Livingston Vs Rangers: Title-race Shocks, 2-2 Stalemate and Manager Reactions
The Scottish Premiership produced seismic movement as livingston vs rangers ended in a 2-2 draw and Celtic were beaten at home, a combination that tightened the title race and intensified pressure across the top of the table. The result and surrounding fixtures mean teams outside the traditional top two now have a clearer path to influence the final standings.
Livingston Vs Rangers: match report and key moments
Livingston opened the scoring in style when Brooklyn Kabongolo volleyed home from a Robbie Muirhead free-kick to give the bottom club a sensational start. Livingston then moved 2-0 up through a goal from Smith before Rangers were reduced to 10 men following Montano's sending off. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rangers fought back late: Fernandez lashed in a reply and Moore glanced a leveller to make the final score 2-2.
During the match Rangers had a chance from a central free-kick taken by James Tavernier, which Jerome Prior palmed away. There were penalty appeals when the ball appeared to strike Jack Iredale's arm during a challenge with Benjamin Nygren; commentary noted the arm was by Iredale's side. The match sequence and finishing produced a dramatic, see-saw contest that left both camps feeling mixed.
Manager and coach reactions
Livingston manager Marvin Bartley described the game as a "rollercoaster of emotions, " saying that if he had been offered a 2-2 beforehand he would have taken it. He judged Livingston comfortable at 2-0 and named the sending off as the turning point, while praising his players for giving everything and noting there are clear areas to address if the club is to change its current situation.
Rangers head coach Danny Röhl framed the result inside a wider title-race strategy. He stated there should be no question over his players' ability to handle the title fight and argued the focus must be on consistency across the remaining fixtures before the league split. Röhl underlined that while two points looks good in the table, his side is still in second position and must treat each game seriously, warning that matches perceived as easy can be dangerous — drawing a parallel with a recent 2-2 Premier League scoreline between Arsenal and Wolves.
Celtic beaten, Hibernian lift and pundit reactions
Elsewhere, Celtic were beaten at home as Hibernian secured a 2-1 victory. The opening phases of that match included a low Chance from Benjamin Nygren that just missed after a deflection, and a late winner by Andrews after Trusty was sent off. Former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart contributed commentary on the day, and former Hibernian midfielder Kevin Thomson highlighted the quality of Hibs' attacking passages in the victory.
Table ripple effects and upcoming fixtures
Motherwell won emphatically and Hearts also recorded a win, applying pressure to the Glasgow clubs. Next week the schedule features Hearts at home against Aberdeen and Motherwell at home against Dundee United; if Motherwell pick up points they would move one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before Hearts and Motherwell meet the following day. Observers noted it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Motherwell could finish above Celtic or Rangers, maybe both, and that Celtic and Rangers could find themselves third and fourth in the table if current trends continue.
Broadcast and highlights
Highlights are scheduled to be shown at 19: 15 on the evening of the matches, and the Livingston visit by Rangers had live coverage beginning from 2. 30pm with a 3pm kick-off. The broadcast window and full-match highlights offer viewers a chance to revisit the pivotal moments that shaped a dramatic weekend in the title race.
Fan reaction and mood in Glasgow
The mood among some supporters was sharply critical. One reaction questioned a recent manager assessment — "Martin says we were terrific. Is he serious? Our defence is rubbish, the midfield go sideways or back and we have no one capable of scoring up front. He is deluded if he thinks that was a good performance" — adding pointed remarks about a player named Trusty. That level of frustration captures the pressure facing the Glasgow clubs after a day that saw both slip amidst a congested fight for the title.
With a compact run-in and only a handful of fixtures before the split, every result carries amplified consequences. Recent outcomes mean the title race is more open than many anticipated, and the combination of the Livingston draw, Celtic's defeat and other results has reshaped the road to the finish.
