Rangers vs Inverness CT. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance48,528.
Monday 26 December 2016 22:58, UK
Rangers unbeaten December continued with Martyn Waghorn leading the way as they battled past Inverness 1-0 at Ibrox.
Having lost at Tynecastle at the end of November, Mark Warburton's rejuvenated side have won four straight games to open up some daylight between themselves in second and the chasing pack.
After a visit to Perth in midweek they host Celtic next Saturday, live on Sky Sports, and confidence should not be in short supply for the traditional Ne'er Day meeting.
Waghorn - fresh from his brace against Hamilton last week - was soon at it again as he bore down on goal 13 minutes in and saw his shot deflect off Brad McKay and spin past Inverness goalkeeper Owain Fon Williams.
Inverness, who had slipped to the bottom as a consequence of Friday's results, would have been level but for Wes Foderingham's flying save to keep out Greg Tansey's strike.
Andy Halliday looked to double Rangers' lead but was foiled by Fon Williams while Lonsana Doumbouya, Larnell Cole and Liam Polworth all threatened for the enterprising Highlanders.
Warbuton threw on the evergreen Kenny Miller for Barrie McKay early in the second period and the veteran striker saw his shot deflect into the path of Joe Garner but the latter could only head wide when well placed.
Caley Thistle kept pressing and the excellent Tansey went close and Gary Warren headed over as the contest entered the final quarter while Jason Holt kept Williams busy at the other end.
It needed one last stop from Foderinhgam to keep out Alex Fisher but the men in Light Blue had done enough to restore their seven-point advantage over third-placed Aberdeen.
However, Warburton faces an anxious to discover the extent of the injury to left-back Lee Wallace who suffered a suspected pulled hamstring 10 minutes from time.
