RANGERS allowed Hibernian to join them on level points at the top of the Championship after failing to beat Livingston.

Mark Warburton and Kenny Miller both issued pre-match warnings that Livingston would provide a test and they were proven right.

The West Lothian side, managed by Mark Burchill, were well organised and worked hard to close down their opponents, and while it did help the flow of the game, which was a difficult watch at times, it meant the league leaders were left frustrated.

True, Livingston goalkeeper Marc McCallum had a fine game, but there was a lack of cutting edge from Rangers who had most of the possession and territory.

Some old failings at the back cost Warburton’s team three points. They need to be better than this.

It was Livingston who had the first effort on target when, on five minutes, Jordan White got his shot past marker Dominic Bell and Rangers keeper Wes Foderingham was at near full stretch to keep the ball out.

After a frustrating period, Rangers did break the deadlock on 22 minutes with a move that began deep in their own half.

Livingston had been pressing, but one bad touch and within seconds the men in blue were tearing up the park. Lee Wallace got down the left, as he always does, his cross for Martyn Waghorn was blocked by Declan Gallagher, the ball fell kindly to Jason Holt and from the edge of the box he aimed his shot into the bottom corner.

Livingston believed they had a penalty shout moments when Jordyn Sheerin’s shot on the turn hit off Rob Kiernan. The home side said he used his hand but referee George Salmon thought otherwise.

Barrie McKay came within an inch, if that, of a second Rangers goal on 32 minutes when he found space on the edge of the box and his curling shot beat Livingston keeper Marc McCallum, but rattled the far post.

Rangers went close again on 38 minutes. Another Wallace run down the left ended with the captain crossing for Waghorn who did get a shot off inside the penalty box, but on this occasion his shot was weak.

And then before half-time, despite all the Rangers pressure, a long throw from Myles Hippolyte found White free a few yards from goal and yet the Livingston striker’s header was limp and went straight to Foderingham.

All was going to play for Warburton and then six minutes after the break, Livingston were level.

Ben Gordon strode forward, the Rangers back four stepped back, the Livi man’s shot was blocked and the ball picked up by Hippolyte who from 20 yards sent a superb shot past Foderingham.

The game then changed. Livingston began to play with some confidence, while Rangers lost their way a bit.

In saying that, on 62 minutes, Livingston keeper McCallum pulled off a fine save to keep out Andy Halliday’s drive from well outside the box.

McCallum saved brilliantly from Kenny Miller with 15 minutes to go, the goalkeeper brilliantly getting both hands to the Rangers striker’s first time effort from inside the box. The Livi left-back Jackson Longridge’s head blocked another Miller shot.

And then in final minutes, Waghorn was booked for diving in an attempt to win a penalty. It was that kind of day for Rangers.