Ross County 3-2 Rangers: Philippe Clement’s side suffer a blow in the title race with visitors paying for woeful performances as hosts make history

Given the number of nights his side have recently spent in lavish hotels preparing to play Dundee, the last thing Philippe Clement would have required was another lie down in a darkened room.

However, the Belgian could probably have done with another one after this debacle in the highlands. By his own admission, the worst performance of his six-month tenure at Rangers could not have come at a worse time.

While not fatal to his side’s hopes of yet another Premiership title, it was certainly a hugely damaging blow.

Small consolation for Clement and his players as six wins from their last six games will still see them get over the line first. The reality is that it simply won’t happen if they come close to replicating this lousy display in any of their remaining inventory.

After grabbing a late draw against Celtic a week ago and seeing the Parkhead side comfortably see off St Mirren on Saturday, Rangers needed to produce a powerful performance to keep the heat on.

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Instead, what they produced was sad. Lax defensively, often overrun in midfield and profligate in front of goal, the Ibrox side got exactly what they deserved.

They were fortunate to be ahead at the interval but were unable to heed the many warnings County had given them up to that point.

Unable to engage even third gear, a one-goal advantage quickly became a two-goal deficit as County’s reserves of faith contested an extraordinary turnaround.

James Tavernier’s late penalty gave Clement a glimmer of hope, but his side lacked cohesion and craft in the closing minutes, just as they had in the opening exchanges.

This was a historic day for the County. In 24 previous meetings against the Rangers, the Staggies had often come close to victory without ever getting over the line.

At no time before had their need for three points been greater. This famous triumph then takes a point from St Johnstone in the battle to avoid the play-offs.

Still with a lot of work to do in the fight to beat the drop, interim manager Don Cowie sensibly tried to downplay the significance of this triumph. But he doesn’t need anyone to tell him that his team will have nothing to worry about if they can meet that standard in their remaining five games.

There was little sign of the drama to come as Rangers hit the front after 15 minutes. It was a goal that owed a lot to luck.

James Tavernier’s in-swinging corner was cleverly headed on by Fabio Silva.

Stationed at the back post, John Souttar did little more than put pressure on Jack Baldwin.

The County captain looked set to turn the ball around the post for another corner but got his angles all wrong.

By the time Ross Laidlaw realized he had been called into action, it was too late. Despite his best efforts from the county keeper, the ball trickled over the line with the celebrations of the visiting players and supporters somewhat belated. Baldwin could only look to the sky.

It was tough for the County at the time. Cowie’s side had shown plenty of early business. Had George Harmon paid more attention to Michee Efete’s cross, they would have been in front within 60 seconds.

The spirit of the home players troubled the Rangers. Clement was grateful Todd Cantwell tracked back to break up a promising attack after Cyriel Dessers had conceded possession cheaply.

Simon Murray should also have done better when he curled a shot wildly over after Yan Dhanda had intelligently created space for him. Dhanda also failed to capitalize on an opportunity with a header coming via Murray’s cross.

The goal was just the tonic Rangers needed. With the wind now in their sails, they created enough chances in a short burst to put the game to bed.

Cantwell was the first man in white to be left with his head in his hands after Laidlaw advanced to get a vital toe on his netted effort.

The county keeper then denied Dessers in similar fashion, with Abdallah Sima firing the wrong side of the upright after a poor defensive clearance.

Although Clement’s side slowly began to gain hold in midfield, the Staggies still had their moments. Josh Sims forced Jack Butland into a fine save low to the right after the striker had caught the ball cleanly on spin.

Harmon passed up another good chance when he was picked out by Ekli King’s neat pass. Just as he had done in the first minute, however, the defender couldn’t hold his nerve with his shot flying harmlessly over the top.

The half-time whistle found Cowie’s side behind, but not without their moments of encouragement.

However, no one could have possibly predicted how this game would turn out with County taking the lead by two goals inside four minutes at the start of the second half.

Murray had been a source of threat whenever he darted between Rangers’ centre-backs.

Alerted to Sims collecting the ball on the right side of the box, Murray found a pocket of space which allowed him to work with Butland as the cut came his way. The Rangers keeper did well to block the initial effort, but was powerless to stop Murray hitting the rebound. On the balance of the game and the number of chances created, you cannot say that it was badly deserved.

With that, Rangers simply lost their form and composure. County’s second was a brilliant counter-attacking goal, but the visitors’ attempts to thwart them were weak.

Dhanda’s long diagonal was intercepted by the ever willing Murray. After dancing inside, his shot was blocked by Butland but not held. Harmon was the first man to react, slamming the ball home from close range. Third time lucky and all that.

Despite throwing on Dujon Sterling and Rabbi Matondo, the Rangers’ response was not quite what Clement would have expected.

Baldwin did well to go to ground and ensure Dessers’ shot was deflected over the bar, but it was a fleeting moment.

Sima demanded an equalizer but only received a yellow card for deliberate handball. It was completely in line with an error-strewn display from the visitors.

It said a lot that County’s third on 69 minutes came as no real surprise.

King turned Tom Lawrence inside out on the left flank and carried the ball to Sims.

Sims was composure personified, biding his time and letting Sterling go to ground before slotting the ball into the corner. Land was now in dreamland.

Rangers rather huffed and puffed their way to the final whistle.

Cantwell hit the crossbar with a glancing strike, with Baldwin also bravely blocking the midfielder’s strike.

Clement’s side were given a lifeline in the closing minutes when Brandon Khela’s handball was awarded a penalty following VAR intervention.

James Tavernier smashed the ball home to cut it to one. The Rangers still had two minutes plus seven added to play, but in truth, they never looked like digging themselves out of a hole this time.

A win against Dundee on Wednesday – regardless of where that game is played – is now non-negotiable if their title challenge is not to fizzle out quickly.