Livingston 1 Rangers 2

Last updated : 02 March 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Rangers kept their six-point advantage at the top of the Premierleague ahead of next Saturday's Old Firm encounter with a comfortable win at Livingston.

Goals in the first 15 minutes from Lorenzo Amoruso and Shota Arveladze settled the issue and Rangers should have won by a more handsome margin.

The Ibrox side survived a late scare when Rolando Zarate missed a penalty for Livingston before Eugene Dadi pulled back an injury-time goal, but the scoreline flattered the home side.

Livingston had an early chance after a poor header from Craig Moore fell to Burton O'Brien but his finish was wayward.

Rangers took the lead after just eight minutes when Amoruso was not picked up at a Mikel Arteta corner and his six-yard header powered past Alan Main.

Livingston were guilty of more sloppy defending seven minutes later when three defenders failed to cut out a Neil McCann cross and Arveladze had a simple header to put Rangers two ahead.

Livingston tried to haul themselves back into the game before half time and Francisco Quino had a couple of efforts which Stefan Klos dealt with comfortably.

Arteta was fortunate to escape a red card shortly before half time for kicking out at Philippe Brinquin.

Referee John Rowbotham, just a few yards from the incident, baffled everyone by not even delivering a lecture to the Spanish midfielder.

Rangers had chances to add to their lead with Moore sending a close-range header wide and then, in the opening minute of the second half, Arveladze saw a shot cleared off the line by O'Brien.

Main then denied Arveladze when he was off his line quickly to block a close-in shot from the Rangers striker.

Barry Ferguson was then only inches away with a 20-yard shot which curled past Main's right-hand post.

Livingston wasted a great chance to pull a goal back in the 74th minute when Fernando Ricksen fouled Zarate in the penalty area, but Zarate's spot-kick was saved by Klos.

Gus Bahoken then saw a stinging shot saved by the Gers keeper but by then the game was beyond them.

Main produced late saves from Steven Thompson and Barry Ferguson before Dadi headed home a late consolation goal in injury-time for Livi.