Cyriel Dessers' lethal finish started the rout at Hampden
Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo delivered superb individual displays as rampant Rangers dismantled struggling Ross County in a six-goal Scottish Premiership victory.
In what could be their final league match at Hampden, Philippe Clement’s men delivered a terrific performance a week out from the season's first Old Firm derby.
Nigeria striker Dessers slammed in the opener at the national stadium when he latched on to Tom Lawrence's through ball and Rangers took total control thereafter.
Lawrence then pulled a golden chance wide before Matondo cracked the crossbar, but the latter found the second just before the break when he cushioned in James Tavernier's inch-perfect cross.
Rangers' intensity did not dip after the interval as Matondo provided two second-half assists, firstly teeing up Dessers to divert in his fifth goal in six games and setting up Lawrence to roll past a helpless Ross Laidlaw.
Matondo notched his second and the Ibrox side's fifth, turning in Vaclav Cerny's cross from the right, before comical defending allowed substitute Danilo to complete the rout by poking in his first goal since November.
Aside from two Ronan Hale efforts, one which forced Jack Butland into a fine stop and another that was headed wide, County offered next to nothing and were completely overwhelmed for the majority.
Dessers continues to silence doubters
Clement has been searching for a 90-minute performance and his team delivered that by securing the biggest win of the Belgian's tenure.
The only negative for the Rangers boss is another injury to Leon Balogun, which meant the versatile Dujon Sterling had to fill in at centre-back with John Souttar for the entire second half.
But Clement and his players will still travel to Celtic Park feeling good about themselves after a scintillating display.
There was fluidity in Rangers' build-up as Tavernier often found himself in central areas, giving the Ibrox side an extra body in midfield to progress play.
But the stars of the six-goal show were Matondo and Dessers, who now has 12 goals in his last 16 Premiership starts.
Last season, Dessers' fifth goal came in mid-November. The much-maligned striker is on that tally already after just six games this term.
Fans will continue to doubt the Nigerian until he delivers on the biggest stage - next Sunday's derby is the acid test.
Manner of defeat a concern for Cowie
Never in their history have County beaten Rangers away from home, so defeat at Hampden will not define their season.
The manner in which they lost could, though, especially with it coming in the week after a shock League Cup exit to fourth-tier Spartans.
Don Cowie's side were exposed massively whenever the ball turned over, leaving huge gaps in midfield.
And when they retreated and went into damage-limitation mode, it was not much better.
Hale's performance perhaps provides a crumb of optimism. The striker, who has four goals this term, is a livewire at the top end of the pitch and looks dangerous when given service.
What they said
Rangers ready for Celtic showdown - Philippe Clement
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "It's clear [Dessers] is taking the right steps and becoming more and more important. He's growing as a player, that’s what we want.
"There are a lot of rumours [linking Matondo away]. We cannot say no to everything, we'll see this week. For the moment... Rabbi will be here with us next week. That's what I want also."
Ross County manager Don Cowie: "The result shows it wasn't acceptable. When it gets to two and three you have to have that pride to make sure it isn't any more.
"There are lessons to learn every single week. No knee-jerk reaction, but at the same time we recognise the last two results aren't good enough."
Manner of defeat 'unacceptable' - Cowie
