Rangers buckle under title pressure as Ross County inflict Highland humiliation in historic win - 3 talking points

Rangers crashed to a humiliating defeat as Ross County recorded a first EVER win over the Ibrox side with a 3-2 victory that hands the Scottish Premiership title initiative to champions and rivals Celtic.

The Light Blues suffered a loss that leaves them trailing the Hoops by four points and they now have just one game in hand, against Dundee this midweek. Jack Baldwin’s unfortunate own goal gave Rangers the lead but the Light Blues were sluggish in the first half and Ross County made them pay in an astonishing turnaround early in the second as Simon Murray and George Harmon netted to give them the lead. Josh Sims then added a THIRD on an incredible day of drama in the Highlands before James Tavernier pulled one back from the spot late on but it was too little, too late.

After a frustrating week for Gers following their postponement at Dens Park, it was game on and the visitors were looking for a fast start but it was the Staggies who should have been in front early on but Harmon squandered a glorious close range when a ball from the right found him but he sent his effort over. Connor Goldson then had a chance at the other end but headed over.

The breakthrough then arrived after 15 minutes and it was in bizarre fashion. James Tavernier swung a corner which Fabio Silva flicked on and Staggies skipper Jack Baldwin’s attempt to clear the danger resulted in him putting the ball past his own keeper. It was a horrible goal to concede after a solid start yet they didn’t let their heads drop and could have been level but for Jack Butland denying Josh Sims with a brilliant save.

Ross Laidlaw then ensured the damager didn’t get worse for Ross County as he scrambled to push an Abdallah Sima header away to saved and then he denied Cyriel Dessers from close range when Silva’s shot deflected into the path of the Nigeria International, albeit the striker should have done better.

The first half was a story of missed chances - for both sides. Harmon, who had that glorious early opportunity, should have done better when Eli King flicked the ball into his path but the former Oxford man skied his effort. At the other end Sima had a shot just wide while Dessers should again have done better on the stroke of half time but ballooned the ball over the bar.

Clement must have been tempted to make changes at the break but opted against it and within four minutes of the second half Ross County turned the game on its head to take the LEAD in an astonishing turnaround.

The first came from Murray, who scored at Ibrox in a 3-1 defeat earlier this season, after Butland initially saved with his foot to deny the striker but he rattled in the rebound and astonishingly the home side grabbed a second with a brilliant break and Harmon made it third time lucky to fire home - again after Butland had initially made the save.

And things went from bad to worse with 20 minutes left when King set up Sims to fire home a THIRD for the Highlanders. Rangers were then awarded a penalty at the death with Brandon Khela penalised for handball and after a VAR check, up stepped Tavernier and Tavernier blasted home from the spot.

Here’s three talking points from Dingwall

Title bottle crashing

Brendan Rodgers said Celtic were ready for the title fight after their win over St Mirren on Saturday as they put the pressure on Rangers just seven days after their epic Old firm derby battle. And Philippe Clement’s side failed to show they are up for the run-in in their big test in the first of two games in hand over the Hoops on a quite staggering day. Even when they took the lead in the first half Rangers were sluggish and didn’t look like a team in the thick of a title battle. They just didn’t get going, were fortunate to be in front and could have no complaints. They have handed the initiative back to Celtic and it will take a big turnaround to get it back. On this evidence, it doesn't look like they have the mentality for the fight.

Defensive woes

There was so much talk over Rangers not signing a striker during the January transfer window and how that could be the difference between winning and losing the Scottish Premiership title but the Light Blues have been toiling at the back and it’s now five games without a clean sheet for Philippe Clement’s side - the longest run in three years.

Jack Butland pulled off a couple of fines with Ross County scoring from the rebound in quick succession in the second half. The keeper has been a standout this season but can’t be relied upon to save them every time and there have been poor performances in the backline for some time now.

Super Staggies

Ross County, in 25 previous attempts, had never beaten Rangers before but the Staggies needed the points as much as Rangers, albeit for very different reasons. Don Cowie’s men produced a display that belied their league position and the gap between the two in the Scottish Premiership table. They were unlucky to find themselves a goal down in the first place but showed great guts to refuse to let their heads drop.