Rangers defender Max Aarons hopes goal against Livingston makes up for Club Brugge red card

Max Aarons celebrated his late, late winner for Rangers against Livingston – then said he hopes it helps make up for his sending off against Club Brugge.

James Tavernier had put Rangers in front midway through the first half at Almondvale on Sunday, and passed up the chance to extend their lead when Lions goalkeeper Jerome Prior saved his penalty.

Livingston drew level through Mo Sylla in the second half, and as the game entered injury time, it looked like Russell Martin’s side were set for another draw and a continuation of their winless start to the Premiership.

Substitute Aarons changed the narrative with his late strike, on his first appearance since the sending off in Belgium that played a part in the team’s 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying.

He said he hoped it would help to atone for what was a disappointing moment early in his time at Rangers.

“No one was more disappointed than myself with that,” Aarons said. “I’ve never been sent off in my career and a moment like that, a lapse in concentration, was extremely disappointing for me. Especially in a crucial game like that.

“It was always going to be a difficult game for the team, let alone with ten men so I knew I wanted to make up for that as quickly as possible.

“The first chance in a game on the pitch was today so hopefully I’ve done that.”

Aarons enjoyed his moment and said that it could be crucial for his side as they look to build confidence and improve.

“For me, that’s a moment you dream of when you come to this club, scoring a late winner for the club,” he said.

“For the team, I think it was huge. I think we deserved that. We were good and we looked more like what we want to look. Obviously it’s disappointing not to play and to start but from the side I could see that we were better today.

“It’s massive. Listen, we know it being this far into the season and it being our first league win, it’s not good enough. We know that.

“Moments like today, they build character and they build a trust within the team that we can get through the difficult spells.

“Every game isn’t going to be an easy to a win and we need to dig in in moments like that.”