Match report: Rangers 2-0 Saints

Saints put in a battling performance and they came close to taking the lead on 41 minutes as strike from Adama Sidibeh hit the post after the Gambian international had got on the end of a Matt Smith cross.

Rangers took the lead on 61 minutes when Cyriel Dessers slotted home after getting in behind Jack Sanders. The goal had been disallowed by referee Matthew MacDermid who appeared to blow for a foul on Sanders before Dessers scored. However, VAR got involved and the decision was overturned and the goal stood.

Sidibeh came close to levelling the match in stoppage time as a deep cross from Andre Raymond picked out the Saints forward at the back post however, he put his effort wide of the target.

Rangers then went up the other end and substitute Ross McCausland scored to seal the win for the hosts.  

Next up for Saints is a trip to Dundee United next Saturday as they return to league action, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints headed to Glasgow this evening to take on Rangers in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup. With Ibrox still out of commission due to renovation work on the Copland Stand this evenings televised cup tie took place at Hampden Park and Craig Levein made one change to his starting eleven as Graham Carey came in to replace the suspended Aaron Essel. Rangers dropped into the Europa League on Tuesday evening as they lost their Champions League qualifier 2-0 (3-1 on aggregate) to Dynamo Kyiv and manager Philippe Clement made five changes to his starting eleven. Rabbi Matondo, Václav Černý, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Danilo came in to replace Connor Barron, Ross McCausland, and Cyriel Dessers who all dropped to the bench, whilst Rıdvan Yılmaz and Tom Lawrence missed out completely.

Danilo got the match underway for Rangers and the hosts created the first chance of the match on 15 minutes as Rabbi Matondo saw his right footed effort palmed away by Josh Rae. Then a minute later Rangers created another chance as captain James Tavernier fired over from the edge of the area.

A good ball by Cammy MacPherson on 23 minutes played in Andre Raymond and the Trinidad and Tobago international showed great footwork to take the ball around Tavernier before unleashing a shot which John Souttar deflected behind for a corner.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka is closed down by Jefté

The Gers created a great chance of their own to take the lead 3 minutes later as Matondo played in Jefté down the left and the Brazilian then cut the ball back to Danilo in the centre of the box who put his left foot effort over the bar. Then on 29 minutes Václav Černý played in Mohamed Diomande who unleashed a shot which Rae couldn’t hold and the Saints keeper was up quick to make a brilliant block to deny Danilo who came in with the follow-up effort.

Rangers continued to create chances and on 36 minutes Černý squared the ball to Jefté who took a touch before unleashing an effort which went narrowly over. Then shortly after Černý got a sight of goal however, the on-loan VfL Wolfsburg winger couldn’t test Rae with his effort.

A quick break by Saints from a Rangers corner with 4 minutes of the first half remaining saw Matt Smith pick out Adama Sidibeh at the near post however, the Gambian internationalist saw his effort hit the woodwork.

3 minutes were added on at the end of the first half and in the first minute of added on time Diomande picked out Danilo in the centre of the box however, the forward couldn’t direct his header on target. Then a minute later Matondo saw his effort turned behind for a corner by Jack Sanders. There was still time for the hosts to create one final chance before the break as Rae made a good save with his right leg to deny Černý.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh reacts after hitting the post

A Drey Wright long throw 2 minutes into the second half broke to Matt Smith and the Welsh midfielder saw his effort go narrowly over.

On 54 minutes Rae made a good save to deny Matondo. Then a minute later Rangers created another chance as Černý cut in from the right and dragged his effort wide of the far post.

As the match hit the hour mark Matondo played in Cyriel Dessers and the Gers substitute was penalised for a foul on Sanders before he slotted the ball beyond Rae as referee Matthew MacDermid appeared to blow for a foul before the ball hit the net. However, VAR soon got involved and following a lengthy discussion between VAR official Greg Aitken and MacDermid the on-field decision was overturned as it was decided that Sanders hadn’t been impeded and MacDermid awarded the goal after watching the incident on the VAR monitor.  

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka runs at Ben Davies

A good move by the Lights Blues on 69 minutes saw Matondo drive forward before playing in Dessers however, Rae made a fine save to deny the Nigerian internationalist.

Saints got a great chance to get back in the match on 73 minutes as a burst of pace from Sidibeh saw the forward break into the box before seeing his effort tipped over for a corner by Jack Butland.

With 15 minutes remaining Saints made their first change of the game as Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Cammy MacPherson. That was followed by another change on 83 minutes as Matt Smith was replaced by Nicky Clark.

PHOTO: Craig Levein applauds his players

Rangers continued to search for a second goal to kill the game and on 86 minutes substitute Robbie Fraser broke down the right channel before picking out Dessers who put his effort wide of the target. Then 2 minutes later Fraser unleashed an effort which lacked power as Rae gathered the ball.

The pressure from the hosts continued and a long ball forward from Sterling on 90 minutes played in Ross McCausland and the substitute saw his effort saved by Rae at his near post.

8 minutes were added on at the end and in the second minute of added on time Andre Raymond sent over a great cross into the box which was missed by Dessers and the ball broke to Sidibeh at the back post however, the forward put his effort wide of the mark.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh puts his effort wide

Rangers then broke up field as Dessers played in McCausland and the Northern Irish forward sent a composed finish beyond Rae to seal Rangers progression into the quarter finals of the Premier Sports Cup.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Pröpper (Davies 45’), Souttar, Diomande, Matondo (Fraser 82’), Černý (McCausland 82’), Dowell (Barron 62’), Sterling, Jefté, Danilo (Dessers 45’)

Unused Substitutes: Kelly (GK), King, McKinnon, Rice

Booked: None

Scorers: Dessers (61’), McCausland (90+2’)

Saints: Rae, Raymond, Cameron, Sanders, Neilson, MacPherson (Kirk 75’), Carey, Wright, Sidibeh, M. Smith (Clark 83’), Kimpioka  

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), May, C. Smith, Sprangler, McPake, Olufunwa, Franczak  

Booked: Raymond, Sidibeh

Referee: Matthew MacDermid

VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: 23,261

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Andre Raymond's cross is blocked by James Tavernier