Steven Gerrard has called on Rangers to be "more ruthless" after they began a huge week with Scottish Premiership victory over Ross County.

Jordan White's late penalty pulled it back to 3-2 before substitute Scott Arfield put the game beyond the hosts.

Rangers, whose 41-game unbeaten league run was ended by Dundee United a fortnight ago, had surged ahead through Joe Aribo and Connor Goldson header.

Harry Clarke responded after Alfredo Morelos restored the two-goal margin.

Gerrard's men move a point off the top and are away with a 1-0 lead against Alashkert of Armenia in the second leg of their Europa League play-off on Thursday before Celtic visit Ibrox for Sunday's Old Firm derby.

"It was a really strong away performance, a lot of our attacking play was quality and we could have scored more goals," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"I'd like to see us be more ruthless - I can see goals five and six there for sure if we'd really wanted it.

"We're still fine-tuning after busy summer late arrivals and people are getting up to speed."

County remain winless after their opening three league games under new manager Malky Mackay.

The Dingwall club have never beaten Rangers and hadn't managed a goal in the previous six meetings - all defeats - but were aggrieved not to be given an early penalty when Alex Iacovitti's header hit Leon Balogun's arm.

Rangers made the most of the let-off with a rampant start and Aribo opened his scoring account for the season with a wonderful finish arced into the top corner.

Goldson's first goal since January soon followed, with the defender sending a downward header from a corner in off the post.

It looked a matter of how many Rangers would score and County were doing themselves no favours.

Goldson had another free header from a corner scrambled off the line and home goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw made amends for gifting possession to Steven Davis by shovelling an Ianis Hagi drive wide.

Mackay's men had been overrun, but hauled themselves level when Clarke, on loan from Arsenal, marked his first start by slamming home the rebound after Allan McGregor saved well from White.

It was scarcely deserved, but a self-inflicted blow after the restart gave the hosts a mountain to climb again. Jordan Tillson's awful clearance from a Calvin Bassey cross went straight to Glen Kamara and the Finn shuttled the ball to Morelos for a scuffed finish into the far corner.

Again, though, the hosts came back right back at Rangers. McGregor kept out a stinging Blair Spittal effort, but Regan Charles-Cook's attempt on the rebound hit Calvin Bassey on the arm and White clinically converted from the spot.

Enter Arfield to calm Rangers' nerves, following up after Laidlaw could only parry an angled drive from Morelos.

Arfield, Ryan Kent and James Tavernier all threatened a fifth as Rangers ended in the same dominant fashion they had started.

Man of the match - Alfredo Morelos

What did we learn?

Rangers' attacking play was a throwback to their superb form of last season as they cut County open on several occasions.

Defensively, though, they lack the assuredness that was a hallmark of their title success. They have conceded three goals in three league games, while it took nine matches for the same total to be accumulated against them last term.

County have just a point from nine on offer, but there were positives for Mackay as his team play catch-up after a Covid-disrupted start to the season.

The hosts refused to wilt against the champions and that fighting spirit will serve them well as they attempt to climb the table.
What did they say?

Ross County manager Malky Mackay: "I asked the players to make sure they stayed in the game for 90 minutes and we did that.

"When you go 2-0 down after 20 minutes, those are the sorts of game that can run away from you when you play Rangers and it can be six or seven, as has been seen in the past."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told Rangers TV: "I think that was much more like us in terms of how it looked both in and out of possession and I am a lot more happy.

"We were really organised at times - okay, we are still trying to fine tune that and waiting to get the full squad back in and settled, so we will get better in that department - but I thought we showed a lot of quality today."
What's next?

Rangers are in Armenia on Thursday for the second leg of their Europa League play-off against Alashkert (16:00 BST), before hosting Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Premiership next Sunday (12:00).

Ross County are in league action the same day away to Aberdeen (15:00).