St Mirren secured a historic 2-0 victory over Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, marking their first win at Ibrox since November 1991. The match, played on Saturday, saw Rangers reduced to ten men early on, which significantly impacted their performance. Despite a VAR review that downgraded Hamza Igamane's red card to a yellow, Rangers struggled to regain control. Mikael Mandron's second-half goal for St Mirren set the tone, followed by a decisive strike from Toyosi Olusanya. This defeat further deepened Rangers' woes, as they now trail league leaders Celtic by 13 points.
The encounter began with high hopes for Rangers. However, their aspirations were quickly dashed when Hamza Igamane was sent off for a foul on Mark O'Hara. The initial red card decision was later changed to a yellow following a VAR review, but the damage was done, and Rangers were visibly rattled. As the match progressed into the second half, St Mirren capitalized on their advantage. Mikael Mandron broke the deadlock, putting his team ahead and increasing pressure on the home side.
Rangers' desperation grew in the latter stages of the game as they failed to create any clear chances. The frustration among the fans was palpable, with many expressing their anger at the team's lackluster display. Philippe Clement, Rangers’ boss, did not mince words in his post-match assessment.
"It's not acceptable to play in this way. The level needs to rise again." – Philippe Clement
As Rangers' struggles continued, St Mirren seized the opportunity to double their lead. Substitute Toyosi Olusanya out-muscled Clinton Nsiala to score, sealing a memorable win for his side. This triumph was particularly significant for St Mirren's manager Stephen Robinson, who celebrated his third anniversary in charge of the club on a high note.
"We have raised expectations at this football club and it's not because we have massive resources or an injection of cash. It is because of the squad of players. They deserve all the credit for the performance." – Stephen Robinson
This victory marked St Mirren's second success over Rangers this season, following a 2-1 win in Paisley on Boxing Day. The defeat was a bitter pill for Rangers to swallow, as it dealt a severe blow to their aspirations of securing a domestic trophy this season. Fans voiced their discontent, with some even calling for Clement's resignation.
The loss leaves Rangers in a precarious position in the league standings. They are now 13 points adrift of Celtic, intensifying the pressure on Clement and his squad as they look ahead to their Europa League last-16 tie against Fenerbahce in March. Clement acknowledged the need for improvement across all matches.
"It's not only in a game like this [that we need to produce]. It's just whatever game it is. Everybody has real hunger to show a good game – that you saw before the game – but the performance was not there and the way they did it on the field was not the way to see it." – Philippe Clement
St Mirren’s victory underscored their growth under Robinson’s leadership and highlighted the resilience and determination of his squad. The manager praised his players for their hard work and commitment, attributing their success to their collective efforts rather than financial might.
Leave a Reply