Rangers vs Livingston. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox Stadium.
Joe Aribo and Jermain Defoe seal victory at Ibrox; Defoe scores 300th goal in club football; Steven Gerrard's side six points clear of Celtic but have played a game more; Celtic held by Aberdeen earlier on Sunday after injury-time penalty
Monday 26 October 2020 07:54, UK
Jermain Defoe scored his 300th goal in club football as Rangers moved six points clear in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 home victory over Livingston.
The 38-year-old produced a sublime finish in the 16th minute to follow Joe Aribo's opener as Steven Gerrard's side made the most of the opportunity presented by Aberdeen's late equaliser in a 3-3 draw with Celtic.
Defoe, whose first goal came for West Ham 20 years ago last month, shot first time with his left foot to net his first league goal of the season.
Aribo had struck with just nine minutes on the clock to set the hosts on course for a win that was further evidence of both the increased depth and focus of Rangers this season as they built on last weekend's victory at Celtic Park.
Gerrard rotated his squad following Thursday's Europa League win over Standard Liege, with Aribo and Defoe among five players coming in.
Filip Helander, Steven Davis and Calvin Bassey also started, the latter after coming on in Belgium for the injured Borna Barisic, who was on the bench at Ibrox.
Rangers have lost the subsequent game after two of their previous three derby wins under Gerrard and soon suffered a general collapse in form after the other.
But Max Stryjek - in goal for Rangers loanee Robby McCrorie - was beaten inside nine minutes after slack play at the back. Ianis Hagi dispossessed Efe Ambrose and set up Defoe, whose shot was stopped by the goalkeeper's legs, but Hagi showed good awareness to square to Aribo, who swept the ball into the empty net.
The second goal came from James Tavernier's accurate ball over the top. Defoe got in between the Livi centre-backs and did not break stride as he met the ball as it dropped.
The visitors came close midway through the half when Gers defender Connor Goldson turned Julien Serrano's low cross on to the post. The rebound fell kindly for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas but the Livi striker could not react quickly enough and the ball bounced off him and into Allan McGregor's arms.
Rangers dictated play for the remainder of the half and Ryan Jack forced a couple of saves.
There were signs of encouragement for Livingston after the interval and McGregor stopped dangerous balls across his goalmouth from Josh Mullin and Alan Forrest.
Gerrard made changes in a bid to rekindle his side's spark with those introduced including Kemar Roofe, fresh from his wonder goal in Liege.
There were no more heroics although another substitute, Jordan Jones, forced a decent stoppage-time save from Stryjek as Rangers saw out the win and a 13th clean sheet this season.
They now have the chance to go nine points clear at Kilmarnock next Sunday, albeit Celtic - in Scottish Cup semi-final action against Aberdeen - will have two games in hand.
Defoe admitted he had forgotten he was on 299 club goals before the game but said it was special to be reminded of his feat.
He said: "Before the game I actually forgot, which to be honest was a good thing because if I had been thinking about it during the game maybe that goal wouldn't have come, maybe I would have snatched at the chance.
"When it went in I was delighted because, to score a goal like that, and even at the time I didn't realise it was the 300th goal, but when they reminded me after I was delighted because I enjoyed it, it was a good goal."
Defoe, who netted his first goal more than 20 years ago for West Ham against Walsall, revealed the move was planned.
"I spoke to Tav," he said. "When he gets the ball, if I can disguise my run like I am coming short and then spin in behind, I know he has that range of passing.
"As it came over my shoulder I just felt like I had to hit it first time. I obviously stayed relaxed with the finish. When I watched it back, it was a good one."
Rangers assistant boss Gary McAllister: "It has been a very positive week with three 2-0 wins in a row. But the thing which has really pleased me is we have seen two, very-high calibre, high-quality goals with Jermain's and Roofe's the other night.
"We have got people off the pitch today, we have given people minutes and we have been able to rest some more. So things are nice and positive - we have just got to keep pushing and pushing. It is a massive schedule but we have a good squad and we have a big squad. Things are in a good place at the moment."
Livingston manager Gary Holt: "I thought we had a lot of positives, especially second half. We changed the system and Josh gave us more of an out ball, another threat going forward.
"We were more on the front foot second half, more aggressive against our opposite numbers, were in their faces a bit better and made it more difficult.
"Rangers are a good side, they get into areas, they pull you about, but the two goals we conceded were very soft from a defensive unit."
