goal from County centre-back Jack Baldwin, who steered the ball past his goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw with the Staggies' defence "all over the place", according to former Rangers striker Boyd.

The hosts rallied early after the restart though, scoring twice inside the opening five minutes of the second half to put Rangers on the back foot, and icing the victory 20 minutes later on the counter-attack despite James Tavernier making it 3-2 from the spot late on.

Speaking at half-time on Sky Sports (14 April, 12:51pm), Boyd said of the goal: "Ross County just get themselves in a mess from there, they're all over the place.

"Baldwin's running back towards his own goal and can't really do much with it, and Laidlaw struggles to get back across. But, if you're being ultra-critical, he should do better."

Rangers rocked to the core by County comeback

If the hosts' early own goal was best summed up as a "mess" by Boyd, then that's also the perfect word to describe Rangers' entire performance in that second half.

Ross County were level little over a minute beyond the restart, and caught Rangers napping on the break with a perfectly-executed counter-attack.

The Staggies went back-to-back not long after, producing a quick-fire second with another breakaway goal which was almost a carbon copy of the first.

Captains Tavernier and Goldson were caught napping once more down the left-hand side just prior to the 70-minute mark, and Staggies winger Josh Sims was there to beat Dujon Sterling to the ball and make it 3-1.

Rangers James Tavernier
James Tavernier's late penalty made it 3-2 but wasn't enough to deny Ross County a famous victory.

The character shown by Rangers in coming back from 2-0 and 3-2 down in the Old Firm against Celtic just a week ago was non-existent, and it arguably went the other way in favour of Ross County instead.

Still sat four points behind their Glasgow rivals with one game in hand left against Dundee at Dens Park, the collapse in both skill and mindset we've just seen from Rangers will no doubt give every other side in the top six, including Dundee, the confidence to play the way they want against Philippe Clement's lacklustre Gers.

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