Match Report and Ratings

[Bazza 21]

St Mirren 1 vs. 3 Rangers

Written by Bazza

Sunday, 7th November 2010

St Mirren 1 vs. 3 Rangers

With Referee’s now so scared of broken windows and traumatised families that they HAVE to give decision’s for a certain club and AGAINST others, Rangers must be in no doubt that they must work twice as hard and fight twice as strongly to win this SPL.

Unfortunately, in the first half today, that extra determination was missing. What happened is anyone’s guess as Rangers put out a strong line up at ST Mirren with Weiss being the only change from the midweek side that played in Valencia, with Broadfoot making way. That showed the intent of Walter Smith who knew that three points was just as important as anything achieved in Europe.

The game started at a lethargic, jetsetters, jetlagged pace and never really improved for forty five minutes. Rangers huffed and puffed but simply gave the ball away on too many occasions. The central midfield was battle strong but lacked immensely in creativity as Davis was too out of the game on the right hand side and the two front men couldn’t create when they hardly saw the ball. In saying that the back four were rarely troubled as the time ticked slowly away.

That was until the dieing minutes of the half when Rangers won a corner which was flighted nicely into the box. The Saints keeper came for it and made an absolute hash of a punch that ended up settling in the back of his own net. He went livid with frustration at his own mistake as the Rangers players wheeled away in jubilation but one man on the field wasn’t quite sure on what had happened and was wary of the what if. What if the keeper had been impeded or what if a Rangers player had made a push? Best option? Give a foul and that way he knew he would be safe in his home that night. The goal was chalked off and Rangers went in at half time on level terms.

Walter wasn’t as fatigued as his players may have been and spared no time in changing the system and the personnel. Weiss was subbed and Lafferty introduced to the field of play to fire some urgency into the play and it worked, big time. The change in Rangers play was night and day in comparison as Davis came inside to the midfield to conduct the play and Lafferty caused mayhem in the Saints back line with his off the ball running and directness.

It was this combination that found the ball played out to the right where Whittaker fired a cross into the box, Lafferty got the flick and St Mirren defender, McAusland, couldn’t get his angles sorted and deflected the ball into his own net. This was more like it from Rangers and it was only a further ten minutes before Lafferty broke free again, this time down the left where he looked up to see Naismith in space in the box. The pass was perfect and the tap in simple to put the Gers on easy street.

The third was exactly ten minutes later again and this time it was a mistake in the back line as Miller chased down a back pass, latched onto it and slid the ball past the helpless Saints keeper. The game was up and Rangers must have been looking to the bench to freshen things up and rest some players but again the Ref wanted the final say. St Mirren had the ball on their left and just on the edge of the Rangers penalty area. The ball was driven into the box and as Davis tried to block it the ball struck his arm. There was no way he could have got out the way and his arm certainly wasn’t in an UNATURAL position but the penalty was given. Had the doubt that’s been placed in the minds up and down the country once more seen a decision given, just in case? Rangers players were livid with the penalty award with Papac getting booked for his troubles.

St Mirren scored the penalty and saw Rangers having to keep their key men on the park as the ascendancy changed slightly and Walter didn’t want to take any risks. He needn’t have feared though as the game petered out and Rangers reclaimed their rightful slot back at the top of the division.

Seeds have been sown and I hope today wasn’t a sign of things to come.

________________________________________

RM’s verdict:

McGregor – 6 Had pretty much nothing to do until Bougherra rattled the post and he had to make a fabulous instinctive save with the follow up. No chance as the penalty was driven down the middle.

Whittaker – 6 A much better game today from Whittaker which is good to see because he’s the most confidence driven player I know. Fine cross to help create the first goal.

Bougherra 6 Strangely subdued in his forward bursts. Had a wry smile on his face when the woodwork saved his blushes.

Weir –7 kept the Saints at bay pretty easily and even showed a sign of pace, just a slight one mind, as they looked to get in behind.

Papac – 7 A player on form just now and was solid at the back but also offered himself regularly in attack.

Davis – 7 Couldn’t get into the game in the first half at all as he looked isolated out wide. Came into the central role in the second and dictated play.

McCulloch – 5 Stopped their play and won the ball as his position dictates but really doesn’t have the guile to create when he has it. Needs a play maker alongside him to offload to.

Edu –5 Read McCulloch

Weiss –4 I feel for the wee man. He is maybe just trying a bit too hard just now. Won a couple of free kicks but never got down the line to fire in crosses. Was hooked at half time.

Naismith –7 Never saw enough of the ball to make an impact in the first half but looked sharper in the second. Took his goal well and adds a bit of niggle to the team.

Miller – 6 A bit like Naismith in that he had little supply. Tried wee tricks and flicks that just didn’t come off and found himself coming further and further back to get the ball. Took his opportunist goal well though.

Subs –

Lafferty –8 Changed the game. Walter has to take part of that credit but the big man showed drive, determination and skill to set up two of the goals in the second half.

Rangers: 01 McGregor, 03 Weir, 05 Papac, 16 Whittaker, 24 Bougherra, 06 McCulloch, 07 Edu, 08 Davis, 20 Weiss (Lafferty 46), 09 Miller, 14 Naismith.

Subs: 25 Alexander, 04 Broadfoot, 12 Foster, 39 Wylde, 10 Fleck, 11 Lafferty, 41 Hutton.

Goals: McAusland (og) 48, Naismith 58, Miller 68.

Booked: Weiss, Papac.

St Mirren: 12 Samson, 02 van Zanten, 06 Potter, 14 McGregor, 16 Travner, 17 McAusland, 07 Murray, 27 Cregg, 33 Mooy (Higdon 53), 18 Wardlaw (McCluskey 73), 19 McGowan.

Subs: 30 Mathers, 39 Kennedy, 04 Brady, 22 McCluskey, 45 Mclean, 10 Higdon, 15 McQuade.

Goal: Higdon (pen) 76

Booked: Van Zanten, Murray.

Att: 5,674

Ref: Thomson

[pcbear 10,913]

A fair appraissal of the game today.

[Amac9 2,060]

McGregor - 7

Whittaker - 6

Bougherra - 6

Weir - 6

Papac - 6

Davis - 7

Edu - 5

McCulloch - 5

Weiss - 4

Miller - 6

Naismith - 7

Lafferty - 7

[Muff 245]

McGregor - 7

Whittaker - 5

Weir - 6

Bougherra - 6

Papac - 6

Weiss - 5

Davis - 6

Edu - 6

McCulloch - 4

Miller - 5

Naismith - 6

Lafferty - 7

[GersAvA92 53]

First half was disappointing, no real threat and passion in the lay. There was nothin' wrong with the Naisy/keeper own goal. Ref was way off with that but we won't be writing any letters to the SFA now

Second half was much better, taking wee Weiss off for Lafferty was ingenius as it was the key to our first two goals

My Ratings:

McGregor - 6.5: Not tested much, safe when needed. Was glad to see him, Papac and co. wanting the clean sheet so much, penalty decision was soft.

Whittaker - 6: Solid, looked confident on the ball. I do wish he could find his goal-scoring capabilities that we seen last season though.

Bougherra - 6.5: We seen the typical Bougie, strong, clean defending and some runs forward (which didn't really lead to anything). Was lucky to not have an own goal to his name today.

Weir - 7: Another solid performance, kept them out with ease.

Papac - 6.5: Had a good game, looked un-challenged on the ball, great passing and attacked whenever he could.

Davis - 7: Cut open spaces in the second half, great vision to find Laff that ended in a Naisy goal. Was unlucky with the handball.

Edu - 5.5: Kept the midfield strong with Lee, shots were off though.

McCulloch - 6.5: Didn't have the best game of his career but is getting through each match with the same good consistency.

Weiss - 5: Had a bad day, skill moves didn't pay off. Won a few free-kicks. Didn't pose much of a threat for me today.

Miller - 7: Quiet game, running was great, out-paced McAusland and finished well to grab the 3rd.

Naismith - 7.5: Had another good game. First half was average, although that own goal should've counted. Did well to get in front of Buddies defense and finish from a Lafferty cross.

Subs:

Lafferty - 8: Great impact, was great to watch him at his best. A few shots were weak but running, jumping and creating two goals made him the deserved Man of the Match

[docspiderman 1,116]

McGregor - 7 Usual top performance.

Whittaker - 4 Not sure whether his passes found any of our players in the game.

Weir - 6 Couple of great tackles, a horror air shot and real dodgy passes.

Bougherra - 6 Quiet game by his standards.

Papac - 7 Usual cool defending and goal saving clearances.

Weiss - 4 Tries to do too much and is now too obvious.

Davis - 7 Really came on to a game in the second half.

Edu - 6 Got closer to the opposition in the second half and was part of the revival.

McCulloch - 3 Runs away from the opposition continually,runs away from the ball, gets nowhere near a fraction of touches of the ball that a competent holding midfielder should.

Miller - 5 Great goal, couple of wild misses but flitted in and out of the game due to lack of decent service.

Naismith - 6 Usual busy game improved greatly when moved wide.

Lafferty - 8 Did the Nacho job: showed the team the example and results of energy and urgency and unsettled the opposition and changed the game.

The short spell when we played short passes destroyed St Mirren but the firat half with the long failing attempts at finding our men made us look the bottom table team.

Do the players and management watch how good teams play and keep possession and just ignore what they see?

[nvager 498]

McGregor - 7 Usual top performance.

Whittaker - 5 Not great.

Weir - 6 Couple of great tackles, a horror air shot and real dodgy passes.

Bougherra - 6 Quiet game by his standards.

Papac - 6 Usual mixture.

Weiss - 4 Tries to do too much and gives up possession far too often.

Davis - 7 Better second half.

Edu - 6 Got better in the second half and was part of the revival.

McCulloch - 5 Not too good.

Miller - 5 Great goal, couple of wild misses but flitted in and out of the game due to lack of decent service.

Naismith - 6 Usual busy game improved greatly when moved wide.

Lafferty - 8 Did the Nacho job: showed the team the example and results of energy and urgency and unsettled the opposition and changed the game.

The short spell when we played short passes destroyed St Mirren but the firat half with the long failing attempts at finding our men made us look the bottom table team.

Do the players and management watch how good teams play? Learn anything?

[Jamie1807 146]

McGregor - 7

Whittaker - 6

Bougherra - 6

Weir - 6

Papac - 7

Davis - 7

Edu - 7

McCulloch - 6

Weiss - 5

Miller - 7

Naismith - 8

Lafferty - 7

[Poetry_In_Blue 1,043]

Showed how dismal the first half was, when Lafferty was given man of the match award at the game.

[Muff 245]

The 1st half was appauling, the management must have absolutely torn them a new one at the interval, and rightly so. So many players failing to do the basics. The team needs freshened up, too many of them getting an easy ride.