It’s rare that Rangers will go into a game against St. Mirren with so much pressure on the outcome. This was a must win today. With how we’ve been playing, it was also always going to be more difficult than it had to be.
In the first half particularly Rangers looked every inch the off form team we’ve been since the last international break.
We were laboured, desperate and showed a serious lack of quality in the final third. Crosses arched over everyone. We allowed a very poor St. Mirren side a look at our goal far too often. We lacked creativity in our forward play.
Truth be told, at half-time the thought of another shocker was in the back of my mind. The fact St. Mirren were inches from going in front twice in the first 45 had everyone on tenterhooks.
Second half a different story
Rangers were a different team in the second period. They were direct, urgent and despite struggling to create any real openings, were willing to work hard.
The attitude and application in the second were exactly what we expected from Rangers today. A little bit of luck always helps too.
We got that through Daniel Candeias’ opener. The substitute’s cross looped into the net and the celebrations from the players showed just how much turning this run of form around means to them. Candeias was ridiculously yellow carded for his.
From then on there was only going to be one winner. Rangers grew in confidence and to their credit kept searching for a second goal to kill the tie. Alfredo Morelos provided that killer second and appeared to be struck with a coin as he slid in to celebrate.
Candeias red card “embarrassing”
Candeias was then sent off for being manhandled and assaulted by a greying Anton Ferdinand. The ambling centre back was clearly incensed that he struggled to cope with the Portuguese winger.
Rather than Ferdinand be reprimanded for his behaviour, Candeias, who was mature and didn’t react, was shown a second yellow by Willie Collum. Because the red was for two yellows, it cannot be rescinded.
Steven Gerrard called the situation embarrassing.
But dodgy red cards and vile coin throws aside, Rangers did exactly what they had to do today. They grinded out a win, and it could signal a turning point in our recent form. There are still clear deficiencies in the team – particularly in how we go about creating chances – but we showed a willingness to work for each other that we haven’t done recently.
Bring on the Russians this Thursday.
