Summary

  • Rangers now 13 points behind Celtic with a game in hand

  • Kent strike from edge of area ricocheted past Laidlaw

  • McGregor thwarted County's Mckay & Mullin, while Stewart shot over

  • County stay ninth, six points off the bottom

  1. Next stop, Paisleypublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    After a tense couple of days in the Scottish top flight, it's as we were at the top of the table, with Celtic 13 points clear of Rangers and Motherwell leading those chasing third place.

    At the bottom, it is developing into a four-horse race to avoid relegation.

    That will be the focus for our next live coverage as bottom side Hearts visit second bottom St Mirren on Wednesday. Please join us then

    Rangers' Florian Kamberi and Ryan Kent celebrateImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ryan Kent (right) made the difference for Rangers in Dingwall

  2. More to come from Gerrardpublished at 14:26 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    No comments yet from Rangers manager Steven Gerrard.

    We'll bring you those later on the BBC Sport website...

  3. Mckay is your choicepublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Our readers obviously didn't rate Rangers too highly considering every County player got a better mark in our player rater than anyone from the opposition.

    Top marks go to County striker Billy Mckay despite his lack of a goal today to add to his Premiership player of the month award for February.

    Rater
  4. Can't be too critical - County co-bosspublished at 14:21 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    County co-manager Steven Ferguson says his side can take a lot of positives out of the game against Rangers despite defeat.

    "We felt we put a heck of a lot into the game," he tells BBC Scotland. "To get anything against Rangers, you need a bit of luck and we didn't get that at the goal.

    "We didn't buy into this talk of a Rangers crisis. We know how good they are and we had to be at our best.

    "Against Rangers, you don't get many chances and to have three good chances, you need to take one of them, although the goalkeeper had two great saves, so we can't be too critical."

    Asked about their relegation fears, Ferguson added: "We have eight games to go and we don't play a top-six side. It is in our hands and, if we get what we got today, we'll be right up for the fight.

  5. As it standspublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    That Rangers win won't leave leaders Celtic too concerned. Even though Steven Gerrard's side have a game in hand, a 13-point lead looks impregnable at this stage of the season as Neil Lennon's team head for a ninth consecutive title.

    Meanwhile, County are firmly back in the relegation shake-up. They do have that six-point advantage over bottom side Hearts and it may be crucial as we enter the final stretch.

    Premiership table
  6. Rangers hold swaypublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Rangers' Connor Goldson is pictured in action with Ross County's Callum MorrisImage source, SNS
  7. 'County could be in trouble'published at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Derek Ferguson
    Former Rangers and Hamilton midfielder on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    It is too hard to call at the bottom. If you look at the four teams, I think County could be in trouble. They were solid and workmanlike today, but I keep looking at the quality at Hearts - I think they will get themselves out of it - and Hamilton always enjoy that pressure

  8. Pressure on Countypublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    There's that big midweek game between St Mirren and Hearts and, if Hearts win that, it will be three points between the bottom four. It is certainly pressure time for County. They are vulnerable in defence - 60 goals lost this season - but score plenty going forward. You would think they would have enough to stay up, but you wouldn't bank on it

  9. 'We need to build on that'published at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor tells Sky Sports after the 1-0 win over Ross County: "It's obviously good. The recent performance and results haven't been good enough."

    And midfielder Steven Davis adds: "We need to try and build on that now. It was an important goal from Kenty and Allan made some important saves as well.

    "We know the standards we set and we haven't reached those levels recently. It is a step in the right direction and we'll take a bit of confidence from that in a big week for us."

    Ryan Kent (left) celebrates his goalImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ryan Kent (left) scored the only goal of the game

  10. What's up with Morelos?published at 13:58 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Derek Ferguson
    Former Rangers and Hamilton midfielder on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    I don't think Morelos is fit or sharp enough and I think he relies on that power and pace. He hasn't a great first touch. Is he technically gifted? I'm not so sure. Is he a good team player? Not so sure. But whether it is stuff going on off the park, he doesn't look like the player he was. No goals in 10 - that's partly why Rangers have struggled

  11. 'Huge sigh of relief for Gerrard'published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Derek Ferguson
    Former Rangers and Hamilton midfielder on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Ross County had some opportunities in the second-half, but Rangers' pressure had to pay off. It was a little slice of luck with the deflection, but on the balance of things, I think it is deserved. Vintage display, though? No - and there is a lack of confidence. I think it will be a huge sigh of relief from Steven Gerrard

  12. Vote in our player raterpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    FT: Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Who impressed most in Dingwall? Who didn't?

    Rate the players from both teams here

    Player rater
  13. FULL-TIME Ross County 0-1 Rangerspublished at 13:49 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    It was tense at times, they still looked lacking in confidence, but Rangers grind out a win that narrows the gap at the top of the Premiership with Celtic to 13 points.

    More importantly, with the title almost certainly already secured by their city rivals for a ninth time in a row, it will be a welcome boost ahead of Thursday's Europa League last 16 first leg against Bayer Leverkusen.

    For County, they are left to rue a few missed chances of their own before Ryan Kent's deflected winner and the Dingwall side remain in ninth, three ahead of second bottom St Mirren and six clear of Hearts.

    Rangers celebrateImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ryan Kent (right) got the only goal of the game

  14. 'Excellent chance'published at 13:48 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    I was thinking Florian Kamberi should pull the trigger earlier, but he does eventually find the right pass to Jordan Jones, but yet again Ross County get a body a yard from the line and put it round for a corner. Excellent chance for Rangers to make it two in stoppage time

  15. Postpublished at 90+2

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Rangers go close to a second on the break.

    Florian Kamberi delays his shot too long and, after rounding goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw, the on-loan Hibs striker finds Jordan Jones at the near post, but the winger's flick deflects off Richard Foster and wide for a corner.

    Rangers still can't put County away.

  16. Postpublished at 90mins

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    County win a corner as we enter five minutes of stoppage time and the Rangers defence is all at sea as Connor Goldson hits one of his team-mates with an attempted clearance before the ball is eventually humped to safety.

  17. Kent the differencepublished at 13:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Ryan Kent scoresImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Ryan Kent's strike has Rangers in the lead

  18. Morelos off, Katic onpublished at 88mins

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Unusual to see Rangers looking to hang on to what they've got, but that's seems to be the thinking as Steven Gerrard sends on centre-half Nikola Katic in place of striker Alfredo Morelos.

  19. Erwin for Tillsonpublished at 87mins

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    With Rangers down to 10 men as Joe Aribo receives treatment, County go with three strikers as Lee Erwin is thrown on in place of midfielder Jordan Tillson.

  20. Can this change Rangers' mindset?published at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 8 March 2020

    Ross County 0-1 Rangers

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    If Rangers get this win, there could well be a complete mindset change for them. Steven Gerrard will be hoping this can help them get back that winning mentality