Rangers 2-0 Saints

The Gers took the lead on 28 minutes when first half substitute Cyril Dessers latched on to a James Tavernier ball into the box, getting away from Oludare Olufunwa, to slot a strike beyond Dimitar Mitov.

Then just after the half an hour mark Saints were reduced to ten men as Diallang Jaiyesimi was sent off for a foul on John Lundstram following a VAR review.

Rangers dominated possession however, Mitov made some excellent saves to keep Saints in the game. However, Rangers would seal the points with 6 minutes remaining as Tavernier slotted home from the penalty spot after Dessers had been fouled by Mitov.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Ayrshire on Saturday as they take on Kilmarnock at The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were on the road this evening for their first of five consecutive away games. A second half strike from Graham Carey saw Saints defeat Hibs 1-0 on Saturday and Craig Levein made three changes to his starting eleven this evening. Tony Gallacher, Ryan McGowan and Graham Carey all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Andy Considine, Oludare Olufunwa and Sven Sprangler. Rangers edged past Aberdeen at Hampden on Sunday as James Tavernier scored the only goal of the game with 14 minutes remaining to win the Viaplay Cup for the Ibrox side. There were five changes to the Rangers starting eleven this evening as manager Philippe Clement brought in Rıdvan Yılmaz, John Souttar, Sam Lammers, Kieran Dowell and Kemar Roofe to replace Leon Balogun, Borna Barišić, Dujon Sterling, Todd Cantwell and Cyriel Dessers who all dropped to the bench.

Kieran Dowell got the match underway for Rangers and the hosts created the first chance of the match on 6 minutes as a cross from James Tavernier was met by Kemar Roofe however, the forward couldn’t direct his header on target.

The Gers made the first change of the game on 16 minutes as Cyriel Dessers came on to replace Kemar Roofe.

Rangers were controlling possession and on 22 minutes they were awarded a free kick just outside the box following a handball by Fran Franczak. Tavernier took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box but Oludare Olufunwa was alert to the danger as he turned the ball behind for a corner.

PHOTO: Luke Robinson is closed down by Kieran Dowell and Ross McCausland

A Tavernier corner on 26 minutes broke to John Souttar whose effort was blocked by a combination of his own player Dessers and Dimitar Mitov as Saints cleared the danger.

The pressure from the Govan side eventually told 2 minutes later as they took the lead. A long ball forward by Tavernier picked out Dessers who got away from Olufunwa to slot a left footed strike beyond Mitov.

Saints evening got even worse just after the half an hour mark as they were reduced to ten men. Diallang Jaiyesimi was booked by referee Alan Muir for a foul on John Lundstram however, following a VAR review in which Muir was called to the monitor to review the foul the card was upgraded to a red as it was branded serious foul play.

That promoted a change by Saints as Chris Kane was brought on to replace Sven Sprangler.

PHOTO: Referee Alan Muir shows Diallang Jaiyesimi a red card after a VAR check

Now with the man advantage Rangers continued to create chances as on 37 minutes Tavernier played in Dessers however, Mitov made a good save to deny Nigerian forward. Then 2 minutes later Dessers turned provider as he cut the ball back to Sam Lammers however Mitov was equal to the effort as he saved the forward’s strike.

There was 7 minutes added on at the end of the first half and deep into added on time Rangers came close to a second goal as Connor Goldson played a defence splitting pass to Tavernier and the Rangers captain took a touch before sending his right footed effort wide.

4 minutes into the second half a Tavernier corner from the right was met by Abdallah Sima however, the on-loan Brighton and Hove Albion forward volleyed wide of the target. Then 3 minutes later Lammers saw his effort saved by Mitov and Rangers were then claiming for a penalty as Dessers went down over Mitov in the aftermath but nothing was given by referee Alan Muir.

Saints then tried to hit Rangers on the break as Kane broke forward however, the forward ended up fouling Dujon Sterling as the hosts were awarded a free kick.

PHOTO: Oludare Olufunwa and John Souttar

Just before the hour mark Dessers saw his effort saved by Mitov and the Saints number then made a brilliant one handed save shortly after to deny Lammers who had got on the end of a Ross McCausland cross.

Saints made their second change of the game on the hour mark as Tony Gallacher came on to replace Fran Franczak.

Rangers continued to create chances and on 67 minutes Dowell tried to pick out Lammers with a ball into the box however, Olufunwa was alert to the danger as he headed clear the danger although his clearance only went as far as Dessers who sent his first-time effort wide.

With 20 minutes remaining the Ibrox side got another sight of goal as substitute Todd Cantwell fired over. The one-way traffic on the Saints goal continued and a minute later Tavernier curled an effort from distance wide.

Saints then made a triple change as Ryan McGowan, Graham Carey and Dara Costelloe came on to replace Oludare Olufunwa, Dan Phillips and Matt Smith.

PHOTO: Ryan McGowan and Rıdvan Yılmaz

Despite Rangers dominance the home fans were getting frustrated as they struggled to extend their lead however, the home fans thought they had doubled their lead on 73 minutes as Mitov made a good save to push away a Rıdvan Yılmaz cross. However, the ball only went as far as Tavernier who unleashed a strike which went into the side netting.

Although Saints were not putting lots of pressure on the home goal you started to get the feeling that they might get back into the game as the half progressed and with 10 minutes remaining a long throw from McGowan into the Rangers box was flicked on by Liam Gordon however, Tony Gallacher couldn’t get on the end of it as Rangers cleared the danger.

However, Rangers were handed a chance to end the game as a contest on 83 minutes as Dessers went down in the box after the forward was brought down in the box by Mitov after the forward had been played in by substitute Scott Wright. Unsurprisingly Tavernier took the penalty and despite Mitov guessing the correct way he despatched a low penalty into the bottom left of the net.  

As the match entered the final minute Saints were awarded a free kick in a promising position after Max Kucheriavyi was fouled by Dessers. Carey took the free kick however, his effort hit the wall as the ball went behind for a corner.

3 minutes were added on at the end and deep into stoppage time Saints were awarded another free kick as Cantwell was booked for bringing down Costelloe on the edge of the box. This time Kucheriavyi took the free kick however, he curled his effort over the bar as Rangers saw the game out to secure the 3 points.   

PHOTO: Dara Costelloe is fouled by Todd Cantwell

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (King 86’), Yılmaz, Lundstram (Sterling 45’), Souttar, Goldson, Lammers (Cantwell 68’), Sima (Wright 68’), Dowell, Roofe (Dessers 16’), McCausland

Unused Substitutes: McCrorie (GK), Matondo, Balogun, Barišić

Booked: Goldson, Cantwell

Scorers: Dessers (28’), Tavernier (84’ pen)

Saints: Mitov, Considine, Gordon, Jaiyesimi, Kucheriavyi, Olufunwa (McGowan 72’), Robinson, Smith (Costelloe 72’), Sprangler (Kane 35’), Phillips (Carey 72’), Franczak (Gallacher 60’)

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), May, Clark, Turner-Cook

Booked: Smith, Phillips

Sent Off: Jaiyesimi

Referee: Alan Muir

VAR: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 46,931

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Luke Robinson and John Souttar