Match report: Rangers 2-0 Saints

Saints put in a battling efficiency and so they got here near taking the lead on 41 minutes as strike from Adama Sidibeh hit the put up after the Gambian worldwide had acquired on the top of a Matt Smith cross.

Rangers took the lead on 61 minutes when Cyriel Dessers slotted dwelling after getting in behind Jack Sanders. The purpose had been disallowed by referee Matthew MacDermid who appeared to blow for a foul on Sanders earlier than Dessers scored. Nevertheless, VAR acquired concerned and the choice was overturned and the purpose stood.

Sidibeh got here near levelling the match in stoppage time as a deep cross from Andre Raymond picked out the Saints ahead on the again put up nonetheless, he put his effort large of the goal.

Rangers then went up the opposite finish and substitute Ross McCausland scored to seal the win for the hosts.  

Subsequent up for Saints is a visit to Dundee United subsequent Saturday as they return to league motion, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints headed to Glasgow this night to tackle Rangers within the final 16 of the Premier Sports activities Cup. With Ibrox nonetheless out of fee on account of renovation work on the Copland Stand this evenings televised cup tie passed off at Hampden Park and Craig Levein made one change to his beginning eleven as Graham Carey got here in to switch the suspended Aaron Essel. Rangers dropped into the Europa League on Tuesday night as they misplaced their Champions League qualifier 2-0 (3-1 on combination) to Dynamo Kyiv and supervisor Philippe Clement made 5 adjustments to his beginning eleven. Rabbi Matondo, Václav Černý, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Danilo got here in to switch Connor Barron, Ross McCausland, and Cyriel Dessers who all dropped to the bench, while Rıdvan Yılmaz and Tom Lawrence missed out fully.

Danilo acquired the match underway for Rangers and the hosts created the primary likelihood of the match on quarter-hour as Rabbi Matondo noticed his proper footed effort palmed away by Josh Rae. Then a minute later Rangers created one other likelihood as captain James Tavernier fired over from the sting of the world.

A very good ball by Cammy MacPherson on 23 minutes performed in Andre Raymond and the Trinidad and Tobago worldwide confirmed nice footwork to take the ball round Tavernier earlier than unleashing a shot which John Souttar deflected behind for a nook.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka is closed down by Jefté

The Gers created a terrific likelihood of their very own to take the lead 3 minutes later as Matondo performed in Jefté down the left and the Brazilian then lower the ball again to Danilo within the centre of the field who put his left foot effort over the bar. Then on 29 minutes Václav Černý performed in Mohamed Diomande who unleashed a shot which Rae couldn’t maintain and the Saints keeper was up fast to make an excellent block to disclaim Danilo who got here in with the follow-up effort.

Rangers continued to create probabilities and on 36 minutes Černý squared the ball to Jefté who took a contact earlier than unleashing an effort which went narrowly over. Then shortly after Černý acquired a sight of purpose nonetheless, the on-loan VfL Wolfsburg winger couldn’t take a look at Rae along with his effort.

A fast break by Saints from a Rangers nook with 4 minutes of the primary half remaining noticed Matt Smith select Adama Sidibeh on the close to put up nonetheless, the Gambian internationalist noticed his effort hit the woodwork.

3 minutes had been added on on the finish of the primary half and within the first minute of added on time Diomande picked out Danilo within the centre of the field nonetheless, the ahead couldn’t direct his header on the right track. Then a minute later Matondo noticed his effort turned behind for a nook by Jack Sanders. There was nonetheless time for the hosts to create one last likelihood earlier than the break as Rae made save along with his proper leg to disclaim Černý.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh reacts after hitting the put up

A Drey Wright lengthy throw 2 minutes into the second half broke to Matt Smith and the Welsh midfielder noticed his effort go narrowly over.

On 54 minutes Rae made save to disclaim Matondo. Then a minute later Rangers created one other likelihood as Černý lower in from the appropriate and dragged his effort large of the far put up.

Because the match hit the hour mark Matondo performed in Cyriel Dessers and the Gers substitute was penalised for a foul on Sanders earlier than he slotted the ball past Rae as referee Matthew MacDermid appeared to blow for a foul earlier than the ball hit the online. Nevertheless, VAR quickly acquired concerned and following a prolonged dialogue between VAR official Greg Aitken and MacDermid the on-field determination was overturned because it was determined that Sanders hadn’t been impeded and MacDermid awarded the purpose after watching the incident on the VAR monitor.  

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka runs at Ben Davies

A very good transfer by the Lights Blues on 69 minutes noticed Matondo drive ahead earlier than enjoying in Dessers nonetheless, Rae made a fantastic save to disclaim the Nigerian internationalist.

Saints acquired a terrific likelihood to get again within the match on 73 minutes as a burst of tempo from Sidibeh noticed the ahead break into the field earlier than seeing his effort tipped over for a nook by Jack Butland.

With quarter-hour remaining Saints made their first change of the sport as Makenzie Kirk got here on to switch Cammy MacPherson. That was adopted by one other change on 83 minutes as Matt Smith was changed by Nicky Clark.

PHOTO: Craig Levein applauds his gamers

Rangers continued to seek for a second purpose to kill the sport and on 86 minutes substitute Robbie Fraser broke down the appropriate channel earlier than selecting out Dessers who put his effort large of the goal. Then 2 minutes later Fraser unleashed an effort which lacked energy as Rae gathered the ball.

The strain from the hosts continued and an extended ball ahead from Sterling on 90 minutes performed in Ross McCausland and the substitute noticed his effort saved by Rae at his close to put up.

8 minutes had been added on on the finish and within the second minute of added on time Andre Raymond despatched over a terrific cross into the field which was missed by Dessers and the ball broke to Sidibeh on the again put up nonetheless, the ahead put his effort large of the mark.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh places his effort large

Rangers then broke up subject as Dessers performed in McCausland and the Northern Irish ahead despatched a composed end past Rae to seal Rangers development into the quarter finals of the Premier Sports activities Cup.

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Pröpper (Davies 45’), Souttar, Diomande, Matondo (Fraser 82’), Černý (McCausland 82’), Dowell (Barron 62’), Sterling, Jefté, Danilo (Dessers 45’)

Unused Substitutes: Kelly (GK), King, McKinnon, Rice

Booked: None

Scorers: Dessers (61’), McCausland (90+2’)

Saints: Rae, Raymond, Cameron, Sanders, Neilson, MacPherson (Kirk 75’), Carey, Wright, Sidibeh, M. Smith (Clark 83’), Kimpioka  

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Might, C. Smith, Sprangler, McPake, Olufunwa, Franczak  

Booked: Raymond, Sidibeh

Referee: Matthew MacDermid

VAR: Greg Aitken

Attendance: TBC

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Image: Andre Raymond’s cross is blocked by James Tavernier