Fabio Silva opened his Rangers account as the Light Blues edged even closer to cinch Premiership leaders Celtic with a convincing 3-0 win over bottom side Livingston.
The Hoops’ 1-1 draw at Aberdeen at lunchtime had the early arrivals at Ibrox cheering the news before kick-off although it took some time before the visitors succumbed to the pressure.
The road to an expected home win began when the 21-year-old Portuguese striker, who arrived on loan from Wolves last month, prised open the Livi defence in the 40th minute before winger Rabbi Matondo added a second in first-half added time.
Liv, without a win in 15 previous league games, had no response and Gers midfielder Todd Cantwell knocked in a third in the 56th minute and it could have been more as Philippe Clement’s side moved three points behind leaders Celtic with a game in hand.
The Belgian boss, mindful of a busy spell of fixtures coming up, reshuffled his pack from last week’s win at St Mirren, making six changes
Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack, Ross McCausland, Silva and Matondo came in, with Ridvan Yilmaz, John Souttar, Nicolas Raskin, Dujon Sterling, Scott Wright and Cyriel Dessers dropping out with new signing, Colombian winger Oscar Cortes, starting on the bench.
David Carson was handed his debut for the visitors after signing from Inverness with goalkeeper Shamal George, Shaun Donnellan and Mo Sangare reinstated for what proved to be a tough afternoon.
George palmed away a powerful drive from Jack and then clawed away a goal-bound corner from Gers skipper James Tavernier as Rangers pressed from referee John Beaton’s first whistle.
In the 14th minute Livi survived a melee yards from goal after George had fumbled a Barisic cross before Balogun had to be replaced by Souttar six minutes later after sustaining a head knock.
The sound of impatient grumbling from the stands grew louder before the Light Blues broke the deadlock.
Matondo’s powerful strike was brilliantly tipped over the bar by George but from the resultant Barisic corner, hooked back towards goal by Connor Goldson, the ball fell to Silva and his deflected strike from eight yards found the net – the goal standing after a VAR check for a possible foul in the busy penalty area.
When Matondo’s long-distance effort after stepping inside on to his right foot clipped Jamie Brandon and sped past George in the second of four added minutes, the points were secure.
Livi had twice come from behind to draw with second-bottom Ross County on Tuesday night but their attacking threat against Rangers was all-but absent.
Cantwell confidently turned a Ross McCausland cut-back past the helpless George from 12 yards for his fourth goal in seven games.
Gers fans got the chance to see 20-year-old Cortes, on loan from Lens, when he came on in the 60th minute along with fellow substitutes Tom Lawrence and Yilmaz.
George twice denied McCausland and Silva’s hitch-kick from 10 yards went inches past the post as Rangers attacked incessantly to increase their lead.
Dessers, on for Silva, flashed a shot high over the bar with 10 minutes remaining and Yilmaz cracked the bar with an effort from the edge of the box but Rangers had to settle for three goals.
Notwithstanding the calibre of opposition, it was another commanding win for the Light Blues who now have Celtic in their sights.
Howe taking plenty of positives despite frustrating Newcastle campaign
Eddie Howe was keen to look at the positives after Newcastle United secured seventh place in the Premier League on Sunday.
Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes were among the goalscorers as Newcastle won 4-2 at Brentford to finish their Premier League campaign.
The victory ensured a seventh-place finish, and a Manchester City victory over Manchester United in next Saturday's FA Cup final will confirm Newcastle's place in next season's Europa Conference League.
While this season did not quite live up to the heroics of last term, which saw the Magpies finish in the Champions League spots, Howe still feels it has been a successful campaign.
"It summed up our season," Howe told BBC Sport. "We weren't totally secure at the back, but great credit to the players. They've done their job - now we wait and see.
"We anticipated after losing against Manchester United that our control of the [European] situation had gone. It's never a nice situation, but whatever happens, happens.
"We have issues to solve defensively. If we can do that, next season could be another season of really strong performances. This was a season that could have been better, but a good season overall.
"We're a really united club. I think we're still moving forward, so there's a lot to be positive about."
Postecoglou will not settle until Tottenham hit his 'lofty ambitions'
Ange Postecoglou warned Tottenham he will not settle until the club hits the "lofty ambitions" targeted in his mind.
Spurs were 3-0 victors over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday, ending their Premier League season with a convincing win to finish fifth in the table.
Postecoglou voiced his frustrations after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat to Manchester City ended their hopes of Champions League football next term.
The Spurs head coach was far more relaxed after his side performed well in Sheffield, with Dejan Kulusevski twice on target, along with a goal for Pedro Porro against the relegated Blades.
Yet Postecoglou insisted his ambitions remain high as the Australian attempts to take Tottenham to the next level.
"Contrary to my general demeanour, I have loved every minute of it," former Celtic boss Postecoglou said of his first season in charge of Tottenham.
"It is a great challenge in the Premier League and taking over a big club that didn't have a great year last year. You understand it is not going to run smoothly, but I have enjoyed the whole season.
"I have got some lofty ambitions for the football club and until we reach that point I am not going to be smiling too much.
"As I said, all any manager wants is maximum effort and I have got that from everyone involved. I have enjoyed it and looking forward to pushing on from here."
Asked to summarise his first campaign in England's top league, Postecoglou continued: "It's been good, it's been eventful, it's had a bit of everything.
"I am obviously not delighted with the way we finished the season but in fairness to the players and staff we have been in the top five all season, in a year where there was a fair bit of upheaval.
"We finished eighth last year, player turnover, different football, different way of training, it is not easy to maintain a level when you are trying to do that.
"Even in our tough periods this year we have still been competitive for the most part."
Kulusevski scored his seventh and eighth Premier League goals of the season (36 outings), more than he managed in his first two league campaigns with Tottenham combined (seven across 48 games).
Only in the 2019-20 season with Parma has the Sweden winger scored more times in a league season (10 in Serie A), and Postecoglou hailed Kulusevski's returns.
He added: "I thought Deki was good. He's worked awfully hard this year without a lot of reward in the front third.
"We thought playing him through middle today would help us with his mobility and ability to run in behind. He did well.
"He always works hard but it's that sort of final third where we need him to get rewards and he got them today so he did well."
Late Palma strike sinks St Mirren as Celtic celebrate SPL triumph on final day
Luis Palma struck a late winner as champions Celtic twice came from behind to see off St Mirren 3-2 on the final day of the Scottish Premiership season.
It was a day of celebrations at Celtic Park for Brendan Rodgers' side, who wrapped up their third successive domestic title in midweek.
However, St Mirren threatened to spoil the party when Mark O'Hara fired them in front after just seven minutes.
Top scorer Matt O'Riley equalised for the hosts in the 21st minute, but they fell behind again just five minutes later when O'Hara doubled his tally from the penalty spot after Stephen Welsh fouled Toyosi Olusanya.
Kyogo Furuhashi levelled for Celtic before half-time, and the Hoops completed the turnaround with Palma scored the winner with four minutes remaining.
Rodgers' side finished eight points clear of second-place Rangers, who were held to a 3-3 draw by Hearts.
Despite falling behind to Lawrence Shankland's strike, goals from Ross McCausland, Todd Cantwell and Fabio Silva seemingly had the visitors on course for a comfortable win at Tynecastle.
However, there was to be a late twist with Dexter Lembikisa pulling a goal back in the 82nd minute, before Kyosuke Tagawa struck deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the hosts.
There was also nothing to separate Dundee and Kilmarnock, who drew 1-1 in the other match on the final day.
Luke McCowan cancelled out Gary Mackay-Steven's earlier effort, though the Dundee captain squandered a glorious opportunity to complete the turnaround when he missed a penalty two minutes from time.
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