VAR was once again the main factor in deciding the game as Rangers got a massive three points at Ibrox against Livingston on Saturday.
With the International break hitting Rangers’ squad hard with injuries they made four changes to the game away at Dundee as John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore and Bojan Miovski were dropped for Nasser Djiga, Emmanuel Fernandez, Oliver Antman and Thelo Aasgaard.
Livingston made three changes from their draw with Falkirk, Joshua Brenet, Lewis Smith and Jeremy Bolika dropped out for Scott Pittman, Macauley Tait and Samson Lawal.
Once the referee blew for kickoff, Rangers were on the front foot and won a corner after decent work on the left by Djeidi Gassama.
The corner was taken by James Tavernier and was met by the head of Fernandez who headed his first league goal of the season in his first league start to push Rangers into an early lead.
Rangers continued to push forward as Danilo capitalised on a mistake from Danny Finlayson and beat Danny Wilson to play through Gassama but he was offside.
Livingston drew level on 17 minutes as Antman lost the ball to May and his long range pass finds Tete Yengi who’s control is fantastic as he slots past Jack Butland.
Livingston kept their momentum as Cristian Montano’s cross from the left deflected through to Yengi whose shot was blocked by Fernandez’s arm. VAR gave no indication that there was a clear and obvious mistake and Rangers could count themselves lucky there.
The game slowed down as it continued through to half time, Rangers dominated possession but were passive with the ball.
Livingston tried to be direct like they were for their goal but there was no change to the score at half time.
Rangers made a substitution at half time, Aasgaard made way for Miovski and the striker nearly scored just a couple minutes into the half as he headed a Tavernier cross over the bar.
The game settled back into the pattern of large spells of the first half, with Rangers struggling to create with the ball and Livingston trying to break as much as possible with nobody creating any real chances.
The game sprung into life 20 minutes from time as substitute Nedim Bajrami broke for Rangers after a rare stint of Livingston possession, he played in Miovski who in turn played through Gassama but his shot rolled wide of the mark.
A minute later Rangers were trying to build from the back but Tavernier was shouldered off the ball and that let Yengi run through on goal but he was thwarted by a great save from the foot of Butland.
The next VAR decision came 12 minutes from time as Rangers this time decided to go long themselves as a ball from Tavernier was latched onto by Miovski who toe-poked the ball past keeper Jerome Prior into the path of Mohamed Diomande who tapped into the open goal.
The goal was originally ruled out for offside but after a lengthy review both Miovski and Diomande were ruled onside so Rangers found themselves ahead again.
The game opened up as Livingston pushed for another equaliser and had eight minutes added time to do as after the VAR checks and other injury related stoppages.
Livingston almost got it in the seventh of the eight minutes a free kick isn’t properly cleared by Rangers and fell to substitute striker Robbie Muirhead but his acrobatic effort went over the bar.
The game ended 2-1 to Rangers but Livingston gave a very good account of themselves and if not for VAR may have gotten a draw.
Rangers keep the pressure up on the teams above them with their fourth league win in a row under Danny Rohl who still has a 100% record in the competition.
Danny Rohl said in the post-match press conference: “I am very happy with the three points, I think it was a hard-fought victory and it was not easy. We took the three points, we need to improve and entertain our fans, but we have made it four wins in a row and that’s the most important thing,”
Livingston manager David Martindale said: “I thought in the game the players can take a lot of positivity from the performance. For me the big decision is on 20 minutes, how we don’t get a penalty in that moment and for me that is a massive moment in the game, I don’t understand how we don’t get a penalty.”
