ANDY HALLIDAY suffered a nasty gash in his head after falling on an upturned metal chair in a freak accident during Rangers’ win over Livingston.
The Light Blues midfielder fell over the advertising boards at Ibrox and landed on the leg of a chair behind the signs.
Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday tumbled over the advertising hoarding in the 1-0 win over LivingstoneCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
The crashed into an upturned metal chair in a freak accident at IbroxCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Halliday had a cut above his eyebrow as a result of the horror fall as he required treatment from physios.
There were worries for the star as he lay clutching his face after the trip as his team-mates raced to check on him.
After being treated by two members of the Gers staff, Halliday bravely returned to the field sporting a hefty bandage.
Halliday, who was utilised at left-back as Borna Barisic remains out, played out the rest of the match despite his injury as Gers ran out 1-0 winners.
Rangers huffed and puffed every bit as hard as Storm Dennis.
But thanks to Arfield, Rangers avoided completely blowing their already faltering title bid.
The midfielder scored the only goal of a desperate game to give Steven Gerrard some respite.
Yet had the post not come to his side’s rescue late on, his week – and mood – would have been every bit as miserable as the weather.
Halliday was left with a nasty gash and a bloody face after fallingCredit: PA:Press Association
Halliday was able to play on after getting a bandaged headCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
After crashing to defeat at Rugby Park in midweek, Gers ultimately returned to winning ways.
They would have done so more comfortably had referee Euan Anderson not wrongly ruled out an Alfredo Morelos goal for offside.
Yet no one, however, needed to tell the Ibrox manager this was another less-than-convincing display.
Gerrard’s side are lacking in leadership just when they need it most.
Their confidence is shot to pieces – they remain a shadow of the team that was sweeping all before them just two months ago.
Storm Dennis rendered Ibrox unplayable on Saturday.
Twenty four hours later it was all systems go.
During the course of the morning the pouring rain had thankfully subsided.
In its place, however, swept 50 mph winds. Dennis was proving a menace alright..
The ferocious gales that battered the country for much of yesterday certainly helped dry the areas of the pitch worse affected on Saturday.
Scott Arfield celebrates the winner with James TavernierCredit: PA:Press Association
Arfield finds the net after 59 minutesCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Yet the surface was still sodden and as the rain began to fall again half an hour before kick-off you wondered just how long it would hold out.
Gers boss Gerrard reinstated Steven Davis to his midfield with Joe Aribo dropping back to the bench.
Given the nature of Rangers’ crushing midweek defeat at Kilmarnock, he may well have been tempted to shake it up even more.
Instead, the rest were given a shot at redemption against a Livi side that featured six changes from midweek.
On loan Rangers keeper Robby McCrorie made way for Ryan Schofield with Robbie Crawford and Aymen Souda among those returning for the visitors.
Thanks to the heroics of Schofield, Livi were level at the break.
While he could so easily have been booked for persistent time-wasting, there was no denying the quality of the saves which denied Andy Halliday and then Steven Davis.
The first, especially, was world class.
Conditions were playing their part, but the home side were once again miles off the pace.
They looked like a team that had crashed to a season defining defeat four days earlier.
They looked like a team that’s been M.I.A since they walked off the pitch at Parkhead on December 29.
Sure, they had chances, but they lacked conviction in everything they did.
Ryan Kent should certainly have made Schofield work when Arfield sent him scampering clear with 18 minutes gone.
Cutting inside onto his right foot, the £7million man blasted well wide with the Livi goal gaping.
Morelos was not at the races up front with his passing, movement and link up play nowhere near what it needed to be.
The Colombian was thwarted by Schofield as he got on the end of a Ryan Jack cross.
Ryan Kent fires towards goalCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Kamberi celebrates but linesman’s flag chops off finishCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Livi were doing all the could to slow things down with Schofield tormentor-in-chief as far as the home fans were concerned.
And they were certainly cursing the Livi keeper when he pulled off a magnificent save to deny Halliday with 35 minutes on the clock.
Davis did well to force the ball through and when it dropped, Halliday got plenty on it.
But Schofield reacted superbly, getting a strong hand on it at point blank range to tip it onto the crossbar.
Six minutes later Rangers broke on the counter with Kent finally feeding Davis.
Again, however, Schofield was there to make another vital save.
The visitors were lucky to finish the half with all 11 men still on the pitch after Jon Guthrie caught Connor Goldson with a shocking late lunge.
Ref Anderson flashed a yellow when TV replays showed it should have been red.
The rain returned just as the players re-emerged for the second half.
It was a truly miserable afternoon in Govan with little for the home fans to cheer.
In the aftermath of the loss to Killie, skipper James Tavernier claimed it was time for the players to stand up and be counted.
There was little evidence of that.
As Livingston began to grow in confidence so too the growls from the home support.
Morelos flashed an effort well wide of the target before Kent squandered another decent opening.
It was his final act, hooked after 55 minutes with Flo Kamberi his replacement.
Allan McGregor was called into action for the first time in the match a minute later, producing a stunning save to deny Aymen Souda.
It was every bit as impressive as Schofield’s first half stop.
It was a real scare for Rangers and it seemed to finally shake them into life as just two minutes they made the breakthrough..
Ianis Hagi at last found some space in a congested midfield, threading the ball through for Arfield.
He took a touch before drilling a low shot through the legs of Schofield.
Rangers then had two goals disallowed – one incorrectly – and a stonewall penalty turned down when Ciaron Brown clearly handled the ball.
Even more remarkable was the revelation the referee had seen it yet failed to give it.
Livi almost took full advantage as with just nine minutes left, Lyndon Dykes struck the base of the post with a fine drive from the edge of the box.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
