AGONY FOR SAINTS
NEW BOY MORIAS MISSES OUT ON GOAL GLORY FOR BUDDIES
ST MIRREN.......................................0
RANGERS ........................................1
St Mirren came up just agonisingly short as Rangers seized a 1-0 win in Paisley.
Jim Goodwin’s men huffed and puffed but couldn’t find the back of the net despite a flurry of late chances on Allan McGregor’s goal.
New man Junior Morias could have made himself a hero but contrived to fluff his lines in the dying embers of the well-contested clash in Paisley.
Instead, Borna Barisic’s second-half stunner proved to be the difference after he gave Vaclav Hladky no chance with a thundering free-kick into the top corner.
St Mirren can still take the positives from another impressive performance under Goodwin’s stewardship.
Having navigated a tricky start to the campaign, the Irishman will be hoping his side can rack up the points in the coming weeks.
Goodwin stuck to his word as he used the same starting line-up that defeated Aberdeen a fortnight ago.
Morias had to bide his time on the bench having only signed on Thursday, while Stephen McGinn again missed out on a place in the squad through injury.
Under blistering sunshine, Rangers started on the front foot and few would have bet against Jermain Defoe when he seemingly beat the offside trap to go one on one with Hladky inside three minutes.
Despite Saints’ protests, the Rangers striker was allowed the opportunity but could only send his shot wide off target.
St Mirren could be pleased with the way they went about their business in the opening 20 minutes as they limited Rangers to very little, while looking lively themselves.
Skipper Kyle Magennis was the driving force for the Buddies as they frustrated their visitors.
If Tony Andreu showcased a little more composure, then the St Mirren midfielder could have tested Allan McGregor instead of blazing over the bar after jinking by two markers on the edge of the box.
Ilkay Durmus had an almost identical effort minutes later but he too smashed over the crossbar as Saints enjoyed their best spell of the half.
The closest they would come would be through a fortuitous effort from Jon Obika shortly before the half hour mark.
Good link-up play between Sam Foley and Andreu saw the later flick Obika through.
The big striker looked to pick out Durmus at the far post but inside his cross dipped over the head of McGregor before clipping his post and away from danger.
This was the cue for Rangers to seemingly find their groove as they penned Saints in their own half for the remainder of the opening period.
Efforts from Ryan Jack and Connor Goldson forced Hladky into saves - although nothing in the way of clear cut.
Saints had their keeper to thank in 35 minutes as the Czech produced a stunning blocking save to stop Scott Arfield’s header nestling in the back of the net.
St Mirren had shouts for a penalty turned down three minutes from the break when Obika was sent bundling over by Filip Helander inside the Rangers box.
Referee Kevin Clancy incurred the wrath of the Saints support as he blew for the foul in the opposite direction, although closer inspection would show it was perhaps not a foul in either direction.
Going in at half- time all square, Saints boss Jim Goodwin wasn’t content to sit back as he opted to throw on Kyle McAllister at the break for Ilkay Durmus.
The Buddies found themselves on the back foot almost immediately as Rangers midfielder Joe Aribo headed inches wide of the target from James Tavernier’s corner just a minute into the half.
St Mirren had lost their way in the middle of the park and it almost seemed just a matter of time before they would fall behind.
The opener came in sublime circumstances after Defoe was sent sprawling to the turf following a late challenge from left back Calum Waters.
Lined up 25-yards from goal, Rangers defender Borna Barisic was the man to hit the resulting free-kick and he curled an inch-perfect left-footed effort into the top corner of Hladky’s goal right on the hour.
The inevitable onslaught from
Rangers never materialised however, and Saints quickly settled back into their rhythm.
Goodwin again looked to his bench for inspiration as he threw on Junior Morias for his debut just after the goal, with Obika’s race run for the day.
The heat was obviously taking its toll on the players as the sun shone on Paisley and referee Clancy ordered a stoppage in play at 70 minutes to allow the players a water break.
No sooner had the Clancy kicked play back did Defoe come close to doubling the visitors’ advantage as he raced through one-on-one from James Tavernier’s through ball.
The England international opted to fire first time but his effort across the face of goal beat both Hladky and the far post as it went behind for a goalkick.
His replacement, Alfredo Morelos, was next to go close after outfoxing Waters just inside the box.
The Colombian cut back in on his left foot before taking aim but his tame effort was easily collected by Hladky yet again.
With five minutes still left, Danny Mullen was the next to come on as Goodwin went with an extra striker to try and put Rangers under pressure.
Mullen’s introduction almost paid dividends immediately but instead of laying in Morias for a clean sight on goal, the striker attempted to go himself and lost possession.
There was still time for one more chance to equalise as trickery from McAllister on the right flank found Barisic all at season.
The winger cut back inside and squared across the face of goal for Morias but the gilt-edge opportunity came to nothing as he scuffed straight into the arms of McGregor to ensure Rangers escaped with the three points.