PENA’S FROM HEAVEN
Two-goal Gers hero Carlos answers the critics as he gives sad Saints the elbow
CARLOS PENA caused controversy with his elbow on his last Friday night outing.
But this time the Mexican used his left foot and head to devastating effect to deliver a knockout blow to 10-man St Johnstone.
Rangers won the battle on the park after the war of words between both camps in the build-up to this McDiarmid Park clash.
And it was Pena who ensured the Light Blues had the final say at the end of a stormy week with a couple of goals while continuing to answer his critics.
The 27-year-old made it four goals in as many starts as he looks to justify the £2.5million spent on him.
Pena was in the headlines for the wrong reasons after he was caught by the cameras appearing to elbow Hamilton’s Greg Docherty.
SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan ruled he had no case to answer and he took full advantage of that decision with a goal in either half.
Graham Dorrans added a third late on by which time the home side were a man down after Steven Anderson was sent off for a second booking.
Tommy Wright claimed Pedro Caixinha was paranoid after the Gers boss claimed his team had been leaked to Saints.
But it didn’t matter with Gers now looking to make it three straight wins for the first time under the Portuguese when they face Motherwell in the Betfred Cup semi-final next Sunday.
There was no place for Kenny Miller who was rated doubtful before the game and Caixinha claimed pre-match his omission was a precaution.
But a huge question mark continues to hang over the striker’s future after he was left out of the last squad for the win over Hamilton and sent with the Under-20s to Brentford.
Caixinha continues to claim there is no issue with the striker despite RecordSport revealing details of a stormy squad summit in the wake of last month’s Old Firm defeat.
Bruno Alves missed that loss to Celtic after travelling to Spain for treatment on a calf injury but returned to skipper the side with Jason Holt replacing the suspended Ryan Jack.
Saints favourite Chris Millar, told he was free to find a new club in the summer, was a surprise starter in place of Paul Paton and David Wotherspoon also came in for Scott Tanser.
With Celtic and Aberdeen not in action until today, this was a chance for both sides to move to within three points of the Premiership pacesetters.
And there was the added spice after the war of words between the managers.
Wright was desperate for his side to show a reaction following a 3-0 defeat at Dons but history wasn’t on their side with Saints going a dozen league clashes against Gers without victory. But there’s a fragility about this Light Blues team and if Saints – without loan Ranger and star Michael O’Halloran – could find their form then they had every reason to fancy their chances.
And they started brightly, forcing a couple of early corners.
But Gers’ Josh Windass had the first real attempt when he picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park and drove forward before swerving a shot wide.
Steven MacLean didn’t hold back in the press during the week after taking umbrage to Caixinha comparing Saints to Morton after Gers played the Greenock side in a friendly.
And the Saints striker made his mark in the game with a crunching challenge on Alves that was lucky not to see him go into Don Robertson’s book.
But team-mate Murray Davidson timed his tackle to perfection moments later when Daniel Candeias was short with a pass to Dorrans.
Davidson intercepted and sent Graham Cummins racing clear on goal with the Irishman beating Alves for pace but his shot was saved by Wes Foderingham.
The visitors then grabbed the lead