STEVEN FERGUSON admits luck wasn't on Ross County's side as they were left with nothing to show for their efforts against Rangers.

A Ryan Kent strike 12 minutes from time proved the difference in Dingwall on the day that Steven Gerrard's side returned to winning ways in the Premiership.

County had chances in the second half through Ross Stewart and Josh Mullin but were made to pay for their profligacy as they suffered a defeat that leaves them six points ahead of Hearts at the foot of the standings.

Ferguson said: "It was a huge effort from the players. We felt our gameplan was good.

"We were never buying into the idea Rangers were in a huge crisis. They are full of top quality players. If you are not at a maximum they can really punish you.

"We had good chances but you don’t get too many of them when you play the top teams. For us to have three, you really need to take one of them.

"For Ross County to beat or draw with Rangers you need a bit of luck. We never really got it with their goal as there were a couple of wee deflections in there. You need that wee bit of luck to take it the other side of the post.

"You have to take chances at the other end. You need to credit the goalkeeper because he made two good saves but we should be hitting the target with the other one.

"Playing against the top teams isn’t going to define what we do. We know where we are.

"We have eight games until the end of the season and we have to look at ourselves.

"We have to credit Rangers for winning today because there was a lot of pressure on them and sometimes that is unjust. But as far as we are concerned, we couldn’t really ask any more from our group of players."