Rangers Beat Ross County 2-0

Kemar Roofe marked his first start in 16 months with a goal as Rangers beat Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

The Jamaica forward volleyed the visitors in front from a corner and a sumptuous strike from James Tavernier doubled their advantage before the break.

Jordan White headed narrowly wide for County, while team-mate Connor Randall was later denied by Jack Butland.

Substitutes Rabbi Matondo, Abdallah Sima and Danilo all tested Ross Laidlaw as Rangers recorded successive league wins for the first time this season.

Michael Beale’s side next face Champions League opponents PSV Eindhoven, with the tie level at 2-2, before meeting defending champions Celtic over a crucial eight-day period.

Cyriel Dessers and Sam Lammers missed early headed chances for Rangers, the former drawing an excellent save from Laidlaw, but the visitors kept the pressure up and Borna Barisic’s corner was turned in by Roofe despite the efforts of James Brown.

County had failed to capitalise on some sloppy possession out of defence early in the game and Tavernier showed them how it’s done when he pounced on a stray pass, drifted in from the right and curved the ball into the top left corner.

Lammers tried to emulate his captain from wide on the right but Laidlaw again stepped up with the save. That kept County in the contest and White missed an excellent chance to halve their deficit when he headed Yan Dhanda’s cross just wide.

Matondo’s strike from 20 yards, Sima’s header and a shot by Danilo brought out more of the best in Laidlaw, while Butland was also called into action to tip over Josh Sims’ effort, though a goal kick was incorrectly awarded.

Another boost for Rangers came in the shape of substitute Tom Lawrence’s return from 11 months out injured.