Livingston Vs Rangers: Scottish Premiership updates & match report

In a day that reshaped the title picture, livingston vs rangers finished 2-2 as Livingston fought back and Rangers were pegged back after a sending-off. Celtic were beaten at home and a series of results left the top of the Scottish Premiership unsettled.

Livingston Vs Rangers match report

Livingston took a two-goal lead through Brooklyn Kabongolo and Smith before a red card for Montano turned the game. Rangers hit back late, with Fernandez lashing in a reply and Moore glancing a leveller to make it 2-2. Marvin Bartley, Livingston manager, described a "real rollercoaster of emotions, " saying that if he'd been offered a 2-2 before the game he would have taken it and that "at 2-0 up we looked pretty comfortable. The turning point was the sending off. " He added: "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. "

Key moments and goals

Brooklyn Kabongolo opened the scoring with a sumptuous volley from a Robbie Muirhead free-kick, a finish all the more remarkable given the defender was playing in the English sixth tier last season. Smith doubled Livingston's advantage. The dismissal of Montano changed the match's momentum and allowed Rangers to force late chances, culminating in Fernandez's strike and Moore's header to salvage a draw.

Other match incidents

During the game Rangers won a free-kick on the edge of the box; James Tavernier struck it well but Jerome Prior palmed the effort away. A dangerous ball from Sebastian Tounekti was cleared by Jack Iredale, and there were later calls for a penalty when the ball appeared to hit Iredale's hand as he challenged Benjamin Nygren at the edge of the box, though his arm was by his side. Benjamin Nygren also had an attempt from the edge of the box that just missed the bottom-right corner a slight deflection.

Celtic v Hibernian fallout

Elsewhere, Celtic were beaten 1-2 by Hibernian. Felix Passlack and Benjamin Nygren scored headers before Andrews slotted a late winner after a red card for Trusty. Kevin Thomson, former Hibernian midfielder, reacted: "What a start for Livingston. It's a sensational strike!" Julian Araujo produced an excellent block to keep out Nicky Cadden as Hibernian created chances, with Felix Passlack's low cross finding Cadden whose goalbound shot was blocked by Araujo.

Manager and coach reactions

Rangers head coach Danny Röhl stressed belief in his squad and the importance of consistency in the title fight, declaring there "should be no question mark" over his players' ability to handle a Scottish Premiership title fight. Röhl noted the narrow margins involved: Rangers are two points behind leaders Hearts and one clear of Celtic, who have a game in hand. He said teams must prepare for the final five games with the next six games and warned that what looks like a simple three points can become decisive, potentially creating gaps of "two, five or eight points by the split. " He referenced a recent Arsenal at Wolves 2-2 draw as an example of fixtures that can be deceptively difficult and added: "Two points looks at the moment good but we are still not in the first position, we are still in second position. "

Röhl's tenure has seen a strong run: Rangers have lost just one of their 19 league matches since he replaced Russell Martin in October, a sequence that has seen them take the most points of any top-flight side since he took over at Ibrox. He said: "I totally believe we can do it. It's not just about the last results, there's no doubt about our strength of this squad now, of the individual players. There should be no question mark. But football is football. It's all about 11 against 11 in 90 minutes. And in one game, everything is possible. We have to do it very seriously, very aggressively. " Röhl also confirmed his side visit bottom-side Livingston on Sunday, with coverage beginning from 2. 30pm and kick-off at 3pm.

Hibs head coach David Gray reflected on his side's 2-1 win at Celtic, saying: "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. "

Former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart reacted to the day's results: "Motherwell win emphatically, Hearts win as well and that applies pressure. The two teams from Glasgow have buckled under the pressure today. Next week, Hearts at home against Aberdeen and Motherwell at home against Dundee United. Same sort of thing. Motherwell would go one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before those two play each other the next day. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that Motherwell could finish above Celtic or Rangers, maybe both of them. Celtic and Rangers could be third and fourth in the table. "

There were also strong fan reactions aimed at Russell Martin, with calls that his claim of being "terrific" was misplaced: "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. 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. "

Title race permutations

The combination of Celtic's defeat, Rangers' draw away to the league's bottom side, and other results has tightened the race. Michael Stewart outlined the immediate fixtures that could change standings: Hearts at home against Aberdeen and Motherwell at home against Dundee United next week. Should Motherwell win, they would move to one point behind Celtic and three behind Rangers before Celtic and Rangers face each other the following day.

Don't forget Sportscene; highlights are scheduled for 19: 15. The split and the next six matches remain crucial in deciding the eventual outcome.

Closing: The draw at Livingston, Celtic's home defeat and a string of reactions from managers, former players and fans leave the Scottish Premiership title race in flux, with fixtures next week offering further potential upheaval.