Rangers

The ex-Gers shot stopper revealed in May that he had been given a terminal diagnosis of stage four oesophageal cancer and had less than six months to live.

"The thoughts of the directors, management, players and staff are today with Andy's family, and would ask that their privacy is respected at this sad time," Rangers said in a statement on Saturday.

Goram is fondly remembered for his seven-year spell at Ibrox between 1991 and 1998, when he was a five-time league champion, as well as winning three Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups.

He turned in a string of impressive performances in the first iteration of the Champions League, helping Rangers to a second-place group finish, a point off qualifying for the final.

Goram became something of a journeyman player following the end of his tenure in Glasgow, and became a Premier League winner in 2001 after a short loan spell with Manchester United.

At international level, he won 43 caps and was named in the squads for the Mexico 1986 and Italia 1990 World Cups, plus Euro 1992 and Euro 1996, when he was first-choice goalkeeper.

Goram was a member of the Scottish Football Hall of Fame, and was also named both the Scottish PFA and Football Writers’ Player of the Year in 1992-93 for his efforts in Rangers' treble-winning campaign.

Philippe Clement lost his first game as Gers boss in the narrow 2-1 defeat at Celtic Park on Saturday but, just as it looked as if they were losing their way a bit after an energetic start, late first-half goals from wide-men Ross McCausland and Abdallah Sima gave them a commanding interval lead.

Killie, who went into the game unbeaten in six games, fought back and Danny Armstrong reduced the deficit in the 58th minute with a penalty awarded after VAR intervention.

It was the first penalty Rangers had conceded in 75 cinch Premiership matches since Lewis Ferguson netted for Aberdeen in a 1-1 draw in January 2022.

However, Todd Cantwell soon restored the two-goal cushion as Rangers ensured the Celtic defeat was a speed bump rather than a road block.

The result sees Gers keep the pressure on the leaders going into the winter break, where  Clement is sure to further bolster his squad – which had Portuguese attacker Fabio Silva coming off the bench to make his debut.

The afternoon began with a poignant minute’s silence in tribute to the 66 fans who died in the Ibrox Disaster on January 2, 1971, before Rangers looked to make amends for their weekend woes by starting with pace and purpose.

In the seventh minute a shot from Gers attacker Cyriel Dessers on the turn struck the outside of the post.

Killie keeper Will Dennis then turned a deflected drive from Sima past the post for a corner which came to nothing before Dessers headed a cross from left-back Ridvan Yilmaz just over the bar.

However, in the 28th minute a pass from Killie substitute David Watson, on for the injured Liam Donnelly, split the square Gers defence to find captain Kyle Vassell running clear on goal but Ibrox goalkeeper Jack Butland raced out to block the shot with his foot.

That was enough to bring groans tumbling down from the stands but in the 41st minute, just as Killie sensed an opener was there for the taking, they conceded when Dessers’ terrific raking pass sent McCausland through on goal and the Northern Ireland international drove it low into the corner of the net.

The Light Blues did not take long to double their lead, Sima taking a cross into the box from Connor Goldson on his chest four minutes later, before turning and hammering the ball past Dennis from 12 yards for his 15th goal of the season before he goes on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal.

Killie came out fighting at the start of the second half and there was VAR check for a penalty when McKenzie’s cross struck the arm of defender John Souttar, in for suspended Leon Balogun, before going out.

Referee John Beaton went to his pitch-side monitor and then pointed to the spot with Armstrong giving Butland no chance.

It could have returned the nerves to Ibrox but three minutes later Cantwell converted a Yilmaz cross from close-range for his second goal in three games.

Dennis saved a decent drive from Gers skipper James Tavernier and Dessers took too long when presented with a chance and was crowded out, before he was replaced by Wolves loanee Silva.

In the 75th minute Cantwell should have scored again with only Dennis to beat but shot straight at the keeper before Rangers continued to keep a spirited Rugby Park side at bay until the final whistle.

Philippe Clement’s men returned to competitive action following the winter break and dominated on a poor, rain-soaked pitch before midfielder John Lundstram headed in at the back post in the 35th minute.

Striker Cyriel Dessers knocked in from close range just four minutes from the interval.

Stevie Farrell’s spirited side limited their cinch Premiership opponents to fewer clear-cut chances in the second half but Gers skipper James Tavernier scored a penalty in the 78th minute and, although Matthew Sheils headed in a consolation for the home side, Gers substitute Scott Wright restored the visitors’ three-goal lead moments later with a powerful finish.

The sodden Dumbarton Stadium pitch passed a lunchtime inspection and the tiny stadium with one stand was packed to its 2,000 capacity with dozens of ticket-less fans outside the ground.

Dumbarton’s back-up goalie Harry Broun was in for loan keeper Jay Hogarth, who was unable to face parent club Rangers.

For the Gers, Robby McCrorie took over from number one Jack Butland in goal but there was a familiar look to the Rangers side with new loan signing Fabio Silva on the bench.

The pitch cut up from the start as rain cascaded and Broun soon had to make a save from Dessers before Gers attacker Rabbi Matondo lifted a Ross McCausland cut-back over the bar.

Dessers drove another two efforts over the bar as the visitors’ dominance continued although, in a rare attack by the hosts, McCrorie had to move smartly to make a save from Michael Ruth at his near post for a corner that came to nothing.

It was a Rangers corner from midfielder Todd Cantwell which brought the opening goal, defender John Souttar heading on and Lundstram finishing at the back post.

The goal relaxed the Light Blues and Dessers made no mistake with his left foot after latching on to a cross from Tavernier, taking his tally to the season to 10.

Matondo came close with an effort at the start of the second half before Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Tom Lawrence came on for Ridvan Yilmaz, Cantwell and Nico Raskin.

Still the rain came teeming down.

From a well-worked Dumbarton corner just after the hour-mark Ryan Blair had a shot from the edge of the box blocked for a corner which caused no damage other than to remind the Light Blues there was still work to do.

Silva replaced Dessers before before referee Alan Muir judged that Dumbarton’s Carlo Pignatiello had fouled Matondo inside the box, with Tavernier powering in the penalty.

Shiels’ header from  a Ryan Wallace free-kick with two minutes remaining gave the home fans something to cheer about.

However, Wright, on for Matondo, finished off a pass from McCausland for Gers to finish on a positive.

Spurs put in another disjointed performance as they failed to win for a fifth straight game but it could have been much worse at Ibrox.

Hamza Igamane opened the scoring for the home side and, even though Dejan Kulusevski equalised, it took a brilliant stop from Fraser Forster late on to deny Cyriel Dessers a winner for Rangers.

Spurs are playing with depleted numbers right now with defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies all sidelined, something Spurs boss Postecoglou said is having an impact.

"I think it's kind of the situation at the moment we're in, we're in a bit of a struggle, down on numbers, a lot of them we're asking for a lot of repeated efforts, it takes it's toll," said the Australian, who is coming under increased scrutiny from some sections of the Spurs support.

"The next round of European games are not for a while which will help for sure. It'll be an important point for us.

"I thought the substitutes made a difference and we scored a good goal, had other good moments and a great save by Fraser [Forster] at the end."

Ex-Celtic boss Postecoglou has only won once in five trips to Ibrox as an opposing manager and he acknowledged the impact of a lively crowd.

"It's expected in the context of the game, it's tough game, the crowd and the atmosphere, tight first half, not many clear-cut chances," he added.

"Then they scored early in the second half and the crowd gets behind them.

"They're always difficult to play against here at Ibrox, especially on European nights.

"The nature of the contest, the atmosphere, not many teams come here and win so you kind of expect it to be a tough game.

"We weren’t anywhere near our best which I think is fair to say and at the same time, we’re in a period of games where we’re grinding through at the moment.

"Obviously [we are playing] with a fairly depleted squad. So, in the context of that, in the end, I think it was a good outcome for us."

Rabbi Matondo’s first-half goal for the Govan side was cancelled out by a Kevin Diks header after the break.

Cyriel Dessers, one of a raft of Gers substitutes, struck from close range after 75 minutes before another Light Blue replacement, Johnly Yfeko, scored an own goal.

Following a training camp in Spain, it proved a worthwhile run-out for Philippe Clement’s side with a host of players getting game time before Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Dumbarton.

On a freezing night in front of a half-filled Ibrox, Matondo missed the target with an erratic effort in the 12th minute before side-footing in the opener seconds later with a more accomplished finish from just inside the box after a drive towards goal.

The visitors made a host of changes for the second half and Rangers finished the game with a different side to the one which began the evening, with fit-again Ryan Jack, Tom Lawrence and Borna Barisic notably back again after various injuries.

Copenhagen deservedly equalised in the 71st minute when Diks headed in a Christian Sorensen corner but minutes later Dessers calmly dinked in from a couple of yards before missing a great chance to grab his double soon afterwards when he failed to hit the target from inside the box.

Rangers paid for that profligacy in the 79th minute when Yfeko inadvertently put through his own goal from another Sorensen corner.

A bright start was rewarded when Abdallah Sima fired them ahead just 10 minutes into the game before Ridvan Yilmaz’s brilliant solo effort in the second half doubled the lead.

Two quickfire goals in the final 10 minutes put the game to bed as Sima found the net through a deflection before Ryan Jack struck late in stoppage time.

The win took Rangers into the final four of the competition, where they will play Hearts at Hampden Park in November.

Rangers set out their intentions early and started brightly with Ben Davies having a chance in the first two minutes after flicking James Tavernier’s corner wide of the post.

They tested Shamal George in the seventh minute with some neat build-up play around the box leading to Tavernier firing a powerful shot towards goal, forcing the Livi goalkeeper to react from point-blank range and he was quickly called into action again, punching away an inswinging corner.

The hosts earned their rewards as Sima broke down the left, appearing to nudge Jamie Brandon off the ball before cutting into the box to fire into the far top corner.

Livingston were unable to find an answer as Rangers exercised their dominance throughout the half, moving the ball all over the pitch and using the right flank in particular to create chances.

Daniel MacKay made some good moves down the right wing for the visitors and on a rare break into the Rangers half Stephen Kelly had a crack from outside of the box that flew wide.

It was a warning signal for dominant Rangers as the Lions began to see more of the ball after the break.

Tavernier’s crosses were causing problems and Sima had a shot saved from close range in the 58th minute before John Lundstram fired over the bar from distance.

Livi came close to levelling with a great chance in the 61st minute as a corner was whipped in but Ayo Obileye headed just wide of the post.

Cyriel Dessers then made a great run into the middle of the box but was unable to put a shot away before Tavernier’s effort was well held by George.

Yilmaz doubled Rangers’ lead with a superb solo effort that saw him charge down the centre of the pitch from inside his own half before blasting the ball into the bottom left corner.

They continued to push and had a few half chances as Dessers headed over the bar before Sam Lammers curled an effort wide.

An energetic move stemming from the left saw the ball switched to Tavernier on the right and the captain found Lammers in the box, but good defending from the Lions forced the Dutch forward to fire over the bar.

Rangers scored in quick succession, finding the third in the 84th minute as Sima struck from a tight angle and was deflected into the net by Luiyi de Lucas.

They capped off the evening two minutes into stoppage time when Tavernier cut the ball back to Jack who blasted it into the bottom corner.

Gers attacker Abdallah Sima curled in a terrific first-leg opener just before the interval but the Dutch side levelled through midfielder Ibrahim Sangare just after the hour mark.

As play raced from end to end, substitute Rabbi Matondo scored his first Light Blues goal in the 76th minute before PSV captain Luuk de Jong levelled with a header four minutes later, and the match ended in a repeat of last year’s score at the same stage of the competition.

The two sides drew 2-2 at Ibrox before Rangers scrambled a 1-0 win in Eindhoven and Beale remains confident of progress in the Netherlands next Wednesday night.

Asked if lightning can strike twice against the Dutch side, Beale said: “I think so, yes, of course. Naturally we will go across and be extremely positive.

“There were moments of tonight’s game when I thought we were very good.

“I thought we scored two good goals and all night we caused them problems defensively. There were areas of the game we’d want to improve on, for sure. But everything is to play for.

“We wanted to set up next week and we’ve done that.

“Tonight when we were struggling, we fought for each other. We ran for each other, we problem-solved on the pitch.

“This new group are learning very quickly that big nights like tonight bring us together.

“I don’t want anybody to underestimate us next week because it’s in this club to go put this performance on.

“We’ll have our thousands of fans travelling over there and as a team we’re going there to get this job done and we will give it everything we can.

“I think the tie is evenly set. I don’t think them and their coach are travelling home thinking ‘this is a job done’.

“They will know how hard physically that game was, at the end it looked like they had one or two bumps and bruises as well. It is finely poised.

“I think the two penalty boxes are going to be decisive. It’s important you play well between them but the most important thing is you take your chances when they come.”

PSV boss Peter Bosz was left with “mixed feelings” but is confident of finishing the tie next week.

He said: “I am never afraid of anything. I always think ‘go for it’.

“Even if I was there last season (when Rangers won), my mentality would be that this season we are going to make it.

“I felt we would be dominating here and they would play the counter-attack real well and really fast.

“That is how they scored their second goal. They had the energy of the crowd.

“We have to play a lot better in the return or we will not make it through. What do we need to do? Score more goals and don’t let stupid goals go in against us.”

Striker Amadou Bakayoko stunned the home fans in the fifth minute but the Light Blues responded with goals from forward Cyriel Dessers, skipper James Tavernier – with a penalty awarded by VAR – and attacker Abdallah Sima.

Gers midfielder Jose Cifuentes was sent off at the end of the first half after another VAR intervention saw a yellow card upgraded to red.

Rangers played the second half with 10 men but could have increased their lead despite a valiant effort from the visitors. They move five points behind leaders Celtic, who play Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Gers had lost midfielder Tom Lawrence and striker Danilo to injury against Hearts in midweek and, also with one eye on the final Europa League group game against Real Betis on Thursday, he rang the changes.

Borna Barisic, John Souttar, Cifuentes, Rabbi Matondo and Dessers came back in while Connor Goldson, Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz dropped to the bench.

The visitors, with centre-back Ricki Lamie in for the injured Owen Beck, soon threatened.

Gers keeper Jack Butland had to produce a fantastic save from Lyall Cameron in the fourth minute after he had waltzed through the Gers defence with ease.

The home side did not heed the warning. Cameron floated the corner into the box and it eventually fell to unmarked Bakayoko who knocked in from five yards.

The mood inside Ibrox changed until Dessers equalised.

Dundee’s Jordan McGhee headed Tavernier’s long and aimless ball straight to Gers midfielder Todd Cantwell, who moved the ball on to the former Feyenoord striker. His first effort was blocked but he hammered his second attempt high past Carson.

The afternoon got worse for the Taysiders when referee Kevin Clancy was sent to check his monitor for a possible penalty when Sima’s shirt was pulled by Aaron Donnelly at a corner.

Clancy pointed to the spot and Tavernier sent Carson the wrong way to turn the game on its head, although the Light Blues defence still looked leaky.

However, Sima’s powerful header from a Tavernier corner gave Carson no chance and made it four goals in three games for the Senegalese attacker.

Dundee’s Joe Shaughnessy had the ball in the Rangers net minutes later but Bakayoko had barged into Butland to prevent him gathering and a free-kick was correctly given.

Then Cantwell netted for Rangers but Clancy had already blown for an infringement.

As Rangers pressed, Cantwell’s powerful drive was brilliantly saved by Carson before Tavernier clipped the top of the bar.

In added time, Clancy again went pitchside to check a foul by Cifuentes on Bakayoko and returned to dismiss the midfielder.

Cantwell was sacrificed for the more defensive Dujon Sterling, with Matondo making way for McCausland for the second half.

Cameron tested Butland with a long-range drive before Clement was booked for venting his spleen on the touchline.

Sima should have scored a second in the 64th minute after bursting through the Dundee defence but shot wide and then Dessers got himself clear only to be crowded out by backtracking defenders.

Dundee skipper Joe Shaughnessy cleared a Leon Balogun shot off the line and Sterling crashed a shot off the post in the final minute of normal time as the home side ran out comfortable winners.

Rangers took a huge step towards winning the league, an achievement which would deny Celtic 10 in a row, with a narrow triumph at Ibrox on Saturday. 

Callum McGregor's second-half own goal, shortly after Nir Bitton had been sent off for a foul on Alfredo Morelos, meant Gerrard's men triumphed despite not registering a shot on target. 

They also won 2-0 at Celtic Park in October and have won three straight derbies dating back to last season, their best run since 2008 when Walter Smith was in charge. 

While 19 points is a formidable advantage, Gerrard is not taking anything for granted, with Celtic holding three games in hand. 

"We don't look at the 19-point lead, we look at our next game against Aberdeen," Gerrard said to Sky Sports. 

"There are three points available there and 48 still to play for, so still a lot of challenges, a lot of obstacles to get over. We don't look at leads and our season starts now. 

"But today was big in terms of making a statement and proving we can win our second derby out of two."

Celtic were on top until Bitton saw red, with Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor making three important first-half saves, most notably tipping a 25-yard Leigh Griffiths strike onto the post. 

Asked about McGregor's performance, Gerrard said: "Wow - outstanding. He is a world-class goalkeeper. 

"Good decision [making him man of the match]. The couple of saves he made kept us in the match. He is outstanding, reliable and trustworthy.  

"I knew already but I now know even more why he has been so successful at this club because he has bailed us out again." 

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard was not overly worried by Rangers' performance, adding: "First half we were not good enough, we were not ourselves and second best in a lot of areas. 

"There was a massive improvement in the second half, then obviously the sending off is a big, major incident in the game and it looked like only one team would win it from there. 

"Credit to Celtic - they played really well in the first half, but we were outstanding in the cup final for 90 minutes not too long ago and got nothing for it. It is about the end result. 

"You are not always going to be pretty on the eye and able to show your style. It is about the outcome. It was all about the three points, especially at this stage of the season. 

"It is another big three points and another clean sheet, so really proud of the team in terms of their efforts. We stretch our lead, remain humble and move on to Aberdeen."

The ex-England midfielder, who had a brief and unsuccessful spell in Scottish football in 2016, highlighted a goal Rangers scored against Thistle in Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup final and wrote on X: “I mean let’s just talk about the goalie! How is this nonsense on the box?”

Barton followed up his comments on Tuesday by hitting back at criticism from Easdon’s father and Rangers player Nicola Docherty and using homophobic comments to describe the women’s game.

A statement on Rangers’ website read: “Rangers FC has been made aware of discriminatory and misogynistic comments regarding the women’s game following Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup final.

“As a club, we stand together against these homophobic and disgraceful slurs in the strongest possible terms.

“We are unwavering in our desire to further the women’s game across the country which goes from strength to strength, and will support all players in challenging those who hold extremely outdated and foul views of women’s football.”

The goalkeeper’s father, seven-time world kickboxing champion Lex Easdon, had accused Barton of playing up to his “fan boys” on social media and wrote: “In 2024 and ‘grown’ men feel the need to belittle and bully a 17yr old school kid, who doesn’t get paid to play unlike some men who make the same mistake week after week and get paid hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa offered his backing to Easdon.

“We have to have a strong opinion on supporting Ava, obviously,” he said. “A young player, who is 17 years old, who is competing excellently this season for her club.

“We are a sport in development and we all have to be aware of that and protect players.

“If we want players like her to develop and play in the national team, we have to create a safe environment where they are going to play and make mistakes. We have to understand that mistakes are a part of the evolution.

“The problem we have now is accelerating the progress and the evolution so there are other people involved, and we can’t control that.

“I just want to show my support from the head coach position of the national team. I want to show my support to a player who is playing exceptionally. She is very brave to compete in a final.

“She has been put in that position, she is dreaming of being a football player, as are many girls in the country. And, by the way, she is playing very well.”

When asked about Barton’s comments specifically, the Spaniard added: “I can’t control people’s opinion or who says what but I will show my support to Ava.”

Martinez Losa praised the togetherness of the women’s game after the likes of Docherty spoke out in support of Easdon.

Docherty wrote on X: “Couldn’t help but notice the tweets from an older man regarding this great young goalkeeper who is inspiring the next generation. Keep doing what you are doing! If women’s football isn’t for you change the channel, it isn’t hard.”

Martinez Losa said: “The women’s game’s culture is a totally different scenario where we want that togetherness, we want that atmosphere where girls can attend games, families can attend games. That’s the image we want to provide.

“But also internally we have been working so hard to create these safe environments. The only thing we can do is learn from this process and show the support to the player who is involved.”

Chelsea and Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert also offered Easdon her backing.

“Ava’s a terrific young goalkeeper coming through the Scotland ranks so that’s important to say,” she said. “One mistake won’t define you.

“I was disappointed with a mistake I made against Man City and you’ve got to get back up and show yourself again and that’s when, more than ever, you have to just find another way. Mistakes happen, it’s part of football.”

Hagi scored one goal in seven Premiership appearances for the Gers after joining the club in January and was described by manager Steven Gerrard as "a pleasure to coach".

The 21-year-old, who has been capped 10 times by Romania, also featured in three Europa League games during his loan spell at Ibrox, memorably scoring a brace in a 3-2 victory over Braga in February.

Hagi told the club's official website: "I am excited about re-joining the squad for pre-season and putting on the famous shirt once again.

"There was interest from other clubs, but my priority was always to return to Glasgow and play for Rangers.

"I really enjoyed my loan spell at Ibrox and look forward to playing in front of our fans very soon, but for now I hope all of the Rangers fans and your families are staying safe and well."

Hagi, the son of Romania great Gheorghe Hagi, had only moved to Genk from Viitorul Constanta last year.

His next league appearance for Rangers will not come until the 2020-21 season, with 2019-20 having been declared over this month, with Celtic confirmed as champions.

Gers attacker Abdallah Sima curled in a terrific opener just before the interval with the Dutch side punished for sloppiness.

However, the visitors levelled through impressive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare just after the hour mark.

Substitute Rabbi Matondo scored his first Light Blues goal in the 76th minute before PSV captain Luuk de Jong levelled with a header four minutes later, to repeat last year’s score at the same stage of the competition.

The two sides drew 2-2 at Ibrox before Rangers scrambled a 1-0 win in Eindhoven and Michael Beale’s side will be looking for a similar outcome in the Netherlands next Wednesday night.

There was no surprise that Beale made a host of changes from the 2-1 Viaplay Cup win over Morton at the weekend with captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Borna Barisic, midfielders Ryan Jack, Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell and Sima all returning.

Malik Tillman, on loan at PSV from Bayern Munich having spent last season with Rangers, was on the bench looking to make his debut as De Jong led the line, supported by the talents such as Joey Veerman, Johan Bakayoko, Noa Lang and Sangare.

The Govan ground reverberated with noise before the game and in the breathless opening minutes the decibels increased when Cantwell almost took advantage of some sloppy PSV defending before the ball broke off Raskin and flew behind.

Moments later, Gers keeper Jack Butland made a save from a Lang drive as the slick-moving visitors broke with pace and purpose.

The home side were doing most of the chasing but in the 22nd minute a slip by PSV defender Olivier Boscagli allowed Sima to latch on to a Cyriel Dessers header but a tame shot was easily gathered by keeper Walter Benitez.

PSV wideman Bakayoko had two efforts on goal, driving straight at Butland then going close with a curling drive later in the half.

However, just before the break the PSV defence again got into a tangle and when Dessers’ pass landed at Sima at the edge of the box, the on-loan Brighton player curled the ball high past Benitez to send the home fans into raptures.

The second half began with Benitez blocking a close-range effort from Tavernier as Gers fans urged their team on but PSV looked sprightly in their own attacks.

In the 58th minute, after Cantwell was booked for a cynical foul on Ismael Saibari, Butland palmed away a decent 25-yard free-kick from Veerman and again Rangers defended the corner.

But moments later, in another PSV attack which forced the Light Blues back into their own box, Bakayoko laid the ball back, Saibari dummied it and Sangare hammered the ball into the net.

Matondo replaced Sima with John Lundstram on for Jack before Cantwell was perhaps fortunate to avoid another yellow following a hefty tackle on Sergino Dest.

Matondo’s pace soon caused PSV problems and so did his finishing.

A sweeping Rangers move saw Cantwell break forward and play wide to Dessers, whose brilliant pass took out the PSV defence with Matondo steering the ball past Benitez.

An ecstatic Ibrox was soon silenced once more when De Jong bulleted in a header from a Bakayoko corner.

In a frantic finale, Gers substitute Danilo saw a goal-bound shot blocked for a corner and Matondo drove just over but it ended all square and the two teams get to do it all over again next week.

The striker sustained a thigh injury while away on international duty with Colombia and will not be fit for a potentially decisive Scottish Premiership clash at Ibrox.

Morelos played no part in Colombia's victories over Bolivia and Venezuela, which proved to be in vain as they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst on Friday confirmed the 25-year-old will miss the showdown with Glasgow rivals Celtic, who are three points ahead of Rangers heading into the contest.

"Unfortunately for all of us he won't be with us on Sunday, we won't have him back in the next couple of weeks," said the former Netherlands midfielder.

"Morelos will be assessed and hopefully we can give more news after the weekend."

Morelos has scored 11 league goals for the defending champions this season.

Staggies skipper Jack Baldwin scored an own goal after 15 minutes of a first half in which the home side could have netted at least twice against a below-par Gers outfit.

County then scored two quick-fire second-half goals through Simon Murray and George Harmon before Josh Sims added a stunning third and the hosts survived a late penalty from Gers skipper James Tavernier to win 3-2.

It was the Dingwall club’s first victory over Rangers after 20 defeats and four draws in 24 previous meetings.

The result left the Light Blues four points behind leaders Celtic with a game in hand against Dundee on Wednesday night, while second-bottom County moved to within a point of 10th-placed St Johnstone as they go into the split.

Clement said: “We threw away the points today. We didn’t start well enough in the first half on the ball and in the duels.

“We had chances but we were not lethal with the chances we had in the first half, a few of which were clear ones.

“You come into half-time in a good way 1-0 ahead and I warned the players it was not good enough in the first half and I wanted to see more second half and keep the clean sheet, but then you concede two goals in five minutes or something like that and start to chase the game.

“That makes it more difficult and you give energy to the opponent who get more energy and put their bodies in front of the ball all over the pitch to make a decisive duel.

“In the last half hour, I saw the urgency and I wanted to see that 90 minutes long, not 30 minutes long.

“There were too many mistakes made in our defensive part which is not usual from our team.

“There were some strange goals to concede and we didn’t score enough with the opportunities we had.

“In the end we give a lot of energy to our opponent and all credit to Ross County who defended with a big heart until the end. We need to see the opposition team don’t get so much energy by being better with and without the ball.”

County boss Don Cowie believes his players “took real belief from what was happening on the pitch” to get a “big win.”

He said: “Even though we conceded the goal we had created a couple of really good chances.

“We weren’t clinical enough and didn’t take them. But you sense it as a player. You realise what’s happening. And they built from that.

“The message at half-time was that we had done really well and we were disappointed to be behind. It was about coming out fast and being positive and they certainly did that.

“At the end of the game it got a bit nervy and that is natural.

“They got the penalty. But I saw a group of players putting their bodies on the line to make sure we got the three points and that was very pleasing.”

Clement explained why he did not shake hands with Cowie immediately after the game – he waited until they met at post-match media duties.

The Gers boss said: “I went inside directly. I wanted to prepare really well what I had to say to the team. Nothing towards him, a lot of credit for him and what he has been doing here.”

Cowie said: “He apologised that he didn’t shake my hand, which I have got no problem with.

“It is a game that he probably expects to come up and win and he is in a pressured situation in terms of fighting for the league title. I had 10 minutes with him prior to the game and he was very respectful. No issues there with me.”

The Light Blues drew 2-2 with PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their play-off at Ibrox on Tuesday night with the crucial return game against the Dutch side in Eindhoven next Wednesday night.

However, Balogun, who returned for a second spell at the Ibrox club in the summer, insists all attention must be on the match against the Staggies, especially since the Govan side lost in their first league game of the season against Kilmarnock, which preceded a home victory over Livingston.

Asked if the performance against PSV was more like Rangers, the 35-year-old defender said: “You have to park that. We have to try to play to our best ability tomorrow.

“I think you saw a massive improvement against PSV, especially the second half.

“There’s bits to take from that game that we have to use going forward.

“But Ross County is always a tough game. They always make it difficult for teams and we know we will face a tough challenge there.

“Their start to the season has probably been a mixed bag but a strong performance against Celtic (2-4), so we definitely have to be ready and up for a fight before we think about wanting to play and force our game on to them.”

The 25-year-old goalkeeper has played second fiddle to Jack Butland this season but was given his chance by Philippe Clement in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at a wet and wild Dumbarton stadium.

McCrorie, whose last start before this weekend was away to St Mirren in May 2023, made a good save in the first half from Michael Ruth but in the end the cinch Premiership side ran out easy 4-1 winners.

Goals from John Lundstram, Cyriel Dessers, skipper James Tavernier – from the spot – and substitute Scott Wright rendered Matthew Shiels’ goal a consolation for Stevie Farrell’s League Two side.

McCrorie, who has had loan spells at Berwick Rangers, Morton, Queen of the South and Livingston, told Rangers’ YouTube channel: “It feels like a long time. Obviously I want to be playing a lot more than I am.

“I just like the feeling that you’ve contributed, being a part of it, just playing 90 minutes.

“It’s just something I always want to do. I think everybody is the same, that’s all you want to do in football, play games so I just make sure I’m ready for whenever I’m called upon.

“I’m not going to lie, I don’t enjoy not playing.

“I do want to be playing every week but you can’t go in a huff, you do need to be ready all the time.

“So I take a lot of pride in working hard every day, giving everything in training because I think when you do that and you come into games, you’re more comfortable and you’re ready for it.”

Rangers return to cinch Premiership duty against Hibernian at Easter Road on Wednesday night.

The Light Blues, who had a January training camp in Spain, are eight points behind league leaders Celtic but have two games in hand.

McCrorie said: “The last couple of weeks we’ve got in a lot of training but it is to set us up for the next few months.

“It will be relentless, it will be non-stop, there will be games every three days again and there is a lot to look forward to.”

The England winger has only made three Premier League starts this season.

Sterling, who starred during England's run to the Euro 2020 final, could now be on the move.

TOP STORY – BARCA RESOLUTE ON RAHEEM

Barcelona are determined to sign Raheem Sterling from Manchester City despite the Premier League club's refusal to let him leave, reports Manchester Evening News.

The Catalans want to bring Sterling to Camp Nou in January on a loan deal, with the forward open to a move after losing his regular starting spot at City.

Sterling still has 18 months remaining on his City contract and the English champions have no intention of accepting an offer for him.

ROUND-UP

- Manchester City are set to launch a new bid for Tottenham forward Harry Kane in January, claims ESPN. City pursued Kane over the off-season but the Spurs skipper ultimately remained in London after Tottenham declined their approaches.

- El Nacional reports Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has told the club to sell or release Gareth Bale. The Wales forward has only made three appearances this term and is contracted to Los Blancos only until the end of the season.

- Hakim Ziyech is unhappy at Chelsea and could be lured to Borussia Dortmund, claims The Mirror. The Morocco winger could move in January, having been unable to re-discover his best form at Chelsea after moving from Ajax in 2020.

- Norwich City are set to offer ex-Aston Villa boss Dean Smith their vacant manager role, according to Sky Sports. Smith was sacked as Villa coach this week.

- The Daily Record claims former Feyenoord coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst will hold talks with Rangers about taking over as manager after Steven Gerrard's departure for Villa.

Bale has said he intends to return to Madrid for the final year of his contract.

Spurs' interest in keeping the Wales star beyond this season is not clear as they are in the market for a new head coach after Jose Mourinho's dismissal.

TOP STORY – NEW SPURS BOSS TO DECIDE ON BALE

The Daily Mail reports that Tottenhamchairman Daniel Levy will let the club's new head coach decide whether or not to re-sign Bale.

The option remains for a second loan deal for the Welshman to re-join Spurs from Madrid next season.

Spurs have first option on a second loan but they would require Bale's agreement, although he appears out of favour in Madrid.

Triggering the clause will cost Tottenham £12million.

ROUND-UP

- Borussia Dortmund's asking price for Jadon Sancho is down to £87m (€100m) according to ESPN, which may interest Manchester United and Liverpool. Dortmund previously demanded more than £100m (€115m) for the England midfielder.

- Arsenalare interested in signing Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara, with a five-year deal on the table, according to Football Insider.

- The Athletic claims Brentford striker Ivan Toney is drawing interest from Leicester City and Evertonas well as a "host of clubs" preparing bids for his services.

- Newcastle United are considering a move for Vitesse defender Danilho Doekhi, reports De Telegraaf.

- Bayer Leverkusenare in the mix to sign Santos' teenage forward Kaio Jorge, claims Kicker.

The Portuguese forward had been booked in the first half of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup last-16 tie where the home side took the lead after 10 minutes through a Borna Barisic strike which deflected in off Roy Syla, when he tackled George Granger after the break.

Collum resisted the temptation to flash a second yellow before he soon cautioned Brown for complaining – and then Silva, on loan from Wolves, netted the second after 76 minutes to take the Light Blues into the quarter-final draw.

Gers boss Philippe Clement had on Friday backed Collum despite Rangers reportedly asking the Scottish Football Association not to appoint the official to any of their games going forward after his part as the VAR official in a contentious non-penalty decision which went against them in their Old Firm derby defeat at the end of the year.

It was Collum’s first involvement with Rangers since and former Celtic captain Brown was unimpressed.

The Somerset Park boss said: “The second goal comes from a man who probably shouldn’t be on the park.

“It was a big decision, a pressure decision and it probably was not the right decision.

“I knew he was never going to get sent off, that it was never going to be a red card. I think if it had been the other way around it could have been.

“It was the pressure, coming into these big occasions. Some people can deal with it, some people can’t.

“Willie is used to giving me yellow cards – I think he has missed me.”

Asked if he had quizzed Collum about Silva’s challenge, Brown said: “There is no point, it doesn’t change anything. I was disappointed at the time and then he goes on and scores the goal.

“So it is a harsh lesson but for me it is more about us and how we performed.

“A young team having a belief, because a lot of Premiership teams will just come here and defend but we knew we had to try and play.

“We don’t have that huge target man so we had to try and play. We had to move the ball really well, we had a shape and structure. We were fine throughout the whole game. I never felt we would lose that many goals.”

Clement disagreed with Brown’s assessment of Silva’s tackle.

He said: “No, he got a kick on his leg in that action. You need to look closely at the images.

“He showed me there were studs (marks) on the top of his leg.”

Clement took the opportunity to make seven changes to his side.

Mohamed Diomande, the Ivorian midfielder signed from Danish Superliga club Nordsjaelland and Colombian winger Oscar Cortes – on loan from Lens – were handed were handed their first starts, with the latter particularly impresssive in the hour he played.

Clement spoke about a “positive evening” in his assessment.

He said: “After three minutes we could have scored two goals. In football you also need a little bit of luck and that was not on our side today in the finishing, and all respect also to our opponents, who gave their lives to stop the goals, also in the second half by making saves on the goal line.

“It is a positive evening. The other positive thing is to play that kind of game for so many fans, that is maybe the most positive thing of the evening. In that way, I would have wished to give the fans more goals.”

Both players returned from respective injury issues during Tottenham's 4-3 defeat to Chelsea last Sunday, but neither were able to complete the full duration of the game. 

Romero was replaced by Radu Dragusin after just 15 minutes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Van de Ven was substituted in the 79th minute. 

And with an important game against Rangers to come on Thursday in the Europa League, Postecoglou revealed he would be without his starting defensive partnership. 

"Not great news about Cristian and Micky unfortunately," Postecoglou said. 

"They've both had setbacks at the weekend, so we'll wait and see, but they won't be available for the next period of games.

"That affects tomorrow night, that affects us for the next few games, so the fact they're in the same position affects us even more, especially with Ben out in the same position.

"We're in a bit of a tough spot but a great opportunity for us to overcome the odds and hopefully create something special."

Postecoglou has overseen an inconsistent start to the campaign, with his side finding themselves 11th in the Premier League standings following their defeat to Chelsea. 

It was the 11th time that Tottenham lost a top-flight game after having been 2+ goals ahead – at least four more such defeats than any other side in the competition’s history.

That prompted a response from Romero, who suggested that the lack of investment in the squad has resulted in their poor form due to a lack of cover for injured players. 

"He realises that a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn't the right way of dealing with it. The same way, I wouldn't criticise a player publicly," Postecoglou said.

"I've spoken to Cristian about it, and he's apologised for it. It wasn't the right way to do it. It shows he cares. There's a way to do it and this wasn't it."