Ross County fell to a 3-1 defeat against Rangers in an entertaining encounter at Victoria Park.
Rangers were in firm command at half-time thanks to a first-half double from attacker Alfredo Morelos, the second of which came about through an error from County goalkeeper Scott Fox.
The Staggies rallied in the second-half, pulling a goal back through substitute Thomas Mikkelsen, however Rangers wrapped the points up late on through Eduardo Herrera’s strike.
County manager Jim McIntyre made two changes from the side that was defeated 2-0 by Motherwell the previous week, with Sean Kelly and Ryan Dow replacing Alex Schalk and the suspended Kenny van der Weg.
Rangers showed neat play from the start, with neat play from Kenny Miller within the opening minute setting up Morelos to shoot wide from the edge of the box.
The visitors continued to show the greater threat, however County did well to limit their attempts to those from long-range, with Lee Wallace and Miller both well off target with efforts.
County struggled to get their own game going and although clear-cut chances were limited for both sides, it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead on 31 minutes. James Tavernier did well to keep the ball in play with a cross from the byline down the right flank, with Morelos rising to head past Fox.
County went in search of a quick response, with Jim O’Brien seeing his strike from the edge of the box fly over the bar on 36 minutes.
McIntyre made a tactical switch on 38 minutes, taking off Jamie Lindsay for Thomas Mikkelsen, however the Staggies gifted Rangers a second goal four minutes before the break.
It was a blunder from Fox, with the goalkeeper dallying on the ball to allow Morelos the time to dispossess him and leave himself with a tap-in to double his tally.
Rangers kept up their threat at the start of the second-half, with Niko Kranjcar well off target with a strike inside the box, while at the other end Tavernier’s clearance behind his own goal flew inches past Wes Foderingham’s right-hand post.
County got themselves back in the game on 59 minutes when Craig Curran burst down the right flank before crossing for substitute Mikkelsen, who sent a header past Foderingham from eight yards.
The goal gave the Staggies a huge lift and they were denied an equaliser on 62 minutes when substitute Davis Keillor-Dunn saw his free-kick beaten away by Foderingham.
As the game reached the latter stages, Curran saw a long-range strike fly narrowly over, before Rangers threatened on the break when substitute Carlos Pena struck over the crossbar.
Rangers wrapped up the points one minute from time however, when Herrera tucked the ball home from 15 yards to leave the Staggies empty-handed.
