Ross County vs Rangers. Scottish Premiership.
Global Energy StadiumAttendance6,400.
Monday 28 August 2017 10:51, UK
Alfredo Morelos helped ease the pressure on boss Pedro Caixinha as his double sent Rangers on their way to a 3-1 win at Ross County.
The Rangers boss was under scrutiny as his side arrived in Dingwall having dropped five points in their opening three games of the new campaign.
But Morelos gave the visitors the breakthrough in the 31st minute before Scott Fox's horror mistake presented him with a simple finish for his second 10 minutes later.
County substitute Thomas Mikkelsen did make a game of it after the break when he pulled one back (59) but Eduardo Herrera clinched victory late on (89) with his first goal for Rangers.
The Ibrox side were in hungry mood as they sought to respond to a sluggish start that threatened to write them out of the title race just a month into the season.
Kenny Miller and James Tavernier were both forced to shoot over from distance as the Staggies did their best to frustrate Caixinha's side but pressure finally told shortly after the half-hour mark.
Daniel Candeias sent Tavernier to the byline and the full-back hung the ball up for Morelos, who beat Marcus Fraser to the leap before powering his header past Fox.
And the County goalkeeper made an incredible gaffe to hand the visitors their second four minutes before the break, dithering on a back-pass and allowing Morelos to steal the ball and roll home.
Things could have got worse for Ross County just before the break with Andrew Davies was lucky to get away with yellow after clattering into Miller with an elbow.
Niko Kranjcar wasted a decent opening early in the second period before compounding that mistake by losing possession to hand County a lifeline.
Michael Gardyne robbed the Croat before spraying wide to Craig Curran and Mikkelsen - on as a first-half substitute as the hosts decided to match Gers' 4-4-2 - nodded past Wes Foderingham.
Rangers responded by throwing on Herrera and Carlos Pena but though the latter fluffed his lines when presented with a fine late chance, Herrera did confirm the points as he slotted home from Lee Wallace's cut-back with just seconds left.