JASON HOLT’S goal was enough for Rangers to see off St Mirren and extend their winning start to the SPFL Championship season to 11 matches. Holt struck from an acute angle midway through the first half to put Mark Warburton’s side in front and it would prove to be the only goal of a compelling match played at a ferocious pace.Rangers had to do without the services of Nathan Oduwa who didn’t recover from some of the heavy treatment doled out to him by Livingston in the midweek Petrofac Cup match. In in his place came Kenny Miller, while Gedion Zelalem also replaced Nicky Law.
St Mirren began the game some 20 points behind their opponents and still looking for their first home league win of the season. But their recent form had picked up and they went into this one undefeated in their previous four games. A stinging long-range drive from Scott Agnew in the first minute – expertly tipped over by Wes Foderingham – signalled their intentions.
Jim Goodwin then picked up an early booking for St Mirren, before Steven Thompson headed a Stephen Mallan corner over the bar, and Kenny Miller had Rangers’ first chance but could only volley it wide. James Tavernier then curled an effort into Jamie Langfield’s arms and Holt did likewise as Rangers pushed for the lead. St Mirren, though, came back into it through a Cal Gallagher shot that was dragged just wide, before Lee Wallace – bizarrely – almost scored into his own goal with an overhit back pass than went for a corner much to his relief.
It was Rangers, though, who moved in front after 25 minutes. Martyn Waghorn fed Holt and, although his first touch was poor, the former Hearts player was able to recover to shoot past Langfield from a tight angle. Saints’ response was a Mallan free kick well that was well parried by the goalkeeper. Rangers were denied a second when Miller was flagged offside before the same player scuffed a decent chance wide of goal and was later robbed by a terrific Jack Baird saving tackle. Andy Halliday then somehow failed to poke in Tavernier’s cross at the back post from a matter of feet.
Saints began the second half on the front foot and only a terrific stop from Foderingham kept out Agnew’s goalbound shot, before the same player dribbled an effort just wide after being teed up by substitute Paul McMullan, then blazed another shot just off target. St Mirren kept pushing – Lawrence Shankland had a shot blocked - but just couldn’t find an equaliser as Rangers made it 11 wins out of 11 in the league.
St Mirren: Langfield; Watson, Baird, Webster, Kelly; Goodwin (Carswell 67), Agnew; Gallagher (Shankland 78), Mallan, Howieson (McMullan 56); Thompson
Booked: Goodwin 3
Rangers: Foderingham; Tavernier, Kiernan, Ball, Wallace; Zelalem (Shiels 61) , Halliday; Miller (Clark 61), Holt, McKay (Aird 81); Waghorn
Scorers: Holt 25
Booked: Kiernan 68, Wallace 88
Referee: Steven McLean
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel