Classy Caniggia topples Livingston

Rangers 3 Livingston

Argentina's currency may be plummeting, but Claudio Caniggia is unlikely ever to lose his value. Their erstwhile golden boy remains tied to the goal standard.

The hairstyle remains the same as when he carried his country to the 1990 World Cup final, but two deft finishes at Ibrox yesterday reminded everyone that he is far from a faded genius.

When Livingston came here in early August, it was their first-ever visit to Ibrox. They were wet behind the ears after the rapid elevation provided by three promotions in five years, but survived the baptism intact.

The Scottish Premier League's infants have grown up quickly. Confidence surged after taking a point on the former champions' home patch and their impressive pursuit of the Old Firm, in third place, entitles Jim Leishman and David Hay, the joint managers, to believe that Europe rather than relegation is what now lies on the horizon.

That is also true of Rangers. A Uefa Cup date with Feye-noord awaits next month and, since Alex McLeish has replaced Dick Advocaat, a sheen of consistency has been applied by the new manger.

Certainly, Rangers approached their task with gusto. Shota Arveladze forced two saves out of Nick Culkin, though the goalkeeper needed the defender Oscar Rubio to mop up when he could only parry the striker's second shot.

When Caniggia found space to race clear after 16 minutes, Culkin was more adept, beating the Argentinian's shot to safety. Livingston's normally fluent passing game seemed to be stuck in neutral gear, though they came close to breaking the deadlock minutes later.

David Fernandez's lovely feint was augmented by a reverse pass in behind the Rangers defence. David Bingham lunged in but failed to apply a final touch, and the ball scraped past the far post.

Rangers, though, were doing everything with a slide rule. They seized two goals inside five minutes, both created by measured passes and finished equally stylishly.

Tore Andre Flo had been largely anonymous for 30 minutes when Stephen Hughes slid a pass in behind Rubio and his centre-back partner, Marvin Andrews, and the Norwegian profited from the teenager's vision to round Culkin and rolled an angled left foot shot into the net.

Take two saw Ronald de Boer's forceful presence in midfield release Caniggia after 35 minutes and the former Roma star steered a right-foot shot beyond Culkin.

With the sting taken out of the contest, Ibrox became strangely subdued, testimony perhaps to the way Livingston strove in the second half to cut the deficit.

The introduction of Davide Xausa's pace at half- time helped to increase the visitors' possession, but they lacked a cutting edge and Rangers were content to soak up the pressure.

Lorenzo Amoruso was allowed to contain Fernandez robustly, much to the Spaniard's anger after he received a bash on the mouth from the Rangers captain. Fernandez has deft skills, sidestepping tackles like a matador, but the former Deportivo La Coruña player just could not prompt the response Livingston needed.

Sensing capitulation, Rangers searched for a final goal. Flo ought to have scored with a glancing header from De Boer's fine cross before he was substituted, but Caniggia showed no such profligacy four minutes from the end.

The substitute, Neil McCann, swept down the left wing, whipped in a cross and Caniggia stabbed a close- range shot past Culkin.

Rangers 3 Livingston 0

Flo 30, Caniggia 35, 87

Half-time 2-0 Attendance: 48,044