Ross County still looking for first victory of the Premiership season as champions Rangers prove too good
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Scottish Premiership
Ross County 2
Rangers 4
Scorers – County: Clarke (39) White (77 pen) Rangers: Aribo (14) Goldson (18) Morelos (57) Arfield (85)
Ross County are still looking for their first Premiership win of the season as they pushed champions Rangers all the way at Dingwall.
After going 2–0 down after 18 minutes with goals from Joe Aribo and Connor Goldson, the Staggies pulled one back through Harry Clarke before half time.
Alfredo Morelos restored their two goal advantage before the hour mark but Jordan White's penalty set up a frantic final few minutes.
But Scott Arfield was the first to react to a rebound towards the end to give Rangers all three points.
However Ross County were adamant they should have had a penalty in the opening minutes when they claimed Leon Balogun was guilty of handball but the referee waved played on.
But Rangers pressed for an opener and the reward came in the 14th minute with Aribo unleashing an absolute screamer.
He was allowed space at the edge of the 18-yard-box and fired a thunderous drive straight into the top left corner of the net which left Ross Laidlaw with no chance of stopping.
The champions doubled their advantage four minutes later when a corner kick landed into the six-yard box where Goldson was unchallenged.
He nodded the ball into the ground and it bounced out of the reach of Laidlaw into the top left corner.
But the Staggies pulled one back six minutes before half time when a cross into the box found Alex Iacovitti whose shot was saved Allan MacGregor but Clarke tucked away the rebound from close range.
However, the Staggies restored their two goal advantage in the 57th minute. Jordan Tillson gave the ball away and Glen Kamara passed to Alfredo Morelos who did not have much power on his shot from 12-yards out but was still enough to beat Laidlaw at the right post.
Ross County could have pulled one back minutes later when Blair Spittal was through on goal and saw his first shot saved by MacGregor with the second blasted for a throw-in.
But they did reduce the deficit to one when Calvin Bassey was guilty of handball from Spittal's shot.
Jordan White fired the ball past MacGregor to set up an exciting final 10 minutes.
But Rangers killed off the game five minutes from time, goalkeeper Laidlaw pulled off great save from Alfredo Morelos shot, but no County players were alert to rebound as Arfield fired home to give Rangers three points.
Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall, Cancola (Hungbo 70), Spital, Callachan, Iacovitti, Charles-Cook (Samuel 90), Clarke, Tillson, Paton, White.
Substitutes: Maynard-Brewer, Shaw, Robertson, Watson, Donaldson.
Rangers: MacGregor, Tavernier, Bassey, Goldson, Hagi (Arfield 78), Davis, Kent, Aribo (Roofe 83), Kamara (Lundstram 84), Morelos, Balogun.
Substitutes: McCrorie, Helander, Itten, Patterson.
Referee: David Munro.
