Rangers made it twelve games unbeaten with a gritty 2-0 win over St Mirren in Paisley, thanks to a first-half penalty from Ryan Naderi and a deflected strike from Dan Neil after the hour mark. The victory moves the Ibrox side to within a point of Celtic, applying pressure on the league leaders ahead of their Sunday fixture against Kilmarnock at Parkhead.
Goalkeeper and defence
Ivor Pandur was kept busy, making a safe save from a Ramos shot after Makhanya lost possession. His two standout saves came in the second half, parrying a St Mirren effort from substitute Sule and then denying Luke Thomas with another brave block. He earned an 8/10.
Dujon Sterling held his position at right-back rather than pushing forward, contributing key interceptions for a 7. Manny Fernandez was the steadier of the two centre-backs, dealing with headers and tackles while keeping his focus throughout, also a 7. Olwethu Makhanya made an important early block but had a shaky spell, including one mistake that let Ramos in for a shot, before looking more assured in the second half. He was rated 6.
Midfield and attack
James Penrice returned to his favoured full-back slot after playing midfield last Saturday and looked far more comfortable. His overlap run won the penalty after he was tripped by Ramos, though St Mirren insisted he went down early. He was caught sleeping at a quick free-kick but raced back to clear the danger, earning an 8.
Badredine Bouanani, man of the match last week at Hampden, made several runs and deliveries but could not unlock the Paisley backline, a 7. Nico Raskin, encouraged to shoot more after his goal of the month strike, was denied by a finger-tip stop from Chapman. He kept things simple and did the dirty work off the ball but was booked for pulling Phillips down, also a 7.
Captain Dan Neil, back in the starting line-up after being left out last week, saw limited involvement in the first half but came into it more after the break, driving his deflected strike past Chapman for the crucial second goal. He was rated 7. Minsu Kim was more energetic than in last week's semi-final but delayed pulling the trigger on a great chance half an hour in. He deserved an assist for his through ball for Kelsy that ended with a Chapman block and was booked for dragging back Kabia, a 7.
Kevin Kelsy set up the game's first chance with a headed knockdown but should have scored himself just after half-time. He led the charge for the second goal but was lucky when his sloppy pass fell for Neil to put the game beyond doubt, a 6. Ryan Naderi, last week's Hampden hero, fired straight at Chapman inside quarter of an hour but made no mistake moments later, sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. It is now nine goals in 14 games for the frontman, who earned an 8.
Substitutes
Tuur Rommens replaced Penrice with 15 minutes left, providing added steel for a 3. Findlay Curtis took over from Bouanani on 75 minutes and thought he was in to score but could not find the net on the stretch, a 3. Djeidi Gassama came on for Minsu as part of a quadruple change and played in Chukwuani for a big chance, a 3. Tochi Chukwuani replaced Kelsy and was close to adding a third, firing just beyond the far post, a 3. Vanja Dragojevic was given the final five minutes in place of Neil, a 2.
