Rangers player ratings v Ross County: John Lundstram flops in 2/10
Rangers suffered an awful afternoon as they were beaten by Ross County for the first time to leave their chances of catching Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership suffered huge damage.
A Jack Baldwin own goal had the underwhelming Gers 1-0 in front at half-time the Global Energy Stadium on Sunday (14 April) but Simon Murray, George Harmon and Josh Sims turned the game on its head after the break.
Captain James Tavernier’s late penalty gave the visitors hope of a revival but they were unable to claw it back and suffered a massive blow in their bid to overtake Celtic at the top of the table.
Ibrox News have rated the players out of 10;
Jack Butland – 5
Made a fantastic reflex save early in the first half to deny Ross County an immediate equaliser, but was powerless to prevent the hosts going 2-1 up having made initial saves just prior to both goals. His positioning arguably could have been better for the third goal, and his presence in the County box for a late Rangers corner didn’t have the desired effect as the visitors chased an equaliser.
James Tavernier – 3
His late penalty restored Rangers’ hope but otherwise it was a day to forget for the skipper. He was almost caught napping at the back inside 60 seconds for the second game running, and was left stranded on the counter for both of County’s second and third goals. His creativity and ball striking is of no question, but Tavernier was all at sea in defence today.
Connor Goldson – 4
Had chances that came to nothing from a few early corners but, like Tavernier, was chasing shadows at the other end. Butland bailed him out twice in the first half alone and he was also beaten all ends up for County’s third. His header back across goal from a corner looked to have made it 2-2, until it transpired that Sima had handled the ball into the net.
John Souttar – 5
Got the better of County’s Baldwin to force the own-goal which gave Rangers the lead, but lost Harmon from close-range just moments later and was spared by the County striker firing over. Later in the first half he slid across just in time to prevent Sims from getting a shot away, but was beaten to the ball almost every single time thereafter as County cut through Rangers on the break.
Borna Barisic – 3
Was caught napping several times and allowed Ross far too many dangerous moments. His usual pinpoint deliveries from set-piece yielded early chances, but the Croatian was fairly anonymous otherwise and came off for Dujon Sterling on 54 minutes, after County had turned things around early in the second half.
Kieran Dowell – 5
Dynamic in midfield and never scared to made some brave challenges early on, but saw himself and Lundstram bypassed for Ross County’s quick-fire goals and came off on 63 minutes for Tom Lawrence to chase the game.
John Lundstram flops as Rangers shocked
John Lundstram – 2
A fairly tidy first-half showing from the veteran gave way to chaos in the second. He didn’t stay alive to the threat after Simon Murray’s 50th-minute shot was saved by Rutland, allowing George Harmon to escape him at the far post and put County 2-1 up. It was not a day for him to remember and he was fairly ineffectual.
Abdallah Sima – 6
A frankly bizarre game for the Senegalese forward, who saw several first-half chances go amiss from with a looping header and close-range shot which crept around the wrong side of the post. Was one of few Gers players who stood up to the second-half challenge and drove forward with purpose to force Ross Laidlaw into a save, but soon afterwards punched the ball into the net from close range and was booked for his troubles! Was probably still Rangers’ best outlet, though.
Todd Cantwell – 5
Did well in the early stages and was often helping out his back four to provide the link between defence and attack. Could’ve doubled the lead early on but fired straight at Laidlaw, but after half-time was perhaps the most shellshocked of his team-mates as Rangers went 3-1 down within 14 minutes. Rattled the crossbar with a first-time strike just after Josh Sims had made it 3-1, and also saw a late effort to equalise blocked from close range.
Fabio Silva – 4
His cross through a crowd of bodies for Dessers almost made it 2-0 in the early stages, but Silva’s game began to unravel early in the second half. His shot straight into Laidlaw’s gloves came just prior to County’s counter-attacking equaliser, and following the hosts’ second goal Silva was hooked on 54 minutes, looking far from happy to be coming off.
Cyriel Dessers – 5
Linked up well with Cantwell in attack, and really should’ve made it 2-0 from right in front before being denied by Laidlaw. He was teed up again just before the break and had another golden chance on the other side of half-time, but his first effort was skied and the second blocked by Baldwin. Came off for Roofe on 73 mins.
Subs
Dujon Sterling – 4
With Rangers caught at sixes and sevens he couldn’t prevent County taking a 3-1 lead, mistiming his sliding tackle in a bid to cut out Marmon’s cross towards Sims.
Rabbi Matondo – 5
Couldn’t repeat last Sunday’s late Old Firm heroics and grew frustrated towards the end of the game, luckily avoiding yellow for a late challenge on Loturi. His glanced header wide in the 95th minute was one of Rangers’ last real chances, and gave a clear sense that it wasn’t to be their day in Dingwall.
Tom Lawrence – 5
Was unable to affect the game from the bench for Rangers.
Kemar Roofe – 5
Was the main proponent of appealing for the successful handball penalty, eventually scored by Tavernier, against County’s Khela, and sent a woeful overhead kick miles wide with his only real chance.
In other Rangers news, Clement has offended those of a Celtic persuasion as he is blasted by a pundit for “nonsense”.
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