Fixtures & Results
by Brian Corry at Ibrox Stadium
In the fifth instalment this season of the St Mirren v Rangers saga, Saints once again failed in their attempt to secure victory. Barring a comeback of epic proportions in the league and the highly unlikely possibility of Saints clinching a top six place, the Paisley side have one chance remaining this campaign in the League Cup final to improve their poor record against their Ibrox counterparts.
With this SPL clash being the 4th time in 38 days the clubs have met, this fixture is providing perfect evidence for those in favour of league reconstruction based on repetitive fixtures with minimal entertainment, however this was an interesting and often intriguing match which both teams contributed to in an often open and enterprising way.
Both sides lined up as expected in terms of formation with Walter Smith applying his now customary 4-4-2 and Gus MacPherson retained his 3-5-2 shape in the hope that numerical advantage in midfield could lead to Saints dominating possession, and controlling the key area of the pitch. This is despite the Saints manager having so many unavailable players he could only list 6 substitutes.
Saints started the match well with Higdon shooting over in the first minute from 25 yards. Higdon and Mehmet were already causing problems with their physical presence and in the 4th minute Higdon was again involved, this time in an extremely controversial incident. The big Englishman turned David Weir on the edge of the box but the veteran Rangers man tugged him back as he was in the act of shooting when one-on-one with Alan McGregor. Despite Higdon still forcing a fine save from the Rangers keeper, referee Charlie Richmond pulled the play back for a Saints free kick yet he failed to even book Weir much to the bewilderment of the Saints players and management team.
Saints were next to show again in the 15th minute when fine play between David Barron and Steven Thomson saw the former slip in the midfielder, but McGregor was alert and narrowed the angle to block the former Falkirk man's effort. It was a promising start from the Paisley side.
Rangers at this point were trying to find their way into the match, and as the Ibrox crowd became restless, they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area on 23 mins. Steven Davis stepped up and curled the ball over the wall and onto the top of the crossbar and in the ensuing untidy scramble Sasa Papac hit the post. It was an undoubted let off for Saints.
As the game now developed a stop-start rhythm, it was Saints who were awarded the next free kick in a dangerous area in the 30th minute and they didn't disappoint on this occasion. From a near central position 25 yards from goal, Graham Carey stepped up to send an excellent free kick which dipped wickedly into Alan McGregor's bottom right hand corner. 1-0 Saints, and good value for the lead at this stage.
As Saints attempted to settle on this lead Lee Mair was harshly judged to have fouled Beasley on the right wing and from Kevin Thomson's resultant free kick Lee McCulloch fired in a shot which defelcted cruelly beyond Paul Gallacher to give Rangers the equaliser within 2 minutes of Carey's strike.
It was a frustrating blow for Gus MacPherson and the St Mirren fans looking for their first victory at Ibrox in almost 20 years.
With the two teams seemingly content on going in level at half time Rangers almost snatched the lead in the final minute of the half when Danny Wilson's volley was parried clear by Paul Gallacher, it would have been more than unfair on Saints if they trailed at half time following a spirited first 45 mins showing.
Half-Time: Rangers 1-1 St Mirren
As the second half began most spectators were barely in their seats when a pumped up Rangers took the lead within a minute of the restart. The source again was McCulloch, volleying home following a Kris Boyd knockdown. Spurred on by this Rangers went for the kill and almost added another 30 seconds later when Davis fed Miller, who screwed a shot across goal and the on running Beasley hit the side netting from a tight angle with the Saints defence exposed.
Saints seemed to have weathered the early second half storm but needed a defensive reshuffle when the injured Chris Innes was replaced with Stephen O'Donnell in the 51st minute, with the midfielder going to right midfield and David Barron filling in at centre half.
The Govan side still had the upper hand during this period though and Beasley became the third Rangers player to hit the woodwork in the 53rd minute, when he knocked a Davis cross off Gallacher's upright.
By this point Saints started to come more into it but their neat build up play had little reward at this stage so Gus MacPherson decided to swap the impressive Michael Higdon for Craig Dargo on the 70th minute and as Saints searched for an equaliser they were hit by another sucker punch from a free kick on 78 mins.
This time the scorer was Nacho Novo - who had replaced Beasley on 65 mins - who volleyed home a Davis delivery following real uncertainty in the heart of the Saints defence. A poor goal to lose and it was ultimately the clincher in the match for the champions elect.
Saints rallied after this however and created several excellent opportunities in a late flurry. Firstly, Steven O'Donnell found himself in space at the back post following fine play by Graham Carey on 82mins, but ballooned his shot well over. 6 mins later, Mehmet set up Dargo who tested McGregor from long range, and as the game petered out more excellent lead up play involving O'Donnell led to Dargo launching himself at the cross but Rangers somehow escaped without conceding.
It was a match which promised much for Saints at one stage and the frustration of losing goals at bad times as well as one very contentious refereeing decision will once again leave Gus MacPherson believing that his side can steer clear of relegation this season if they get the breaks. As far as Rangers are concerned, Saints have one more chance on March 21st to score a victory over the Glasgow side this season.
Full-Time: Rangers 3-1 St Mirren
Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Wilson, McCulloch, Davis, Thomson (Edu 64), Beasley (Novo 64), Boyd, Miller (Naismith 79).
Subs Not Used: Broadfoot, Fleck, Little, Alexander.
St Mirren: Gallacher, Mair, Potter, Barron, Innes (O'Donnell 50), Carey, Dorman, Thomson, Brady, Mehmet, Higdon (Dargo 70).
Subs Not Used: Faulds, McLennan, Johnston, Howard.
Referee: Charlie Richmond.
Star Saint: Striker Michael Higdon caused Rangers major problems in the first half and led the line superbly during this period. A real threat.
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