RANGERS ended their three-game wait for a win as Daniel Candeias and Alfredo Morelos struck late on to see off struggling St Mirren.
Steven Gerrard’s side made the trip to Paisley on the back of a Europa League draw against Spartak Moscow, defeat to Aberdeen and stalemate with Kilmarnock.
But the run didn’t extend to a fourth match as the Gers warmed up for their European clash in Russia this week with a much-needed Premiership victory.
Candeias came off the bench early in the second half and was the hero for Rangers as he rifled home the opener with just ten minutes remaining. Morelos scored with just seconds to spare and Rangers would end a man down as Candeias saw red.
Boss Gerrard made four changes to the side that were held in midweek as Allan McGregor returned between the sticks and Ryan Jack and Ovie Ejaria came back into the middle of the park. There was also a first start for winger Eros Grezda.
Rangers have found it difficult to break down stubborn opposition in recent weeks and the challenge was always going to be the same here. The first goal, then, would be crucial.
The Gers started brightly but it was St Mirren that had the opening sight of target as Ian McShane’s free-kick was parried away by McGregor at his near post.
As the wind and rain swirled around the Simply Digital Arena, everyone on the park and off it would have feared this wasn’t going to be a classic encounter. So it turned out.
There was a lack of quality at both ends of the park and chances were few and far between during a largely forgettable first 45 minutes before both teams returned to the dressing rooms to dry out and regroup.
Rangers had come close through Ejaria and Ryan Kent but the Liverpool loan duo couldn’t break the deadlock. Ejaria’s curling strike early on was blocked by Anton Ferdinand, while Kent fired just wide before the whistle after a neat move involved Grezda and Scott Arfield.
It was a war of attrition for most of the half, however. The action was stop-start in difficult conditions, although St Mirren did come close when McGregor saved from Simeon Jackson and Alfie Jones could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
The Gers fans at the same end of the group should have been celebrating the opener just minutes after the restart but the best chance of the game came and went for Gerrard’s side.
Keeper Craig Samson fumbled a tame shot from Ejaria and Grezda’ effort on the follow up was blocked. Halliday swung a corner in from the right and Goldson was unmarked in the area but he didn’t get a connection on the cross as he and Gerrard had their head in their hands.
The Gers boss had seen enough and called for Candeias to get ready for action. Grezda could have no complaints about being replaced but he almost left the park in style as he struck Samson’s post after neat work from Kent and Morelos.
There was more of a threat about Rangers now and they had a handful of chances in a penalty box stramash. Morelos burst into the box and found Arfield but his shot was blocked, as was the one from Candeias that almost went in off Morelos before Ejaria and Halliday tried their luck and St Mirren somehow survived.
Rangers were well on top now but the goal Gerrard’s side badly needed didn’t materialise as they continued to struggle in the final third. A Tavernier free-kick that was scooped over the bar summed up their efforts at this stage.
It was shaping up to be another one of those days for Rangers but the goal eventually arrived as the final ten minutes approached.
Candeias collected the ball on the right and looked up to assess his options. Whether it was a shot or a cross, only he will know but it mattered little as the ball flew into the top corner of Samson’s goal.
The celebration, and relief, was clear on the Gers bench and the Portuguese picked up a booking as he and his team-mates rushed to the fans in the stand.
It was undoubtedly a huge moment for Gerrard but it wasn’t the only one he had to be cheerful about.
With just seconds to spare, Morelos made sure of the win as he converted from close range. That wasn’t the end of the action, though.
Referee Willie Collum flashed a second yellow card at Candeias before the game restarted and Rangers would end the game with ten men. Crucially, they did so with three points.
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