Rangers suffered another bout of away-day blues as Dolly Menga's strike consigned Steven Gerrard's disjointed outfit to a 1-0 defeat at Livingston.
The Ibrox side was looking to record its first win on the road since February's 4-1 triumph at St Johnstone, but Gary Holt's team inflicted just Gerrard's second defeat in 18 games as manager to leave his side eight points adrift of runaway Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.
Winner: A strike by Livingston’s Dolly Menga was enough to secure the three points.
Menga struck seven minutes before half-time and Rangers never looked like levelling, slipping down to sixth spot with Livingston climbing to third and only behind Hibernian on goal difference.
And there could be further trouble in store for Rangers after linesman Calum Spence had to be treated for a head wound after an object was apparently thrown from the away end.
Gerrard said after the game there is no place in football for that kind of incident, with the game held up for several minutes to allow Spence to be treated.
Television pictures showed Spence bleeding from a cut to the back of the head after being felled by an object thrown from a section housing Rangers supporters.
Local media said Rangers would work with Livingston and Police Scotland to identify the culprit.
"I don't think that belongs in football, does it?" Gerrard told reporters after the game.
"I think we all know that’s not right. He’s trying to do a job so that's not right."
A professional trade union for senior football referees in Scotland condemned the incident and called on the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to launch an investigation.
"We strongly condemn the unacceptable incident at today's game. This cannot be tolerated," Prospect Scotland Football Referees Branch said on its Twitter page.
"We call on the @ScottishFA to carry out an urgent full investigation. Referees & officials are entitled to a safe workplace, free from intimidation and violence."
Unacceptable: Assistant referee Calum Spence receiving treatment.
In the game, Rangers dominated possession but Livingston did more with the ball they had. They should have scored just two minutes in when Menga's first-time lay-off sent Scott Pittman through on Allan McGregor's goal but the midfielder tugged his big chance wide.
Rangers managed just two first-half shots on target but former Ibrox goalkeeper Liam Kelly was barely troubled by Lassana Coulibaly's header and a tame Ovie Ejaria strike.
Livi's winner came from a deep set-piece. Scott Arfield did not react with a cross as Declan Gallagher slotted the ball to Scott Robinson, who kept his cool to pick out Menga for a simple finish.
PA/Reuters
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