St Mirren 2 - 2 Rangers: Champions poor form continues

RANGERS WERE held to a draw in their final match in Scottish football's lower leagues '“ their fourth game in a row without a win before a three-week hiatus ahead of the Scottish Cup final with Hibernian.

Kenny Miller heads Rangers level at 1-1. Picture: SNS

Kenny Miller netted his 20th goal of the season to cancel out a first-half effort by Callum Gallagher and Jason Holt looked like he had given Rangers a win. But St Mirren – who were saying farewell to veteran striker Steven Thompson – were worthy of a point for their efforts and they got it thanks to an injury-time strike by Lewis Morgan.

Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager who was linked with a move to Everton at the weekend, was pleased with his side’s commitment, even though they’ve picked up just two points from a possible 12. Warburton’s side are due to get a four-day break this week and, at full-time, he praised the efforts of Miller.

He said: “That was the reaction I wanted after the Livingston game. We had lots of good things. We were really good in the second half.

“Kenny himself would have been delighted with 20 goals. It is credit to the way he works every day. The way he eats, trains, rehydrates himself. He is a superb professional, a great role model to the young players. There is no doubt about that. It is not by chance he has scored 20 goals.

“The only time you get linked to big clubs is when the players are doing well. It’s as simple as that. If you lose 12 on the spin you won’t be linked with any jobs. It’s all credit to the players. It will be Barcelona and Real Madrid next!”

Returning Rangers top scorer Martyn Waghorn had earlier hit the post after 11 weeks out, but it was the home side who took a surprise lead five minutes before the interval following excellent build-up play when former Rangers wide man Gallagher drilled a low shot into the net which squeezed past the suspect Wes Foderingham at his near post. Rangers took nine minutes to draw level after the break when James Tavernier’s chipped cross to the back post was powered in by Miller.

The visitors, inspired by the thrust and quick feet of Barrie McKay, netted what they thought would be the winner with two minutes to go when Holt played a one-two with sub Nicky Clark and finished with style low into the corner.

But St Mirren would have the final word when Saints sub Lewis Morgan cut in from the left and was allowed far too much space before he rifled in a low shot with the Rangers keeper again looking at fault. Alex Rae, the St Mirren manager, revealed there will be big changes at the Renfrewshire club during the summer. He said: “We are letting 13 players go, so the hard work starts now in trying to identify players who are going to enhance the squad. We’ll be trying to bring in nine or ten, so we have to get work done sooner rather than later.”

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