Rangers ended their wilderness years with an entertaining draw in Paisley, but they have concluded their Championship campaign by taking just two points from a possible 12 as they go into hibernation before contesting the William Hill Scottish Cup final in three weeks’ time.
Second-half goals from Kenny Miller and a late Jason Holt strike looked as if they would be enough to secure a win in their final game in Scottish football’s lower divisions, after Callum Gallagher had given the home side the lead, but sub Lewis Morgan equalised in injury time.
Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, was pleased with his side’s commitment ahead of a four-day break this week and paid credit to Miller, who netted his 20th goal of the season yesterday.
He said: “That was the reaction I wanted after the Livingston game. 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. It is not by chance he has scored 20 goals.”
Mentioned in connection with interest from Everton, the manager added: “The only time you get linked to big clubs is when the players are doing well. 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!”
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Rangers welcomed back top scorer Martyn Waghorn and he came within the width of a post to scoring on his return from 11 weeks out injured with when he drove a shot against the post midway through the first half.
St Mirren netted a well-worked goal five minutes from the break. Stevie Mallan, David Clarkson and Lawrence Shankland combined to set up Gallagher, the former Rangers wide man, who drilled a low shot past Wes Foderingham at his near post.
Rangers drew level when James Tavernier’s chipped cross to the back post was powered into the net by Miller. The visitors, inspired by the thrust and quick feet of Barrie McKay, took the lead two minutes from time when Holt played a one-two with the substitute Nicky Clark before finishing low into the corner.
St Mirren would have the final word, though, when their sub Morgan cut in from the left and was allowed far too much space before he drilled in a low shot, with Foderingham again looking suspect.
Alex Rae, the St Mirren manager who bade farewell to retiring veteran striker Steven Thompson, said: “We are letting 13 players go, so the real 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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Ratings
St Mirren (4-4-2): J Langfield 7 — J Naismith 6, G Irvine 6, A Webster 6, K Watson 6 — C Gallagher 7, S Mallan 6, R Quinn 6, A Cooper 5 (sub: L Morgan, 62 3) — D Clarkson 5 (sub: S Thompson, 75 3), L Shankland 7 (sub: J Goodwin, 75 3). Substitutes not used: R Wilson, J Baird, S Carswell, J Stewart. Booked: Goodwin.
Rangers (4-3-3): W Foderingham 5 — J Tavernier 7, R Kiernan 6, D Wilson 6, L Wallace 6 — J Holt 6, G Zelalem 5 (sub: D Shiels, 75), A Halliday 6 — K Miller 7 (sub: N Clark, 75), M Waghorn 6 (sub: D Ball, 60 4), B McKay 8. Substitutes not used: C Bell, N Law, N Clark, B King, M O’Halloran. Booked: Wilson, Wallace.
Referee: D Robertson. Attendance: 5,933.