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Raising the ROOFE

Ross County 0 Rangers 2 – Forgotten Gers star Roofe steals show as Tavernier special seals perfect warm-up for PSV test

RANGERS fans’ joy went through the Roofe as they hailed a striker back to what he does best.

Their man Kemar ended a torture 16-month wait for a starting place with a fantastic goal to remind those who had forgotten of his credentials of possibly being the most natural finisher at the club.

James Tavernier scores goal no 2
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James Tavernier scores goal no 2Credit: Willie Vass
Rangers’ Kemar Roofe (left) celebrates scoring their side’s first goal
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Rangers’ Kemar Roofe (left) celebrates scoring their side’s first goalCredit: PA

It was his first start since April, 2022, and equally notable his first notch since last February.

And it set the Gers on the way to a vital victory, with James Tavernier also netting in great style before even half an hour had passed.

Roofe hasn’t been UEFA-listed by Michael Beale for the squad now heading for a Champions League date with destiny in Eindhoven midweek.

But after that it’s champions Celtic at Ibrox next Sunday to complete a colossal week of fixtures for the Light Blues – and the 30-year-old’s definitely primed for that.

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The surface at the Global Energy Stadium was typically pristine and with rain absolutely ideal for drilling the ball about. Rangers were in their element.

Whatever the opinion of players in Beale’s squad what’s not in doubt is that there’s plenty of pedigree within it.

So back came Roofe while Tom Lawrence – a tormenting year out of the first team through injury and rehab – enjoyed a late cameo to provide a massive boost for him and his manager.

Sam Lammers and John Lundstram, meanwhile, also returned to the line-up as Beale took advantage of varied options ahead of the vital midweek mission to rest and refresh.

County have beaten Celtic home and away – but they’ve never claimed Gers’ scalp.

Eighteen months ago here they rocked them in a pulsating 3-3 draw and for boss Malky Mackay there was a welcome back for polished playmaker Yan Dhanda.

But, County never truly looked like having another result to satisfy.

After a poor opening 10 minutes, sloppy with the ball, Rangers took a firm grip of things and played with real authority.

26.08.2023 Ross County v Rangers: James Tavernier sends a screamer high into the net for goal no 2
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James Tavernier sends a screamer high into the net for goal no 2

The Staggies couldn’t live with them first half and in a devastating five minute period midway through it they were stunningly killed off.

County targetman Jordan White scuffed a right foot shot well wide from 20-yards after eight minutes. But that was it really from the hosts up to the break.

Roofe introduced himself to the game several minutes later when, after ignoring a steam-train overlap run by Borna Barisic, he picked out Cyriel Dessers with a brilliant cross to the far post.

The Nigerian looked certain to score inside the six yard box – but instead his header was well parried by Ross Laidlaw.

Nevertheless, it was a warning for County.

Dessers soon missed with another close range header that again left him anguished.

But the Gers were building momentum, Nico Raskin superbly pulling the strings and hard-working schemer Todd Cantwell as busy as ever.

Lammers found great position in the box to meet an excellent Raskin cross – but he could only manage a header straight at Laidlaw.

For Beale there was frustration the game wasn’t already over after just 16 minutes.

But balancing that was the slick play from the team.

The visitors finally got the lead their performance merited with a tremendous finish from Roofe – adjusting so well to meet a Barisic corner to hook home a point-blank volley.

The Verdict

How they rated

SUBS: Will Nightingale (Harmon, 45) 6; Kyle Turner (Loturi, 55) 4; Josh Reid (Leak, 64) 4; Eamonn Brophy (Murray, 69) 3.

ROSS COUNTY: Ross Laidlaw 6, Connor Randall 6, James Brown 7, Jack Baldwin 6, Yan Dhanda 6, Josh Sims 6, Victor Loturi 5, Simon Murray 5, George Harman 6, Jordan White 5, Ryan Leak 5

RANGERS: Jack Butland 7, James Tavernier 8, John Souttar 8, Connot Goldson 6, Borna Barisic 7, John Lundstram 7, Nico Raskin 7. Todd Cantwell 7, Lammers 5, Dessers, 5, Roofe 7

SUBS: Rabbi Matondo (Lammers 58) 6; Abdallah Sima (Roofe 58) 6; Tom Lawrence (Cantwell, 72) 3; Danilo (Dessers, 72) 3; Ryan Jack (Raskin, 83) 2.

MAN OF THE MATCH:

The clear temptation would be to go for James Tavernier who produced a sublime goal, a textbook right foot finish which effectively sealed a decent three points for the Light Blues. But, JOHN SOUTTAR was immense all game with his defending. He’ll be key in Eindhoven. Not for him the spectacular like Tavernier, instead he was strong as an ox, solid as a rock and read the match astutely. Whenever a team-mate was caught out Souttar stepped in.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE:

David Munro handled things with the minimum of fuss and produced three cards, bookings for Ross County captain Jack Baldwin, Kyle Turner and John Lundstram. Some thought he could’ve dished out a second yellow for Baldwin following a foul on Lammers. But otherwise, Munro allowed play to flow whenever possible. Virtually every free-kick call was a free-kick. What he can also be pleased about was how kept charge without being fussy.

MEN IN THE DUGOUT:

Michael Beale wanted a no-nonsense, accomplished performance from his players going into the crunch Champions League play of second leg against PSV and it’s precisely what he got. Rangers had sloppy moments, no doubt. But Dingwall’s generally been a tough destination for them and they come through this impressively. For Malky Mackay there would maybe a feeling of what might’ve been if Jordan White had netted early second half. But his side were deserved losers.

It was a trademark strike from him, the kind the Gers have badly missed for long enough.

Then Gers made it 2-0 in the 26th minute – and it was a spectacular goal from their captain.

Tavernier commanded the ball halfway and simply cruised up the pitch, leaving several County players looking like statues, before from 25-yards curling a sensational right foot shot beyond Laidlaw into the top far corner.

It was his third goal already this season and he made it look effortless.

Rangers were in utter control and Lammers almost caught out the County No1 with an in-swinging cross which forced Laidlaw into a full stretch tip over.

It was all the Staggies could do to defend until half time and skipper Jack Baldwin, already booked, was lucky to stay on after a cynical foul on Lammers.

Yet, barely a minute into the second half County frontman White squandered a golden chance to revive their hopes – somehow heading wide from three yards out from a Dhanda cross.

In fairness, Mackay’s men resumed strongly and Gers were sluggish getting going again.

But they soon rediscovered their mojo, bolstered by John Souttar being a particularly strong presence at the back and a secure Jack Butland claiming everything in-bound.

Gers sub Rabbi Matondo had plenty of zip for his half hour on the pitch – and forced a superb save from Laidlaw with a powerful shot.

Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates scoring their side’s second goal of the game
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Rangers’ James Tavernier celebrates scoring their side’s second goal of the gameCredit: PA

Seconds later Dessers, having a nightmare in front of goal, missed with ANOTHER header when he should’ve scored.

Rangers swarmed all over County’s defence hungry for goals – and it was the one criticism you could’ve levelled at them, that they didn’t manage a third or a fourth or a fifth.

Sub Abdallah Sima had a point-blank 68th minute header saved and then, going into the closing stages, fellow replacement Danilo also made Laidlaw work.

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County produced something out of nothing in the 87th minute, the talented Dhanda spotting Butland off his line and from halfway unleashing a fine effort which the keeper back-tracked to gather.

The Gers keeper then saved from White – but don’t be fooled into thinking this was anything other than a comfortable win for the Ibrox side.

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