COUNTLESS arms were thrown aloft as Ross County launched a final assault on the visiting goal yesterday afternoon, unfortunately for Rangers they were raised in frustration as Allan McGregor made the costly decision to instead launch his midriff at the ball.

Misreading a shot, the No.1 succumbed to a premature movement and a tame effort that ought to have been collected was instead pushed into the path of Matthew Wright; for the third time in 90 minutes, the league leaders made a mistake that provoked as much grimacing as groaning. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s posture communicated disbelief, Ryan Kent and Connor Goldson turned away and vented their frustrations into the highland abyss. When you’re in a title race dropping points so negligently is quite simply unacceptable.

McGregor had saved his side at Tynecastle when control was relinquished following the establishment of a two-goal lead last month. The 1-1 draw at Pittodrie a near-fortnight ago further warned against the passivity seen away from home under the new management, when a point gained was charitable. As the lead at the summit of the Scottish Premiership was chipped away once more, Rangers’ game management was the culprit.

Because although Wright’s late equaliser was the scene of dropped points and frustration, the foundations for such a result were set as soon as Rangers went ahead.

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The quick start witnessed away against Hearts and Livingston repeated itself as Joe Aribo again impacted proceedings quickly. A swift move through the pitch allowed the Nigerian to run into space and Amad Diallo connected with a crossed ball to start the scoring. The manager noted Amad's movement to attack the second post and throughout the expectations built ahead of his debut, materialising in the 19-year-old earning pre-match renditions of a newly-composed anthem, were satisfied. In moments the speed of his stepovers, shifting of weight and comfort receiving in seemingly unaccommodating positions displayed the quality Man Utd deemed worth £37 million.

Instead of looking to retain pressure after taking the lead Rangers sat deep and planned to pick their moments in transition. The two mistakes which turned the game in County’s favour could not be accounted for; after all this defence has looked far more secure since van Bronckhorst arrived even if they have slightly overperformed their xG conceded. Accountability and blame can however be attached to the control County were presented in the opposing half. The visiting manager may well have lamented the ‘gifting’ of goals, yet it was his side’s approach that surrendered space their opponents should have had to earn.

The first half shone a spotlight on the limitations of this tactic that has now brought mixed success away from home. An emphasis on individualism resulted in a lack of possessional patterns to offer routes through the midfield, as both centre-backs continually passed sidewards waiting for a midfield run to break the lines. Whenever routes into the feet of Glen Kamara were closed there was little to no passage forward. No tempo could be built without an answer to bypass the first line of pressure.

Credit is merited for the response to such a demoralising first period. The team changed shape to answer the build-up barriers that Dundee United and Livingston had both erected previously – block Goldson’s angle to play diagonals, show full-backs infield, stand on the toes of Kamara and trap Calvin Bassey if he ever ventured forward. James Tavernier pushed higher up the pitch and Borna Barisic tucked infield to form the 3-1 build-up shape often seen at Ibrox, which creates numerical superiority in the first line and gives better access to attacking zones of the pitch.

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The results were immediate. Tavernier’s forward runs inside the pitch opened up the right-wing for Amad to receive with greater regularity and the combination of both these themes levelled the tie, the latter twisting and turning to release a shot that the captain could convert from his high position.

The pressure continued, as it should have done early in the game, and Goldson nodded home at the far post to put his side into the lead, this time Barisic provided having been granter greater autonomy to get up the pitch. It appeared as though Rangers’ response was going to redeem what had gone before, Kemar Roofe clipped the post as a security goal was chased and van Bronckhorst regularly waved his team upfield. Wright's late response would have the final say, however, as the visitors paid for their first-half decisions.