‘Terrific’: Malky Mackay singles out one Rangers player after Ross County win

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Malky Mackay admitted there was little Ross County could do to stop Joe Aribo’s ‘terrific’ opening goal during Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Scottish Premiership champions Rangers, while speaking to the Press and Journal. 

You can probably accept conceding a 20-yard wondergoal against the best side in the country, curled with poise and precision into the top corner.

But the simplest of headers bundled home from a set-piece? An edge-of-the-box daisycutter trickling in off the post? A fourth and final effort tapped home following a rebound?

Aribo’s stunning strike might have set Rangers on their way at Dingwall but, while Mackay had no complaints about a moment of magic from the one-time Charlton Athletic star, he was less than impressed about the other goals Ross County conceded as a difficult start to the season continued this weekend.

“I was disappointed with the third goal – that was poor from us to allow them to extend the gap again, but I thought we persisted to make sure we played in areas where we could try and expose Rangers and we did that and managed to pull it back to 3-2 before we lost the fourth,” said the former Cardiff City boss. 

“Over 90 minutes, we were in the game, which is something I can only be proud of. We were playing the best team in the country, who have got a fantastic squad of players.

“Aribo’s goal was terrific, but the others were cheap goals as far as I was concerned and that’s no disrespect to Rangers.”

Can Joe Aribo go to the next level at Rangers?

There have never been any doubts about Aribo’s ability – this is a player who has been labelled ‘sublime’ and ‘exceptional’ by Nigeria legend Victor Ikpeba after all – but a little more consistency would go a long way, particularly with more competition than ever for a starting berth at Ibrox. 

Amid reports suggesting Rangers have made a £3 million move for Mirko Ivanic – 20 goals and 16 assists last term speak volumes about what the Red Star Belgrade schemer would bring to the table – a couple more performances like Sundays could be the difference between Aribo becoming Ibrox’s answer to Leo Di Caprio or a talented B-lister like Patrick Wilson.