Ianis Hagi grabbed a double as Rangers rounded off a successful week with a 4-0 rout of Ross County at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement’s side qualified straight into the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night with a 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in Govan and confidence overflowed into the Scottish Premiership.

Two strikes from midfielder Hagi – not in the European squad – and a poacher’s goal from centre-back John Souttar before the interval had the points safe early.

Skipper James Tavernier converted Rangers’ first league penalty of the season in the 76th minute but despite the convincing win, there were no inroads made in the title race.

The Light Blues are still 10 points behind leaders Celtic, who beat Motherwell 3-1 at Fir Park and whose game in hand against Dundee will take place next Wednesday.

Don Cowie’s men, who remain five points ahead of bottom side St Johnstone and in the relegation play-off spot, have conceded 13 goals to the Light Blues in three meetings this season and again were no match for an energised Gers side, with the Highland club still looking for their first win at Ibrox.

As usual after European games, Clement had more options. Defender Clinton Nsiala, another player not in the European squad, returned as did Souttar, who came off the bench against USG after a spell out injured.

Rangers’ only winter signing so far, on-loan Lille defender Rafael Fernandes, was on the bench.

As expected the home side took control of the ball from the start and the visitors held out only until the 18th minute.

Nsiala’s raking pass from the back found Vaclav Cerny wide on the right and he turned inside on to his left foot and fired in a drive from the edge of the box which was spilled by keeper Jordan Amissah right to Hagi, who neatly tucked the ball away.

Hagi’s second came in the 26th minute came when he curled a free-kick from 25 yards before it took a marked deflection off Staggies defender Jonathan Tomkinson to leave keeper Amissah wrong-footed.

At the other end minutes later, Akil Wright’s header from a corner forced a good save on his goal line from Gers keeper Jack Butland. However, Rangers were soon back in control.

Hagi turned provider 10 minutes before the interval when his corner was headed on by Nicolas Raskin to the back post where Souttar lashed the ball high into the net from two yards out for his first goal of the season.

Rangers – with 18-year-old midfielder Bailey Rice on for Mohamed Diomande – began the second half in search of more goals and Rice’s shot from 16 yards from a Hagi cut-back drew a fine save from Amissah.

County had brought on right-back James Brown and midfielder Scott Allardice for Nohan Kenneh and Josh Nisbet but they showed no signs of getting any sort of foothold in the game.

Souttar had the ball in the net from close range again in the 51st minute but the offside flag was up against team-mate Cyriel Dessers.

The Light Blues continued to pound the County goal with shots, although Brown dipped an effort from distance just over Butland’s bar.

Referee Steven McLean pointed to the spot following Lopata’s challenge on Dessers at a corner and Tavernier sent Amissah the wrong way with a well-taken penalty.

Fernandes then took over from Nsiala to make his debut, completing a positive day for the Ibrox club.

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