Klos keep Rangers in the clear

Livingston 1 Rangers

Early goals from Lorenzo Amoruso and Shota Arveladze proved vital yesterday as Rangers survived a late revival from Livingston to maintain their six-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League table.

Rangers will take that advantage to Celtic Park next week for the most important league showdown between the Glasgow giants for some time.

Also significant was a penalty save by Stefan Klos from Rolando Zarate in the second half, so that, when Livingston did score, through substitute Eugene Dadi, the match had just seconds left to run.

The mathematical implications were not the only feature of this match, as there was also controversy in the first half, when Mikel Arteta appeared to kick out at Philippe Brinquin. A mêlée ensued, although the referee, John Rowbotham, did not book anyone.

The home side provided most of the attacking football in the first half, but that came only after they had gifted Rangers two early goals.

Amoruso netted the first in the eighth minute when Brinquin allowed him a free header from a corner, and, when McCann crossed from the left eight minutes later, no fewer than four defenders failed to cut it out. That allowed Arveladze, who had seen an effort ruled out for offside from the previous attack, to stoop and nod past the startled Alan Main.

The game swung from end to end and Livingston thought they were back in it when Fernando Ricksen bundled over Zarate in the box as a cross came in and a penalty was awarded, but Klos blocked Zarate's 71st-minute effort. Dadi's goal was too late.

Rangers' Dutch pair Arthur Numan and Ronald de Boer are doubts for the Celtic game. Numan has a knee problem while De Boer has a calf injury. But Amoruso is expected to play next weekend despite a broken nose.

Goals: Amoruso (8) 0-1; Arveladze (16) 0-2; Dadi (90) 1-2.

Livingston: Main, Brinquin, Maidana, Andrews, Bahoken, Quino (Dadi, 45), Makel (Touré-Maman, 78), Lovell, O'Brien, Wilson (Xausa, 63), Zarate. Substitutes not used: McEwan (gk), Camacho.

Rangers: Klos, Muscat, Moore, Amoruso, Bonnissel, Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta, Mols (Caniggia, 62), Arveladze (Thompson, 71), McCann. Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Malcolm, Hughes.

Referee: J Rowbotham.

Bookings: Rangers: McCann, Ferguson, Muscat.

Man of the match: Klos

Attendance: 10,004.