Doubles for both Cyriel Dessers and Rabbi Matondo, a Tom Lawrence goal and Danilo finish from the substitutes bench towards the end saw the Gers claim a third domestic win in a row with a dominant performance throughout.

Rangers looked to carry on their momentum from their cup success last weekend, as manager Philippe Clement named four changes to his starting side. Leon Balogun, Connor Barron, Tom Lawrence and Cyriel Dessers were all brought into the team from the one that ran out 2-0 winners over St Johnstone in the Premier Sports Cup last weekend.

The Gers looked to start on the front foot at Hampden Park as they edged the early possession. Chances remained few and far between inside the opening five minutes of the game as the hosts look to threaten, with Vaclav Cerny looking lively down the right flank as he looked to get in behind early on.

At one end, James Tavernier got into a promising position for the Light Blues as he combined with his teammate to work an opening. Opting against a shot at goal he looked to pick out Tom Lawrence in the area but the ball was quickly turned over as County broke. Ronan Hale was sent in behind the Gers backline as the number nine cut inside and forced a smart save from Jack Butland, who reacted well to clear the danger from any potential rebound.

After a quiet period in the game, a moment of real quality was to arrive as the Gers took the lead through a fourth Cyriel Dessers goal in six matches. Working the ball down the left flank Tom Lawrence superbly spun his marker before feeding the strike in behind, opting against a pass across to Cerny he smashed the ball beyond Ross Laidlaw emphatically into the bottom corner on his left side to put Rangers in front just short of the 20-minute mark.

It should have been two just minutes later as the roles were reversed. A long through ball from Cerny was latched onto by the goalscorer, chopping onto his left side he acknowledged Lawrence in space and all on his own on the far side. The Welshman took it in his stride and composed himself but pulled his left footed shot wide of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

The hosts took real confidence from breaking the deadlock as the chances started to come thick and fast. Dessers got the better of Will Nightingale as he rolled the defender before racing in behind. A sliding challenge came in with the ball breaking for the arriving Rabbi Matondo, but he saw his effort stay out after coming off the crossbar.

The match turned scrappy beyond the half-hour mark as County managed to work themselves into the contest. The Gers threatened when they got the opportunities to go forward but were unable to double their advantage within their dominant spell after taking the lead.

A set piece chance almost provided the second goal for the hosts. Tavernier took a short corner for Cerny to deliver on his left foot, John Souttar rose highest in the box to meet it with his head as it looked goal bound but for a smart tip over the crossbar from the scrambling Laidlaw to keep it out.

Ross County had an opportunity on the break to level up proceedings. After racing forward following a Gers corner, a debatable challenge on Connor Barron from Aidan Denholm was deemed fair by the referee as play continued, he had a chance to test Butland from the edge of the area but the goalkeeper was able to hold the effort.

Just momentarily after the Gers did manage to double their lead. Mohamed Diomande who had just entered the pitch combined with his captain from a throw-in, the full-back delivered the ball into the near post as Rabbi Matondo reacted first to meet it at the near post as he turned it home to make it two.

The Light Blues looked to start where they left off in the second 45 as they had several openings in the early stages. After their first chance went begging the two full-backs almost combined as Jefte delivered a dangerous ball over the County backline towards the back post, but the cross was just slightly too high for his captain as it was just out with his reach.

Diomande was next to try his luck as the hosts probed for a third. After patient build-up down the flank involving Tavernier and Cerny, the ball was worked to the edge of the area for the Ivory Coast international, but his right footed shot flashed past the post.

Clement’s men were really upping the intensity of their play as the pressure mounted. A ball into the feet of Dessers was worked to the advancing Jefte who was in an advanced position down the channel. The full-back tried his luck at the near post but his fierce effort hit the side netting.

The hosts were well on top and made it count as they put the game beyond any doubt just short of the hour-mark. Matondo worked his way into the area with a clever bit of skill to get past Michee Efete. He delivered the ball low across the box for the arriving Dessers to tap into the empty net as he put home his fifth goal in as many games to make it 3-0.

Rangers were in a rampant mood as three quickly became four as Tom Lawrence got on the scoresheet with a deserved goal for his individual display. Matondo the provider once again as he drove at the visiting backline, opting against using Dessers to his left he picked out the midfielder who was in an advanced position inside the area, he took a touch to set himself before tapping it beyond Laidlaw in his last action of the game.

The goals were flowing as it shortly became five. A Cerny delivery from the right flank met Matondo at the back post as the two wingers combined for the Welshman’s second of the afternoon as the hosts were in fine form midway through the second half and continued to look a real threat every time they came forward.

The Gers looked to add to their lead further having made several changes in the game. Barron found himself on the edge of the area as he swung a ball into the box which was met by substitute Kieran Dowell, but the Englishman’s glancing header was collected by Laidlaw on the ground.

After going close to rounding off the scoring moments prior substitute Danilo fired in his first goal of the season to make it six towards the end. A Ross County clearance deflected into the path of the Brazilian striker who had the simple task of placing it beyond the goalkeeper to add the final goal in what was an impressive afternoon all round for the Gers.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun (Diomande 45), Jefte, Barron, Sterling, Lawrence (Dowell 66), Matondo (Fraser 75) , Cerny (McCausland 75), Dessers (Danilo 66)

SUBS: Kelly, King, McKinnon, Rice

ROSS COUNTY: Laidlaw, Wright, Nightingale, Efete (Samuel 62), Randall, Denholm (Chilvers 62), Loturi (Allardice 62), Grieves, Harmon (Reid 81), White (Nisbet 71), Hale

SUBS: Hamilton, Brown, Leak, Brophy