Livingston Vs Rangers: livingston vs rangers ends 2-2 after late leveller

livingston vs rangers finished 2-2 as Livingston twice took the lead before a sending-off and late Rangers replies levelled the game. The bottom club had gone 2-0 up through Brooklyn Kabongolo and Smith, Montano was sent off, then Fernandez lashed in a late reply and Moore glanced the leveller.

Livingston Vs Rangers match report

FT: Livingston 2-2 Rangers. Robbie Muirhead whipped in a free-kick and Brooklyn Kabongolo struck a sumptuous volley past Jack Butland to open the scoring. Kabongolo, who was playing in the English sixth tier last season, helped give the home side the lead before Smith made it 2-0.

The turning point came when Montano was sent off, reducing Livingston. Rangers responded late: Fernandez lashed in a reply and Moore glanced the leveller, leaving the match drawn.

Moments that mattered

Rangers won a free-kick on the edge of the box and James Tavernier struck, but Jerome Prior scurried across to palm the effort away. Sebastian Tounekti’s dangerous ball to the back post was headed away by Jack Iredale. There were later calls for a penalty when the ball appeared to hit Iredale’s hand as he challenged Benjamin Nygren, but his arm was by his side.

Kevin Thomson said: "What a start for Livingston. It's a sensational strike!" Julian Araujo produced an excellent block to keep out Nicky Cadden’s shot after Felix Passlack’s low cross found him, and Benjamin Nygren aimed for the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box but just missed a slight deflection.

Röhl on the title race

Danny Röhl said "there should be no question mark" over his Rangers players' ability to handle a Scottish Premiership title fight and added: "I totally believe we can do it. " He warned his squad to prepare properly, saying "It's all about 11 against 11 in 90 minutes. " Röhl stressed consistency is crucial, noting teams must take the most points until the split. He said two points looks good at the moment but emphasised Rangers are still in second position.

Röhl pointed to wider planning: "You have to prepare for the final five games with the next six games. If you do well [before the split], then you have a great opportunity. " He also referenced a comparable situation, citing Arsenal at Wolves, a 2-2 draw, as an example of games that can be unexpectedly difficult.

League context and numbers

Röhl's side visit bottom-side Livingston on Sunday, with coverage from 2. 30pm and a 3pm kick-off. Rangers sit two points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and one clear of Celtic, who have a game in hand. Since Röhl replaced Russell Martin in October, Rangers have lost just one of their 19 league matches, a run that has seen them collect the most points of any top-flight team since his arrival at Ibrox.

Röhl warned that every game before the split matters: "It can really decide if it's [a gap of] two, five or eight points [by the split]. " There are six matches before the split, and the next six will set up the final five games.

Reactions from managers and others

Livingston manager Marvin Bartley said: "A real rollercoaster of emotions, but you have to remember who we're playing against. If you'd offered me 2-2 beforee the game I would have taken it. At 2-0 up we looked pretty comfortable. The turning point was the sending off. The players gave me everything today and that's all I can ask for. It's going to take a lot for us to get out of this situation but I saw a lot of things I liked today. "

Hibs head coach David Gray reflected on his side’s own result and prospects: "It's been a long time coming. That's twice we've been here [this season] and not lost. It shows we are capable if we go toe-to-toe, but it takes a level of performance, that requires every man to be at their very best. It's all about us. How can we keep improving? It's a massive three points today on the back of a positive result last week against St Mirren. That's us five points behind Motherwell, still to play them twice and all the teams round about us. It's all to play for between now and the end of the season and we'll be aiming to push up the table as hard as we can. All you can do is take one game at a time. "

Commentary and fan reaction underlined pressure on the Glasgow clubs. Michael Stewart, a former Hearts and Hibs midfielder on Sportsound, noted: "Motherwell win emphatically, Hearts win as well and that applies pressure. The two teams from Glasgow have buckled under the pressure today. " Next week sees Hearts at home against Aberdeen and Motherwell at home against Dundee United; Motherwell would go one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before those two play each other the next day.

Supporter reaction included strong criticism of Russell Martin from fans: "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. And don't even get me started on Trusty - what a buffoon" and "Seriously Martin you were not terrific, stop coming out with these platitudes, you were bang off it and you know it, if you play like that next week, wow, it will be a no contest. "

FT: Celtic 1-2 Hibernian — Passlack and Nygren net headers then Andrews slots late winner after Trusty red; and FT: Livingston 2-2 Rangers — Kabongolo & Smith put bottom club two up before Montano sent off then Fernandez lashes in late reply & Moore glances leveller. Don't forget Sportscene — highlights at 19: 15.

Closing: The result leaves the title race tight, Rangers continuing to chase while Livingston take a valuable draw despite the red card and a late comeback.