Kemar Roofe leads Rangers waltz in dominant Ross County win to tee up Champions League epic – 3 talking points

Rangers gave themselves a shot of Dutch courage as they warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League shoot-out against PSV with a deserved 2-0 Dingwall victory. Kemar Roofe was back in for his first start since April 2022 and made the most of the opportunity as he bagged the opener before a stunning James Tavernier strike made sure of the points.

Jordan White blew a huge chance just after half-time to get Ross County back in the game but from there it was a comfortable afternoon for Michael Beale’s team. And it means the Ibrox side can now turn their full attentions towards this week’s group-stage decider with the Eredivisie giants in Eindhoven.

The tie is poised at 2-2 but the Light Blues will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s shock win in the Philips Stadion as they look to rejoin the European elite in Uefa’s top tournament. Malky Mackay took a chance with his line-up as he recalled Yan Dhanda at the expense of Kyle Turner, despite the former Partick Thistle ace having netted in his previous two Staggies starts.

Beale also switched his team around ahead of Wednesday’s Eindhoven excursion, bringing John Lundstram, Sam Lammers and the lesser-spotted Kemar Roofe back in for Ryan Jack, Abdallah Sima and Jose Cifuentes. But the changes did nothing to slow Gers down as they sauntered towards the points. Roofe was eager to show what he could do after such a lengthy spell of inaction and his first involvement came nine minutes in as he picked out Cyriel Dessers at the back stick but the Nigeria striker’s header was bravely kept out by Ross Laidlaw’s legs.

Dessers and Sam Lammers had further headed chances as they continued to bombard the box with crosses. And the aerial route finally paved the way to the opener as Roofe