Rangers’ title ambitions took a significant hit at the Tony Macaroni Arena as they were forced to fight back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw against bottom-of-the-table Livingston.
On a day of high drama in West Lothian, 18-year-old Mikey Moore proved to be the saviour with an 88th-minute equaliser. However, the result leaves Danny Röhl’s men four points adrift of league leaders Hearts with just ten games remaining—and the Old Firm derby looming large next Sunday.
Lions Roar Early
Marvin Bartley’s side, who haven’t won a game in any competition since August, looked set to pull off one of the greatest upsets in Premiership history. A “venomous” volley from Brooklyn Kabongolo and a clinical strike from Lewis Smith had the hosts 2-0 up and dreaming of a seismic three points.
However, the game turned on its head in the 60th minute when Cristian Montano was shown a straight red card for a last-man challenge on Djeidi Gassama. From there, it was an all-out siege on the Livingston goal.
Prior’s Heroics and the Gers Fightback
Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior produced a career-defining performance, making nine saves to deny a Rangers side that accumulated a staggering 3.63 xG and 31 shots. Coupled with a miraculous goal-line clearance from Danny Finlayson, it looked like Livi might hold out.
The resistance finally broke in the 81st minute when Emmanuel Fernandez rifled home a thunderous strike. Seven minutes later, Moore glanced a James Tavernier cross into the far corner to level the scores.
VAR Controversy at the Death
The game ended in a storm of controversy. Mikey Moore appeared to be brought down by Cammy Kerr on the edge of the area in the dying moments. Despite replays suggesting Kerr missed the ball entirely, a lengthy VAR check resulted in no penalty and no red card for a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity—a decision that left Danny Röhl fuming on the touchline.
“Disappointed that we didn’t take three points,” Röhl said post-match. “We give them the set-plays too easily. We showed our comeback character again, but we have to be better.”
Livingston boss Marvin Bartley was philosophical: “If you’d offered me 2-2 before the game, I would have taken it. The players gave me everything today.”
📊 BY THE NUMBERS: RANGERS’ DOMINANCE
| Statistic | Livingston | Rangers |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.84 | 3.63 |
| Shots (Total) | 5 | 31 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 14 |
| Saves | 12 | 1 |
🗣️ FAN ZONE: WAS IT A PENALTY?
Rangers fans are calling it a robbery, while Livi fans call it justice for nine minutes of added time.
- Did VAR get the Mikey Moore decision wrong?
- Can Rangers still win the league being 4 points behind Hearts?
Have your say in the comments below! 👇🔵
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
