Ross County 0-1 Rangers

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Live Reporting Andrew Petrie

All times stated are UK

HALF-TIME Ross County 0-1 Rangers

Don Cowie is probably fairly happy with that. County have really tested Rangers and have been a little unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Unfortunately for the Staggies, their best chances have fallen to left-back George Harmon, who hasn’t shown the best composure in front of goal.

Neither has Cyriel Dessers. He’s had a couple of chances to pull Rangers away from their hosts and missed them both.

In the end, it was Jack Baldwin’s outstretched leg that gave Rangers the lead. The County captain could only watch on as Ross Laidlaw failed to keep the ball out of the net.

Laidlaw limbs keep the score downRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Image caption: Ross Laidlaw has produced four big saves in the first half to keep the deficit to onePost updateRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Rangers go inches away from a second.

This time it’s County who can’t get the ball out of their own box. Simon Murray is the guilty party at the front post, he clears straight to Abdallah Sima, but it comes to him a bit quickly and he puts his rebound just wide.

Post updateRoss County 0-1 Rangers

County are having a bit of a go here. They’ve put two dangerous crosses into the box, which Rangers have struggled to deal with.

They’re struggling to clear their lines, and it gifts County a chance when the ball drops to George Harmon about eight yards out – but he leans back and lofts it way over the bar. Dear me.

Laidlaw heroics deny Rangers againRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Ross Laidlaw produces again!

Fabio Silva’s deflected effort falls to the feet of the unmarked Cyriel Dessers. He seems certain to score, but Laidlaw is out quick as a flash to block.

George Wickens made 19 saves against Rangers earlier this year – Laidlaw might be on course to match that.

Post updateRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Ross Laidlaw keeps County’s deficit to one!

Abdallah Sima loops a header towards goal, and it looks for all the world like it’s heading into the onion bag, but Laidlaw stretches an arm and claws the ball away. He’s done brilliantly to scramble back there.

Baldwin blunder gives Rangers the leadRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Post updateRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Jack Butland produces a big save!

Josh Sims dances past two Rangers defenders in the box and drives towards the bottom corner, but Butland is down quickly to palm away. Good save from the one-time England stopper.

Post updateRoss County 0-1 Rangers

Rangers aren’t far away from a second. Cyriel Dessers forces the ball through to Todd Cantwell in the box, he whips a low shot at goal, and Ross Laidlaw stretches out a foot to turn the ball behind.

A good stop from the deputising keeper.

GOAL Ross County 0-1 RANGERSJack Baldwin (own goal)

Rangers are ahead!

A corner from the right is flicked on by Abdallah Sima, Baldwin challenges John Souttar, but the ball creeps towards his own goal and a flailing Ross Laidlaw can’t keep it out.

There’s a bit of confusion. No one knows what’s been given. Was there a foul on Baldwin? No, says referee Matthew MacDermid. The goal stands.

Post updateRoss County 0-0 Rangers

Ross County are enjoying more possession in Rangers’ half than they thought they would. Strangely though, it’s been Todd Cantwell doing the defending, cutting out County attacks.

He can’t do anything about the latest attack. Yan Dhanda bursts over the half way line and finds Simon Murray on the left, but he curls his shot way over the bar.

Post updateRoss County 0-0 Rangers

Rangers respond with a botched effort of their own. Borna Barisic swings in a corner, Abdallah Sima nods it down to the back post, and Connor Goldson loops a header over the bar.

He should be hitting the target there.

Close!Ross County 0-0 Rangers

Ross County almost score after 50 seconds!

Victor Loturi gets in behind the Rangers defence and swings in a dangerous cross to George Harmon, but it’s an awkward height and the ball loops over the bar. Hearts in mouths for the Rangers back-line.

That was almost another calamity inside the first minute…

KICK-OFFRoss County 0-0 Rangers

Rangers’ first away game for six-and-a-half weeks begins, and it’s Ross County who get us underway.

Remember, there’s radio coverage at the top of this page, just click the play button. And away…

Image caption: Rangers’ travelling fans deliver a message to their playersClement speaks out about ‘crazy week’Ross County v Rangers (12:00)

Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Scotland about his side’s preparation for this game: “It was a crazy week. Normally we [managers] don’t need to speak about these things, we need to speak about football, and I think it’s also important for all the fans.

“They want to see football in good conditions and they want to speak about football, not all these silly things. It was not ideal preparation, we had to change plans, but we always have a mindset to adapt. It’s not always the ideal situation in football.

“They have a few good players. [Simon] Murray, who runs the channels really good, he is really active. It’s a smaller pitch so they can be compact. They will sit, they will wait and counter attack.

“I need to divide minutes in the squad and make rotations.”

Cowie hoping to continue good home formRoss County v Rangers (12:00)

Ross County manager Don Cowie is hoping that recent home form – his side are unbeaten in four in Dingwall – will help them to a historic win.

“Rangers are a very strong team in our league and we are always fighting above our weight, but records are there to be broken,” he tells BBC Scotland.

“We have to go into the game with a belief and understand it is going to be a real challenge because they are a very good football team – but we are ready for it.

“We are at home and want to make the most of it. I feel that the squad is in a good place and I make changes to suit each game.”

Stats packRoss County v Rangers (12:00)

Ross County have lost 11 of their 13 home games against Rangers in all competitions, with the only times they’ve avoided defeat at home coming in November 2016 (1-1) and January 2022 (3-3).

Rangers are unbeaten in all 24 of their previous meetings with Ross County across all competitions (W20 D4) and have never faced an opponent more often without losing in their history.

Ross County are unbeaten in four home league games (W2 D2), their longest run since going seven without defeat from January to April 2022.

Rangers have won 11 of their last 13 away league games (D1 L1), including each of their last four in a row.

Rangers’ James Tavernier has scored 49 penalties in the Scottish Premiership. Since the competition was rebranded in 2013, this is 33 more than the nearest player for penalty goals (Adam Rooney, 16).

Image caption: James Tavernier could score his 50th penalty in the Scottish Premiership todayCounty change keeper in five swapsRoss County v Rangers (12:00)

There are five County changes as they bid for a historic first-ever win over Rangers – the most eye-catching change being in goals where George Wickens is dropped in place of Ross Laidlaw.

Wickens has come in for a bit of criticism in recent weeks, having dropped a few clangers, and it appears interim boss Don Cowie has finally lost patience with his loanee keeper.

George Harmon, Victor Loturi, Josh Sims, and Hearts-bound Yan Dhanda come in. Loick Ayina, Eamonn Brophy and Jordan White drop to the bench, while Josh Reid drops out completely.

Image caption: George Wickens was at fault for Kilmarnock’s only goal in County’s loss last weekendFour Rangers changes as Barisic and Dowell returnRoss County v Rangers (12:00)

Philippe Clement has changed four from the Rangers side that fought back to claim a 3-3 draw in last weekend’s Old Firm at Ibrox.

Borna Barisic returns at left-back, making only his fifth league start of 2024. Dujon Sterling drops to the bench.

Mohamed Diomande has had surgery on a thumb injury picked up last weekend, and is replaced by Kieran Dowell – who makes his first league start since 2 January.

Todd Cantwell and Abdallah Sima are the other changes, with Tom Lawrence on the bench and Scott Wright dropping out completely.

LINE-UPs from Global Energy StadiumRoss County v Rangers (12:00)

Ross County: Laidlaw, Efete, Randall, Baldwin, Leak, Harmon, Loturi, King, Sims, Dhanda, Murray.

Substitutes: Wickens, Borthwick-Jackson, Brown, Sheaf, Henderson, Khela, White, Brophy, Ayina.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Lundstram, Dowell, Cantwell, Silva, Sima, Dessers.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Lawrence, Matondo, Sterling, Roofe, Balogun, King, Raskin, McCausland.