THE caravan keeps on rolling and the dogs have, for the time being at least, stopped barking, but, boy, did the wheels very nearly come off.
Pedro Caixinha had invited ridicule ahead of this match on Friday with his use of an old and somewhat bizarre Portuguese saying to describe his attitude to the criticism he was being subjected to.
There was nothing risible about the way his Rangers side romped, courtesy of an Alfredo Morelos double, into a two goal lead at half-time against Ross County at the Global Energy Arena yesterday.
The 3-1 triumph they recorded in what was, despite the poor form of their opponents, an awkward away fixture, also silenced the incessant yapping of his doubters.
However, the Ibrox club, who were gifted their second by a goalkeeping blunder, still had to withstand a spirited second-half fightback from their hosts before this much-needed win was secured.
Only a late goal by Eduardo Herrera, his first since arriving in Glasgow this summer, with a minute of regulation time remaining sewed up the three points.
As was the case against Motherwell in the opening league game of the season and then Hibs a fortnight ago, Rangers faded after making a bright and encouraging start and were far from wholly convincing despite finishing on top.
This was a better result than his predecessor Mark Warburton had managed in three meetings with Jim McIntrye’s men last season.
It also means Rangers are, despite the widespread predictions of an impending crisis after the Hibs defeat and draw against Hearts at home, just three points adrift of Celtic and five behind leaders Aberdeen in fifth spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
But Caixinha appreciates his side still have to improve further. “Leading 2-0 is always a false result,” he said. “If you concede one goal the other team can get momentum. It happens everywhere. We need to control things a little more. I asked the boys to get strong in the second half. But we didn’t get that strong.”
Rangers certainly dictated play in the first half. From the minute that new signing Daniel Candeias, a box of tricks on the right wing, saw his cross skim off the top of the bar they were in complete control.
Kenny Miller, Niko Kranjcar and James Tavernier all tried their luck from long range early on only to see their ambitious efforts fly over their intended target. Marcus Fraser also did well to deny Morelos a shot in the Ross County penalty area with a well-timed sliding tackle after the striker had been supplied by a deft flick on from Kranjcar
The Rangers players and supporters called for a penalty when Morelos fell heavily to the turf following a fairly uncompromising challenge from Jason Naismith. But referee Craig Thomson was unimpressed.
Caixinha and his coaching staff were incensed at that decision and the match official felt the need to have a quiet word on the touchline to defuse the situation.
But it was only a matter of time before Rangers edged in front and their goal duly came in the 31st minute. Tavernier chipped the ball back to Morelos from the byline and the striker who rose well and angled a downward header beyond the outstretched Fox and into the bottom left corner.
If that goal was well-worked their next just before half-time was handed to them. Fox did well to control an overhit passback from Fraser and coolly sidestep the rapidly advancing Morelos. But he then proceeded to freeze over the ball so allowing his disbelieving opponent to steal the ball off him and stroke it into an inviting empty net.
It was the Columbian’s fifth goal in seven starts, a haul which has instantly endeared him to his new club’s followers, but the 21-year-old, who is quickly attaining something of a cult status, will not net so easily again all term.
McIntyre was appalled at how poorly his Ross County side, beaten in their three previous fixtures, were performing and he threw on Thomas Mikkelsen for Jamie Lindsay and Davis Keillor-Dunn for Ryan Dow and changed his formation.
His side was transformed as a result of his substitutions and tactical switch. County pulled one back after an hour when Mikkelsen got on the end of a Craig Curran delivery from the right flank and nodded a diving header beyond Wes Foderingham.
Only a fine save from Foderingham shortly after that at a Michael Gardyne free-kick kept the visitors level. It would not have flattered the home team if they had drawn level at that stage given how well they had clawed their way back into proceedings.
Herrera eased the frayed nerves of his team mates when he side-footed a shot beyond Fox and into the bottom right corner after receiving the ball from his captain Lee Wallace.
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