Rangers go from Groundhog Day to Deadline Day as Punxsutawney Phil Clement hopes he wakes up to change
Across the Atlantic yesterday, it was Groundhog Day for the people of Pennsylvania. But back here it was the players of Ross County who were left with a familiar sense of deja vu as their never-ending Ibrox nightmare was played on repeat yet again.
Punxsutawney Phil – the weather-predicting rodent made famous by the Hollywood flick starring Bill Murray – was rolled out to forecast another six weeks of winter Stateside. But that’s nothing on the Staggies’ bleak nine-year run on the south side of Glasgow. They’ve faced Rangers here and at Hampden 12 times previously, with the Highlanders’ best efforts a couple of draws against Mark Warburton’s newly-promoted Light Blues back in 2016/17.
But in the 10 games since then it’s been defeat after defeat, with 35 goals shipped in the process. And any hopes County had of breaking that miserable cycle fell apart inside 35 minutes as Philippe Clement’s side refused to show any mercy to the relegation-threatened side, who have seen a 10-point lead over basement boys St Johnstone slashed to just five.
Punxsutawney Phil may be bracing himself for another month or so of chilly weather but his Ibrox namesake will have been delighted to see his side put on a red-hot first-half display. Ianis Hagi nabbed a double before John Souttar stepped up his comeback with a first goal of the season.
County did well to hold Gers at bay until 12 minutes from time when James Tavernier tucked home the Light Blues first Premiership spot-kick of the season as they maintained the 10- point gap on leaders Celtic.
Groundhogs weren’t the only ones making headlines in the US yesterday. Donald Trump is causing concern with his plans for a tariff trade war on neighbours Canada and Mexico. As for the Rangers faithful, they’re just hoping the Ibrox board aren’t keeping their powder dry on deadline day.
Clement is hopeful he’ll be given the green light to push the button on a couple of deals ahead of tonight’s 11pm cut-off point. And there is no doubt he could do with a few extra bodies. Souttar was back in a starting line-up for the first time since limping off against Spurs in mid-December as he returned alongside Clinton Nsiala and Hagi.
But Clement’s already scant options have been reduced further following the departures last week of Kieran Dowell and Rabbi Matondo. Zak Lovelace’s name was also missing from the squad that faced County as rumours continue about a return to Millwall.
Don Cowie recalled Nohan Kenneh, Kacper Lopata and Kieran Phillips to his line-up after last week’s late penalty snatched a draw at home to Hibs. There was a quiet hush around Ibrox early on as the home support awaited something to get them off their seats.
County did reasonably well in the opening stages to dampen the volume levels. In fact, it was the Highlanders who came close to a sudden outburst of joy when Noah Chilvers whipped a wicked free-kick to the back post, where Lopata only just failed to add the touch that would’ve put Cowie’s side in front.
But it was only a matter of time before Rangers made themselves heard and they duly roared in front on 18 minutes. Nsiala’s raking 40-yard pass out to Vaclav Cerny was measured to the millimetre.
Cutting in from the right past Elijah Campbell, it was all too easy for the Czech ace to fire a low drive that had Jordan Amissah scrambling down to his right. But all the German-born stopper could do was palm the ball back into traffic, where Hagi was waiting to drive home the rebound.
Cerny was involved again moments later as Igamane swept wide. But there was no stopping the relentless waves of attack crashing over the County backline.Lopata’s clumsy challenge on Cyriel Dessers gave Gers a promising free-kick opportunity 20 yards out.
County could have no complaints about the award. But the end result was undoubtedly cruel as a wild deflection off Jonathan Tomkinson in the wall saw the ball’s trajectory skip from one side of the goal to the other as the stranded Amissah stood helplessly while it nestled in the corner.
There were only 25 minutes gone at that point but already it was looking ominous for the visitors, who knew they had to make the most of any opportunity that came their way. But when Akil Wright failed to make the most of a free header from a Chilvers corner, Cowie must have known his team were in major trouble. And their position went from bad to hopeless 10 minutes before the break as Gers added No.3.
Hagi’s corner found Nico Raskin free in five yards of space and his header to the back post was ruthlessly rammed home by Souttar. County hoped to stem the flow towards their box with half-time changes as James Brown and Scott Allardice replaced Kenneh and Josh Nisbet.
But Amissah had to make a decent save as Ibrox teen Bailey Rice – an interval sub for Mohamed Diomande – came close to a first senior goal. Rangers were racking up the chances. Souttar thought he had a second as he slammed home from an Amissah spill but Dessers had wandered offside in the build-up.
Brown went close for the visitors with an effort that skimmed Jack Butland’s crossbar. But it was Tavernier who wrapped up the win from the spot as Gers were awarded their first league penalty since May. Referee Steven MacLean gave himself a second to think as Lopata clattered Dessers’ ankle as the pair challenged for a Cerny corner delivery.
But the whistler came to the right conclusion, handing Tavernier the chance to add the fourth with a cool finish from 12 yards.
