Ten-man Saints lost 4-0 to Rangers at a very wet Ibrox this afternoon.
The hosts took the lead just before the half an hour mark as Ryan Naderi picked out Kevin Kelsy in the box who slotted the ball beyond Toby Steward.
Saints made a triple change at the break and made a good start to the second half with Kai Fotheringham, Enes Alić and Božo Mikulić all having attempts at goal.
Rangers though doubled their lead just after the hour mark as Naderi slotted home after Steward couldn’t hold a shot from Kim Min-su. Kelsy then got his second of the game on 66 minutes volleying home at the back post from a corner.
Saints were then reduced to ten men on 74 minutes as Kai Fotheringham was sent off following a VAR review after he had caught Nico Raskin with a follow-through challenge after winning the ball.
Tochi Chukwuani wrapped up the scoring for Rangers on 87 minutes as the midfielder tucked home a cutback from Djeidi Gassama.
Saints are back in action on Wednesday evening as they welcome Motherwell to McDiarmid Park, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints headed to Glasgow today to take on Rangers at Ibrox. Simo Valakari made two changes to the side which started the 1-1 draw with Dundee United last weekend as Josh Campbell and Jamie Gullan came in to replace Jason Holt, who dropped to the bench, whilst Sam Stanton missed out after picking up an injury in training during the week. Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw at Dundee last Saturday evening and manager Derek McInnes made the solitary change to the side which started at Dens Park as Djeidi Gassama dropped to the bench and was replaced by Kevin Kelsy.
The teams were led out onto the pitch by veterans Gary Goodfellow and William Tan as both sides held a minute’s silence for the act of Remembrance which took place before kick-off.
It was a wet afternoon in Govan thanks to Storm Boelo as Daniel Neil got the match underway for the hosts. Rangers made a positive start to the match as on 4 minutes Badredine Bouanani turned in the box before seeing his shot turned behind for a corner by Cheick Diabate.
Good build-up play by Saints on 14 minutes saw the ball worked to Jamie Gullan on the right however, his delivery into the Gers box drifted out of play.
Play then quickly switched to the other end as a minute later Bouanani exchanged passes with Kim Min-su before firing wide of the target. Then shortly after Toby Steward couldn’t hold a swerving strike from Kevin Kelsy as the Saints keeper turned the ball behind for a corner.
PHOTO: Joel Cotterill and Nico Raskin
The pressure on the Saints goal continued as the rain swirled around Ibrox. On 26 minutes Bouanani cut in from the right and unleashed a strike which Steward superbly tipped over for a corner. The pressure told on 29 minutes as Rangers took the lead. Min-su burst through the middle before playing the ball into the path of Ryan Naderi. The forward then squared the ball to Kelsy who slotted home from close range.
Min-su almost doubled Rangers lead on 32 minutes as the South Korean collected a backheel from Naderi before seeing his right-footed effort hit the base of Steward’s left-hand post.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Josh Fowler was played in by Gullan however, the Saints forward saw his strike hit the side-netting.
Slack play by Diabate on 38 minutes saw Kelsy gather the ball and exchange a neat one-two with Naderi before unleashing a strike, which looked certain to double the hosts lead, however, Steward made a good save to deny the Venezuelan.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler hits the side netting
Simo Valakari made a triple change at half time as Božo Mikulić, Kai Fotheringham and Danny Schmidt came on to replace Daniel Finlayson, Josh Fowler and Josh Campbell.
Saints made a good start to the second half as on 52 minutes Gullan’s deep cross from the right picked out Fotheringham however, he couldn’t direct his volley on target. Then 2 minutes later Taylor Steven left the ball for Liam Smith, but his strike was deflected behind by Dujon Sterling. Gullan took the corner from the right as he played it short to Steven. The ball was then worked to Enes Alić who unleashed a strike from 30 yards which Ivor Pandur tipped over for another corner from which Mikulic headed over the bar.
Saints were having a good spell in the game and on the hour mark more good build-up play saw Steven had a go from the edge of the box however, his curling effort was gathered by Pandur.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan reacts to a missed chance
Just as the heavens opened up with rain of biblical proportions Rangers doubled their lead a minute later. Nico Raskin played in Min-su on the left and the winger unleashed a strike which Steward couldn’t hold in the soaking conditions and Naderi was on hand to tap-in from close range.
Saints tried to respond on 62 minutes as Joel Cotterill picked out Alić on the left who cut inside before seeing his right-footed effort drift over the bar.
Rangers started to take a foot hold of the game again and on 64 minutes Sterling sent an inviting ball across the face of the Saints goal however, there was no takers as the ball trundled out for a throw-in.
Saints then made another change as Jamie Gullan made way for Logan Chalmers.
PHOTO: Božo Mikulić, Danny Schmidt and Cheick Diabate in the pouring rain
However, it was soon 3-0 as Kelsy got his second of the game on 66 minutes. A corner from the left was flicked on by Emmanuel Fernandez and Kelsy found space at the back post to volley his effort into the net.
Then with 16 minutes remaining Saints were reduced to ten men as Fotheringham was sent off following a VAR review after the attacking midfielder had won the ball but had caught Raskin with a follow-through challenge.
Rangers continued to create chances and with 12 minutes remaining Min-su played in James Penrice, but Steward made a good save to deny the on-loan AEK Athens left-back.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham is sent off
Saints then made a final change as Jason Holt replaced Reece McAlear.
The hosts wrapped up the scoring three minutes from time as substitute Djeidi Gassama burst down the left before picking out fellow substitute Tochi Chukwuani with his cut back and the Danish midfielder slotted home from close range.
Rangers: Pandur, Neil (Rommens 69’), Min-su (Miovski 80’), Kelsy (Chukwuani 83’), Naderi (Gassama 69’), Sterling (Godfrey 80’), Makhanya, Bouanani, Penrice, Fernandez, Raskin
Unused Substitutes: Kelly (GK), Nedeljković, Dragojević, Curtis
Booked: Bouanani
Scorers: Kelsy (29’, 66’), Naderi (61’), Chukwuani (87’)
Saints: Steward, Alić, Diabate, Steven, Fowler (Fotheringham 45’), Gullan (Chalmers 64’), Finlayson (Mikulić 45’), Cotterill, Campbell (Schmidt 45’), Smith, McAlear (Holt 80’)
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Foulds, Todd, Paton
Booked: Steven
Sent off: Fotheringham
Referee: Chris Graham
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 50,214
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Reece McAlear and Dan Neil
