Rangers vs Livingston. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance49,320.
Match report as Rangers get back on track with new 4-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership; new signings Sam Lammers, Danilo and Abdallah Sima open their Rangers accounts before Kieran Dowell adds fourth at Ibrox ahead of Tuesday's Champions League qualifier vs Servette
Sunday 13 August 2023 17:26, UK
Rangers bounced back from opening-day defeat at Kilmarnock by thrashing Livingston 4-0 at Ibrox to get their Scottish Premiership campaign up and running.
Sam Lammers scored his first goal for Rangers in the 10th minute to open the scoring before Jose Cifuentes saw a debut goal ruled out by VAR for handball on his first start for the club.
Rangers appeared to be reverting back to their wasteful ways in the second half until a flurry of late goals from Danilo (78), Abdallah Sima (84) and Kieran Dowell (90) sealed the victory for the home side.
Rangers set themselves up well ahead of Tuesday's Champions League third-round qualifying second leg against Swiss side Servette. They take a 2-1 lead into the return fixture in Geneva.
Rabgers boss Michael Beale asked to see a "step forward" from his side against Livingston after an unconvincing start to the season from his revamped attacking line and there was a notable response at Ibrox as three of the new arrivals scored their first goals for the club.
Rangers got off the mark for the league season through Lammers after the impressive Todd Cantwell fired a low cross into the box which was cleared by Livingston goalkeeper Shamal George into the path of the new £3m signing from Atalanta allowing him to convert from close range.
Cifuentes, another of Rangers' new signings, thought he had doubled their lead when he capitalised on some poor defending from Livingston at a corner but referee Don Robertson ruled the goal out for handball following the recommendation of the VAR.
Rangers' troubles from the first two games began to rear their head after the break as Beale's new forward line of Lammers, Danilo and Dressers all missed big opportunities. The introduction of Rabbi Matondo and Sima then seemed to transform Rangers in the final 20 minutes of the game.
Danilo was unmarked at the back post when he headed in Borna Barisic's perfectly-floated cross from the left to make it 2-0 just moments after Sima had missed a golden chance when through on goal. The on-loan Brighton forward then made up for his error by capitalising on a rebound in the box after Danilo struck the post from a corner.
Dowell came off the bench to add a spectacular fourth goal with a ferocious strike into the top corner to give Rangers a much-needed boost ahead of Tuesday's third-round qualifier against Servette.
Rangers boss Michael Beale speaking to Sky Sports News:
"We started the game well and the first goal was a really good one. It starts with Jack Butland, Todd Cantwell does fantastic in the move and thee I am really pleased for Sam Lammers [to get the goal].
"VAR has gone against us a little bit this week, but I understand why the second goal wasn't given. After that we stopped playing and were a bit stuffy until we made the changes in the second half.
"Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo had a really big impact off the bench. I'm delighted for Danilo to get his first goal and then Kieran Dowell scored an excellent goal, Sima got one and Jack Butland got his first clean sheet.
"If I sit back and pick the pieces out of it there were bits to work on, everyone in the stadium could see that but there were a lot of plusses today."
Livingston manager David Martindale speaking to Sky Sports News:
"Believe it or not I was fairly happy with the players until about 78 minutes. Our shape, our press, I thought we were very good and it was a decent game of football.
"Rangers knew they were in a game and the crowd were becoming restless and we posed an attacking threat ourselves. We gave away a cheap goal on about 78 minutes and then we lost a bit of our shape and fluidity.
"We lose three late goals and that is the frustrating aspect, but I felt for the players because they put a lot into the game and a 4-0 defeat is a little bit harsh.
"But we need to defend our penalty box better than we did from 78 minutes onwards."
Rangers' attention turns to Tuesday night's Champions League qualifying second leg tie against Servette before a League Cup tie against Championship side Morton on August 19.
Livingston host Ary United in the League Cup, also on August 19.
Rangers' next Scottish Premiership match is away to Ross County on August 26, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 12.30pm.
Livingston are away to Hibernian on the same day; kick-off 3pm.
