Injury-hit Rangers dig deep to find a way to beat Livingston

Mohamed Diomande’s late goal gave Rangers a hard-fought 2-1 win over Livingston as the home side struggled badly on their return from a costly international break.

John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore and Youssef Chermiti were all ruled out through injuries sustained with their respective countries, which allowed Emmanuel Fernandez to make his third start since signing from Peterborough in the summer and the 24-year-old centre-back headed the Light Blues in front after nine minutes.

However, Livi’s Australian striker Tete Yengi levelled after 18 minutes when he took advantage of awful Gers defending and the home side’s overall play deteriorated, lacking urgency and guile.

However, in the 78th minute Diomande tapped into an empty net after substitute Bojan Miovski had stretched to set him up for his first goal of the season, and it ensured four league wins in a row for the first time in this troubled William Hill Premiership campaign.

Danny Rohl had to dig deep into his squad and he fielded an unusual centre-back pairing of Fernandez and Wolves’ loanee Nasser Djiga, while Brazilian striker Danilo led the line.

In the first game since Scott Fry was appointed set-piece coach at the Govan club, the Light Blues drew dividends when captain James Tavernier’s corner from the right was met by the towering Fernandez and he bulleted in a header for the opener.

However, old Rangers failings soon resurfaced.

Yengi was able to latch on to a long ball from Stevie May and the big striker took a touch and raced away from Djiga and chasing the Fernandez to slide the ball past keeper Jack Butland for his first strike of the season, the goal surviving a VAR check for offside.

The goal unsettled Rangers – and the crowd – and Yengi struck a shot off Fernandez from close range as the West Lothian men threatened again and it looked like the ball came off the defender’s arm, although play continued.

Rangers were laboured in their build-up, which frustrated the home fans, while Livingston kept disciplined and attacked sporadically with growing confidence.

Miovski replaced Thelo Aasgaard for the start of the second half which was just over a minute old when he headed a Tavernier cross over the bar from 10 yards.

The home side heard the anxiety from the stands as the second half unfolded further.

In the 70th minute, after a rare flowing Gers attack, Miovski cleverly played in Djeidi Gassama but the attacker cut back on to his left foot and curled the ball past the far post.

Moments later, at other end, it took a great save from Butland with his foot to deny Yengi after the Livi forward had capitalised on a Tavernier slip.

Then, when Diomande stroked the ball into the Livi net after Miovski got a toe to the ball just before Livingston keeper Jerome Prior, the offside flag went up but a VAR check begged to differ and the Gers fans had cause to cheer.

They did fear when Livi substitute Robbie Muirhead fired a volley just over the bar deep into added time, but Rangers held out.