Rangers 6 Ross County 0: Danilo caps rout after Lawrence goal and doubles from Matondo and Dessers ahead of Celtic trip
FOR 90 minutes only Hampden became home-sweet-home as rampant Rangers delivered their biggest ever win over sorry County.
Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo helped themselves to doubles while Tom Lawrence and sub Danilo also netted as they went top of the league with also their most spectacular victory for almost four years.
This could prove their final match at the national stadium before a long awaited return to Ibrox, with the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Dundee on September 21 pencilled in as Copeland Road work now progresses well.
And if it’s the case then what a way to bow out as Govan beckons them back.
After a slow start Rangers were scintillating in front of almost 49,000 fans – but it was a second consecutive desperate weekend for the Staggies.
The Rangers fans – and their manager, of course – were desperate for an emphatic confidence-boosting triumph to go into next weekend’s first derby of the season against Celtic at Parkhead.
They sure got it.
County’s pride was still badly bruised from last week’s Premier Sports Cup humbling from League Two Spartans and they had new Aussie signing Josh Nisbet on the bench.
The Staggies’ exit last weekend was all the more stunning because they had been in good form, with four group victories plus two reasonable league draws.
And after eight minutes only the brilliance of Jack Butland denied them a shock lead.
County broke rapidly on the counter following a poor James Tavernier pass on the edge of the visitors’ box.
Jordan White picked out strike partner Ronan Hale wide left and the Northern Irishman sure relished the chance to run at John Souttar before cutting inside and, from 20 yards, unleashing a right foot shot which looked destined for the top far corner.
Until, that is, Butland leaped at full stretch to his left to push it up and then recover sharply to push the dropping ball away before County could pounce on the rebound.
It really was a sensational save from the former England star – while livewire Hale, in the biggest game of his career so far, had certainly highlighted his threat.
It took Rangers the opening 15 minutes to settle – and they grabbed the lead within a few more minutes.
Tom Lawrence showed great vision to pick out Dessers with a piercing through ball to take out the County defence and the bustling Nigerian moved the ball from his right foot to his left before clinically burying a fine shot shot beyond Ross Laidlaw.
Then, in the 21st minute, it should’ve been two-nil.
Dessers returned the favour for Lawrence with an equally good pick out – only for the Englishman, clear in on Laidlaw, to fire wide.
It was a great chance.
Moments later Matondo rattled the crossbar from point-blank range as Gers went for the kill.
Five minutes from the break, with Gers now well on top, John Souttar rose majestically to head a Tavernier corner goal-wards only to see Laidlaw jump high to tip it over.
It was all County could do to stay in the game.
Souttar was gutted to be denied then equally so to look round and see defensive team-mate Balogun lying flat out in the box in real discomfort.
A treatment stoppage of several minutes ultimately led to the stopper going off clutching his shoulder and it was game over for him, replaced by Diomande with Dujon Sterling moving back from central midfield.
County produced another lightning quick breakaway two minutes from the break with ref Ross Hardie – just his fourth top flight game in charge and first involving either Rangers or Celtic – angering Clement by ignoring what looked like a foul on Barron on halfway as Aidan Denholm charged through.
Denholm got to within 20-yards out and rifled a right foot shot which Butland got down well to save.
It was a clear warning for Gers – and they needed it by netting a second in first half added time.
Diomande found Tavernier who then sent a ball into the box for Matondo to dart in and stab the ball beyond a startled Laidlaw at point-blank range.
Perfect timing for the Light Blues, the absolute worst for County as they soon trudged up the tunnel for some painful reflection.
Eleven minutes into the second half left-back Jefte – plenty of decent overlaps first half and often frustrated at not being spotted by team-mates – finally got reward for another purposeful burst up the park by Dessers finding him.
The Brazilian wasted no time in going for a shot which rippled the side-net.
Dessers, though, made it 3-0 in the 59th minute as he showed great determination to get in ahead of County defenders to force home an excellent Matondo cut-back from just a few yards.
That absolutely nailed the points for the on-song Gers.
And there was much more joy to come for the by now very happy supporters.
Lawrence got a superb fourth in the 65th minute, ghosting into the box to meet another penetrating Matondo pass and delivering a tidy finish.
Rangers were cruising but then Hale, rising to a cross from sub James Brown, headed high and wide from close range.
Normal service was resumed, however, in the 69th minute – as Matondo claimed his second with a volleyed finish from a Vaclav Cerny cross which went in off Brown.
Thereafter it was a bit of a procession to the end for Gers.
And there was a very welcome goal for sub Danilo who after months of fitness torment, and seconds after forcing a good save from Laidlaw, produced his first goal since last November with a cool 90th minute execution for Gers’ sixth.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page