Livingston Vs Rangers: Gers Fight Back for 2-2 Draw as Title Race Shifts Again

In a dramatic turn in the Scottish Premiership, livingston vs rangers ended 2-2 after Rangers came from two goals down to salvage a point at the league’s bottom side. The draw leaves Rangers having dropped ground in the title race and injects fresh tension into the fixtures ahead.

Livingston Vs Rangers: Match report

Brooklyn Kabongolo and Lewis Smith put the hosts in front, with Kabongolo lashing home from Scott Pittman’s free-kick delivery and Smith finishing after Emmanuel Danso’s reverse pass following a cleared set-piece. Livingston’s goalkeeper Jerome Prior produced a string of stunning saves to keep Rangers at bay for long periods.

Rangers responded late. Emmanuel Fernandez opened the comeback with a thunderbolt in the 82nd minute, and Mikey Moore headed home to level with two minutes of the 90 remaining. The comeback followed a pivotal moment when Cristian Montano was sent off after fouling Djeidi Gassama at the top of the area; a VAR review for offside showed there was no case to answer, but the sending-off stood. Rangers had a big penalty appeal turned down in nine minutes of added time.

Key moments that swung the game

• First goal: Brooklyn Kabongolo with a finished free-kick delivery from Scott Pittman.
• Second goal: Lewis Smith finished after Emmanuel Danso’s reverse pass following a cleared free-kick.
• Turning point: Cristian Montano’s red card following a foul on Djeidi Gassama; VAR offside check returned no issue, but Montano was dismissed.
• Rangers comeback: Emmanuel Fernandez (82') and Mikey Moore (late header) secured the 2-2 draw.
• Late drama: A penalty claim from Rangers was turned down deep into added time.

Reactions: managers, pundits and supporters

Livingston manager Marvin Bartley described a "rollercoaster of emotions, " noting he would have taken a 2-2 result before the game, that his team looked comfortable at 2-0, and that the sending-off marked the turning point. He praised his players’ effort and said it will take a lot to change the club’s situation but that he saw positives from the performance.

Hibs head coach David Gray framed his side’s recent win as "a massive three points, " saying it underlined that twice this season his team had been to a difficult venue and not lost, that progress requires everyone to be at their best, and noting his side are five points behind Motherwell while still to play them twice. He stressed the importance of taking one game at a time and aiming to push up the table.

Commentary from observers highlighted that Motherwell and Hearts both won earlier in the day, applying pressure on the Glasgow clubs. Michael Stewart, a former Hearts and Hibs midfielder, pointed out that Motherwell’s emphatic win and Hearts’ victory increase pressure on the top teams, and noted upcoming fixtures: Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell at home to Dundee United. He observed that Motherwell could move to one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before those two meet, suggesting it is possible Motherwell could finish above Celtic or Rangers, and that Celtic and Rangers could drop to third and fourth.

Supporter reaction included sharp criticism of managerial assessment from some fans; one strand of reaction called out a figure named Martin as deluded about a recent performance and attacked a player referenced as Trusty in strong terms. These sentiments reflect growing fan frustration amid the shifting table positions.

Title race implications and table movements

Rangers’ draw means they are now four points behind Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table. Celtic were beaten at home earlier in the day, and Hibernian scored a winning goal against Celtic that filtered into the closing stages of the Rangers match, intensifying pressure. Motherwell’s convincing results and the proximity of upcoming fixtures create a compressed and uncertain run-in: Motherwell could be one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before some key head-to-heads, and there is a realistic possibility Motherwell could finish above one or both Glasgow teams.

Pre-match context and Rangers’ squad picture

Prior to the fixture, attention had focused on a predicted Rangers XI amid a double injury concern. Danny Rohl’s side had been keen to build on a mammoth home victory over the Premiership leaders in the previous weekend, a 4-2 result featuring an inspired hat-trick from Youssef Chermiti. Chermiti had missed a sitter against Motherwell but then delivered a sublime hat-trick at home to the Jambos; with Ryan Naderi picking up a knock, Chermiti was poised to be given further opportunity.

Rangers faced personnel issues: Dujon Sterling was sidelined through injury again, one ageing captain figure was noted as deputising, and there was commentary that Djeidi Gassama, the Tottenham loanee, had allowed his levels to dip even as he developed into a fan favourite. Livingston’s difficulties were emphasised too: they had gone 25 league games without a win and were sitting eight points adrift at the foot of the table, underscoring the scale of their challenge to avoid relegation.

What’s next

The draw keeps both clubs engaged in key battles: Livingston remain entrenched in a fight to change course, while Rangers must regroup as they chase Hearts. The shifting results across the day — victories and defeats elsewhere — mean the run-in remains finely balanced and unpredictable. Recent updates indicate these dynamics may continue to evolve as teams prepare for the next round of fixtures.

livingston vs rangers will be revisited throughout the next matchweek as managers, players and supporters digest the implications and plan responses.