Rangers have never lost at Ibrox to Livingston, a record spanning 25 games in all competitions, and they extended that with a 2-1 victory over the West Lothian side. It was far from convincing, but the points are in the bag after edging David Martindale’s men who defended doggedly.
Earlier, the Glasgow outfit were forced into four changes because of injury, including one to Scottish international defender, John Souttar, hurt in warm-up at Hampden against Denmark in midweek. London-born Emmanuel Fernandez deputised.
Head coach Danny Rohl was seeking his fourth straight win in the William Hill Premiership, and he has worked hard with his players not involved in the international break, claiming every game is important for his men as they play catch-up against second-placed Celtic and pace-setting Hearts.
Martindale made three changes with Danny Wilson, a former Rangers player, still acting as skipper with Ryan McGowan listed among the substitutes as he fights his way back after being hospitalised for three weeks.
It was the home side who dominated early play, forcing Livi back, and Djeidi Gassama drove down the left, evaded a challenge from Mo Sylla and crossed. The ball was cleared for a corner taken by James Tavernier from which Fernandez broke free from Wilson and rose to head home for his second goal for the Ibrox men. Time nine minutes.
Minutes later, Livingston goalkeeper, Jerome Prior, had to leave his line to clear when Oliver Antman broke.
The visitors failed to offer any real threat until Mahamadou Susoho picked up the ball on the right and floated in a cross, but it was nodded wide.
Teti Yengi (pictured by Nigel Duncan)was an isolated figure up-front but he delighted visiting fans with his first goal of the season. He picked up a superb long ball by Stevie May from the left side of defence, floated between Rangers’ two central defenders and the 6ft 5in, Australian-born striker side footed the ball home.
VAR intervened and, after a long wait, the goal was confirmed. Time 18 minutes, a massive lift for the league bottom-markers.
Fernandez popped up at the other end and Prior gathered his header. The ball broke upfield and Yengi had another chance but his shot was blocked by Fernandez who had quickly retraced his steps.
Livingston players claims for a penalty, alleging the ball had hit the arm of the Rangers defender, were waved away and referee Ross Hardie was not asked to go to the pitchside VAR monitor to review the incident which post-match caused real controversy.
Then, Thelo Aasgaard threatened down the left but his ball into the box was poor. Rangers kept coming and all Livingston’s players were pushed back into their own half, but the determined visitors enjoyed a period of pressure as half time neared, winning their first corner.
May delivered and the cross caused concern but goalkeeper Jack Butland tidied up for Rangers before four minutes of injury time were signalled.
Ex-Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski took over from the disappointing Aasgaard at the break and Tavernier sent an inswinging cross at pace from the right and the unmarked substitute just failed to test Prior from a good position.
Rangers kept up the pressure and The Lions were unable to get out of their final third as they targeted a first victory since August 9, a 3-1 home win over Falkirk, but the visitors stuck to their task as Rangers passed the ball around the pitch desperately looking for an opening.
The home support voiced their frustration but Martindale’s men continued to dig deep and snuffed out a Miovksi threat as the clock ticked towards the hour mark. Rangers, for all their possession, needed a vital spark.
Martindale was yellow carded for kicking the ball onto the field and Jayden Meghoma followed him soon after for a heavy challenge.
Then, Hearts loan player Macaulay Tait went down and McGowan came off the bench, a welcome sight for Livi fans. He took over as skipper and then Susoho had a sight of goal but fired over in a rare foray into Rangers’ half, then Cristian Montano was booked for holding back Antman.
Rangers made another move to break the deadlock, removing ineffective Antman and replacing him with Nedim Bajrami. Martindale used the break in play to introduce Andrew Shinnie for Montano.
The drummer behind one of the goals maintained his beat and the Union Bears by his side kept clapping, but the team failed to show the same enthusiasm, plenty of possession but no punch, and it was Livingston who had a chance, in fact two opportunities, but substitute Andrew Shinnie failed to capitalise.
Rangers then broke from inside their own half and Gassama checked back inside at the edge of the box but sent his left foot shot inches wide then Butland had to block a Yengi attempt on a rare Livi breakaway after a Tavernier slip.
As the pressure told Samson Lawal was yellow carded for a crude challenge. Martindale had seen enough and Robbie Muirhead and Jeremy Bokila came off the bench as frustrated Rohl scratched his head and consulted his coaching staff for a solution.
Sylla was given lengthy treatment in the Livi box for a head knock after a clash with Fernandez and had to leave the field. Junior Robinson was brought on for his debut after a loan from English West Ham United with 14 minutes remaining.
Rangers then had to ball in the net thanks to Mohamed Diomande, making his 50th appearance, but VAR intervened for a possible offside. After a delay the referee pointed to the spot. Time 79 minutes and Martindale shook his head in the dugout.
That signalled a late surge from the home side who bought on Max Aarons with seven minutes remaining. Meghoma made way.
Connor Barron and Lyall Cameron came off the Rangers bench with Gassama and Diomande making way with two minutes left of normal time.
Match officials then signalled eight minutes of extra time as Cameron’s touch let him down inside the box and a chance was wasted before Livingston’s midfielder Susoho was shown the yellow card for a poor challenge as Rangers upped the pressure once again.
But it was Livingston who came closest when substitute Muirhead picked up a loose ball on the right hand side of the Rangers’ box and fired just over with a left foot drive, the last opportunity in a scrappy game.
