Livingston 1-0 Rangers: Dolly Menga scores winner at Tony Macaroni Arena
Dolly Menga’s first goal for Livingston was enough to give them a 1-0 victory over Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
The Angola international struck in the 34th minute at the Tony Macaroni Arena and Gary Holt’s side then defended stubbornly to secure the three points that lift them up to third in the table, level on points with second-placed Hibernian.
Rangers dominated possession for most of the game but the better chances fell the way of the hosts, who could have gone ahead through Scott Pittman and then Alan Lithgow before Menga converted Scott Robinson’s cut-back.
The visitors almost levelled late in the first half through Ovie Ejaria when he beat Livi goalkeeper Liam Kelly to a left-wing cross, but his header went over the top and Kelly stood firm to deny Alfredo Morelos early in the second half.
There could be more trouble for Rangers in the days to come after play had to be stopped briefly for assistant referee Calum Spence to be treated for a cut on the back of his head. The injury came after an object appeared to be thrown at Spence from the Rangers supporters behind him.
Livingston started quickly, roared on by the home crowd, and could have been in front inside two minutes when Menga flicked the ball around the corner and into the path of Pittman, who slid his shot past the advancing Allan McGregor but just wide of the far post.
Ten minutes later the hosts spurned an even better opportunity. Keaghan Jacobs hung a free-kick up to the back post and Craig Halkett nodded it back across goal but Lithgow couldn’t convert, poking his shot wide on the stretch.
Rangers grew into the game and kept Livingston inside their own half for much of the next 20 minutes – but when they got out, they scored. Another free-kick was only partially cleared, Robinson played a one-two with Declan Gallagher to get into the box and then picked out Menga, who took a touch before firing low through McGregor’s legs.
Ejaria headed over four minutes later and Morelos was thwarted by Kelly after being freed in the box by Ryan Kent in the midst of a brief Rangers onslaught early in the second half.
However, Livingston looked more comfortable the longer the half went on and could even have extended their lead when Pittman’s shot was pushed away by McGregor and Lithgow’s acrobatic effort went just wide with 20 minutes to play.
Rangers toiled through the remainder of the contest and Morelos’ effort across the face of goal in stoppage time was as close as they came to an equaliser.
What’s next?
Livingston travel to Motherwell on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off, aiming to continue their fine start to the season, while Rangers will hope to bounce back from today’s defeat when they host Rapid Vienna in the Europa League at 8pm on Thursday.
Their next league outing is a big one, against leaders Hearts at Ibrox next Sunday.
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