Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McCarthy the hero as Buddies shock Gers
STEVEN Gerrard watched another chance to claim his first trophy as Rangers boss slip through his fingers as Conor McCarthy’s stoppage-time winner saw St Mirren smash the Ibrox side’s 27-game beaten record last night.
Gers looked on course for a place in the Betfred Cup semi-finals after Connor Goldson fired them ahead early.
The Paisley men hit back with Jamie McGrath’s double before Steven Davis thought he had forced extra-time with his late strike.
But there was still time defender McCarthy to pop up with the precious goal which handed Jim Goodwin’s team a sensational shock 3-2 win at the SMISA Stadium.
Rangers looked imperious this year and their fans fully expected their team to march all the way to Hampden to lift their first trophy in a decade after seeing bitter rivals Celtic exit the competition in the last 16.
But instead it is Saints who are heading back to the national stadium for the first time since lifting the League Cup back in 2013 after becoming the first Scottish side in nine months to topple the Premiership leaders.
Rangers grabbed the opener inside seven minutes. Joe Aribo released Scott Arfield in the box but the Buddies could only clear his cross to Goldson, who strode forward purposely before drilling past former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Gerrard had made another four changes to his side after Sunday’s win at Dundee United but there was a disjointed look about them.
Cedric Itten, starting in place of Alfredo Morelos after the Colombian was ruled out for his elbow on Dundee United’s Mark Connolly, found it hard to involve himself in a quiet first 30 minutes.
The big Swiss hitman did get a header on target from a Tavernier corner as Rangers eventually created their only other clear-cut chance of the first half 10 minutes before the break but McGrath was well-placed on the line to clear.
And from almost going 2-0 down, Saints found themselves level after 40 minutes. Bassey had not looked comfortable in his early dealings with Dylan Connolly and got caught wrong side again as he barged the Irishman over to hand Dickinson the easiest of decisions to award the spot-kick, tucked away coolly down the middle by McGrath.
Gerrard’s team then found themselves behind to Scottish opposition for only the second time this season in the 53rd minute.
Saints pounced on Leon Balogun’s loose pass, releasing Connolly down the right. His cross was set back by Jon Obika for McGrath, who again refused to panic at the big moment as he shifted the ball onto his left foot before beating McGregor again.
With two minutes left Davis thought he had rescued Gers, driving the ball into the ground and over Alnwick’s despairing reach after Tavernier’s free-kick had thudded against the post.
St Mirren immediately raced upfield to force a string of corners. McGregor did brilliantly to keep out a Richard Tait header but was helpless as McCarthy rammed home the winner from close range.