St. Mirren 2 (Sutton 2 [4, 76 Pen])
Rangers 3 (Adam 17, Buffel 25, Novo 84)
Attendance 8,384
It was an end-to-end thriller with two teams fully
committed to attacking football, with both Barry
Ferguson and Charlie Adam (back on his old stamping
ground) outstanding in the middle of the park.
Manager Paul Le Guen made two changes from Livorno
with Sasa Papac and Dado Prso replacing Karl Svensson
and Nacho Novo.
The home side took a shock lead in four minutes when,
with the Ibrox defence yet again vulnerable to the
cross ball, John Sutton headed home a Simon Lappin
cross.
The celebrating home fans let themselves and their
club down by indulging in abusive songs about the
Rangers' Manager – and their team was fortunate to
remain at full strength in sixteen minutes when the
skillful Simon Lappin committed a quite shocking foul
on Barry Ferguson – a thigh-high tackle that merited
nothing less than a red card, yet incredibly Referee
Calum Murray saw nothing amiss.
Sixty seconds later Charlie Adam, returning to the
club where he played on loan last season, inevitably
levelled the scoreline when he rifled home a
twenty-yard free-kick.
Rangers snatched the lead in 25 minutes when clever
running by Thomas Buffel saw him burst through the
Saints defence from a Kris Boyd lay-off before
slottting the ball home.
An exciting first-half ended without further score,
but Rangers were well on top – and might have extended
their lead in 58 minutes when Boyd's 22-yard drive
following a short Ferguson free-kick was blocked by
home goalkeeper Tony Bullock's legs.
Nine minutes later the Light Blues had a strong
penalty claim waved aside by the referee when Boyd was
bundled over by David Van Zanten as he homed in on a
Ferguson cross.
Rangers were going all out for a killer third goal –
and might have secured it in 73 minutes when Dado Prso
burst through the midde only to see his low drive
turned wide by Bullock, then from the resultant Adam
corner to the far post Buffel's angled drive was
headed off the line by Van Zanten.
Unbelievably the scores were levelled in 76 minutes
when Sutton netted his second of the afternoon from
the penalty spot – but it was an extremely soft award
by Calum Murray, as there appeared to be no contact
whatsoever between Julien Rodriguez and Saints
substitute Mark Corcoran from a Sutton cross.
Novo immediately replaced Prso – and within three
minutes Bullock defied Ferguson when the Ibrox Captain
headed a Steven Smith cross goalwards.
Rangers would not be denied however – regaining the
lead in 84 minutes when Buffel fed Adam whose low shot
from the edge of the box forced a fine save from
Bullock only for Novo to coolly net the loose ball.
Four minutes later Novo almost made it a double when
his fifteen-yard drive from a cutback from fellow
substitute Filip Sebo flashed just over.
The points were secure however – and afterwards Paul
Le Guen reflected:
“It was a good game. It's been a good week. We are
improving. I was always optimistic we would win as we
were creating so many chances. I was pleased with
Nacho Novo's contribution in midweek, but it's my job
to make these decisions. It's a good sign that he was
so keen to come on.”
ST. MIRREN Bullock; McGowne (Corcoran 69), Millen,
Broadfoot; Van Zanten, Brittain, Murray (Kean 84),
Brady, Lappin; Sutton, Mehmet (McKenna 69)
UNUSED SUBS Smith, Reid, Molloy, McCay
RANGERS Letizi; Hutton, Papac, Rodriguez, Smith;
Buffel, Hemdani, Ferguson, Adam; Prso (Novo 76), Boyd
(Sebo 87)
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Rae, Svensson, Ponroy, N'Diaye
REFEREE Calum Murray
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