WATCH: Tavernier beauty puts Rangers top of the Ladbrokes Championship
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By manager Mark Warburton’s own admission, Rangers didn’t produce a vintage display in their 1-0 victory over rivals Hibernian.
But the moment of magic that separated the two sides was worth the admission fee alone as the Gers maintained their 100 per cent start to the season and leapt to the top of the Ladbrokes Championship on goal difference.
James Tavernier’s stunning free-kick after 66 minutes handed the Ibrox club all three points although the 23-year-old’s sublime finish doesn’t tell the full story.
Hibs squandered a number of good chances with Liam Henderson and Jason Cummings the guilty parties.
And while Warburton was pleased to secure a narrow victory he was keen to point out his side’s deficiencies.
The ex-Brentford supremo told BBC Sport: “It would be too easy to say ‘three points, thanks very much,’ and move on,” said Warburton. “I thought we were loose and made some poor decisions.
“We didn’t take care in the final third. But we will learn from it and be a better team for it.”
Following their defeat Hibernian sit sixth in the table having now lost two of their three games played so far.
Elsewhere, Queen of the South maintained the only other perfect record with Iain Russell and Derek Lyle handing their team a 2-0 victory away at Dumbarton.
Livingston are still without a point after losing 2-1 at home to Falkirk. Luke Leahy’s volley put the Bairns ahead after 16 minutes before Livi’s Danny Mullen equalised early in the second-half.
Will Vaulks then settled the matter just after the hour mark.
Bottom side Alloa are also struggling badly. Their 3-0 defeat to Raith Rovers means that the Wasps have now conceded 11 times in three matches as their poor start to the season continues.
And finally, the first Renfrewshire derby in 15 years between Morton and St. Mirren finished goalless on Friday night. The Buddies’ Luke Conlan was sent off and visiting goalkeeper Jamie Langfield kept busy in front of more than 5,000 spectators at Cappielow.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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