RANGERS stretched their winning run to eleven games with victory over Dumbarton this afternoon.
But Mark Warburton’s side were once again far from their best as they had to grind out the three points at the Rock.
The Light Blues held a dressing room inquest in the aftermath of the 3-0 win over Livingston last weekend after an uncharacteristically poor performance.
They did not hit top gear against the Sons either, but done enough to continue their perfect start to the campaign with a 2-1 win.
Next up for Warburton's side is the League Cup clash with St Johnstone on Tuesday night.
Martyn Waghorn bagged a double, the second from the penalty spot, as he made it eleven goals for the season.
Boss Warburton made three changes to his starting line-up for the Sons clash as Dominic Ball replaced Rob Kiernan at the back, Nicky Law came in for Jason Holt in midfield and Nathan Oduwa dropped out as Kenny Miller returned to the Gers’ forward line.
Warburton would have been hoping for a quick start from his side but after Gedion Zelalem was denied in the opening seconds by an onrushing Mark Brown, it was the Sons who had the better of the scoring chances as they equipped themselves well.
Willie Gibson curled a free kick just over Wes Foderingham’s bar before the keeper was left helpless when Gary Fleming saw his header come back off the post after a Gibson cross.
There were half chances for Law as he saw a shot from the edge of the area saved and Miller, whose weak header from a Barrie McKay cross was easy saved by Brown.
Darren Barr should have given Dumbarton the lead just after the half hour mark but his back post header was saved by Foderingham before Scott Brown blasted his effort over the bar after a neat free-kick.
In the closing stages of the first half, James Tavernier twice came close as he saw a well struck shot tipped over the bar and the right-back was then denied by the woodwork as his free-kick struck Brown’s post.
It was the final action of what was probably Rangers’ worst 45 minutes of the campaign to date as Warburton was left with plenty to ponder as he looked to continue his winning run.
There was little for the travelling Gers support to shout about in the opening stages of the second half, though, as frustrations levels began to rise.
After Lee Wallace saw a low shot saved, Warburton turned to his bench as Oduwa and Dean Shiels replaced McKay and Law in a bid to spark his side into action.
Just seconds later, Waghorn broke the deadlock as Dumbarton’s resistance was finally broken, his swerving shot from 25 yards deceiving Brown to give Rangers the lead.
And it was the striker who clinched the points as he continued his fine scoring streak and netted once again from the spot.
Gregor Buchanan brought down Miller as he bore down on goal and after the defender was shown a straight red, Waghorn made no mistake from twelve yards to double his tally and Rangers’ advantage.
In the closing seconds, Danny Wilson fouled Frazer Wright and Fleming scored from the spot, although Foderingham was unlucky to be denied a clean sheet as the ball squirmed under him and over the line.
It was too late for the Sons to snatch anything from the game, though, as Rangers held on to make it eleven from eleven this term.
DUMBARTON: Brown; Gallagher, Barr, Docherty (Waters 83), Buchanan; Fleming, Cawley (Wright 74), Routledge, Brown; Gibson; Brophy (Kirkpatrick 54)
Goals: Fleming pen 90
Booked: Brophy, Fleming, Barr
Sent off: Buchanan
RANGERS: Foderingham; Tavernier (Aird 80), Ball, Wilson, Wallace; Halliday, Law (Shiels 60), Zelalem; Miller, McKay (Oduwa 60), Waghorn
Goals: Waghorn 63, pen 73
Booked: Wallace, Ball
Referee: Alan Muir
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