Bojan Miovski’s deft finish in stoppage time clinched a thrilling 1‑0 win for Rangers against St Mirren, pushing the Glasgow side’s unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership to four matches. The decisive moment came when the substitute Miovski surged onto a flick‑on from Ryan Naderi, who had redirected a long ball from Ivor Pandur. With the ball at his feet inside the box, Miovski lofted a delicate chip over the St Mirren goalkeeper, sparking wild celebrations at Ibrox after a relatively uneventful ninety minutes. The match had seemed poised to end in a stalemate, with Derek McInnes’s Rangers struggling to break down a well‑organized St Mirren defence that was determined to keep the visitors at bay.
St Mirren, in turn, created several chances of their own, most notably when Fraser Taylor found himself one‑on‑one with Ivor Pandur after a swift break. Taylor had the space and time to select his spot, but his shot drifted just wide of the Rangers goalkeeper, who made an easy save.
That miss proved costly, as it could have handed the visitors all three points. Rangers’ win not only lifted them above St Mirren in the league table but also secured second place in the Scottish Premiership. The result came after St Mirren suffered a second straight league defeat, following a 2‑1 loss to Celtic in their previous fixture. Rangers were missing their captain and leading striker Lawrence Shankland due to injury, prompting manager Derek McInnes to start Ryan Naderi in his stead.
However, it was the impact sub Miovski who delivered the match‑winning blow, demonstrating the depth of the Rangers squad and the tactical flexibility of McInnes. Looking ahead, Rangers now turn their focus to a crucial double‑header against Celtic. The two sides will first clash in the League Cup quarter‑finals, followed by a Premier League encounter at Parkhead. Both matches promise to be high‑stakes affairs, with Rangers hoping to maintain their momentum and Celtic eager to close the gap at the top of the table.
Key moments of the game included a series of notable saves from St Mirren’s goalkeeper Jacob Chapman. At the 17th minute, a dangerous cross from Bouanani was met by a header from Raskin, only for Chapman to produce a spectacular stop.
Later, Chapman pulled off a double‑save, first denying a strike from Gassama at the edge of the area and then smothering the rebound from Bouanani. In the 66th minute, Fraser Taylor missed a clear chance, failing to capitalize on a one‑on‑one opportunity against Pandur, a miss that would haunt St Mirren as the match progressed. The climax arrived in added time (90+1). Naderi flicked a long ball into Miovski’s path, and the forward found himself face‑to‑face with Chapman.
The goalkeeper rushed out to narrow the angle, but Miovski’s subtle chip slipped beneath him, sealing the win for Rangers. After the final whistle, Rangers manager Derek McInnes spoke to Sky Sports, expressing relief and satisfaction with his team’s performance. He highlighted the improved ball movement, aggression, and the quality of chances created, while acknowledging a period of poor decisions that threatened the result.
McInnes praised his players’ perseverance, fitness, and character, noting that a late winner underlined those attributes. He reflected on the club’s recent form, citing four wins out of four (or six out of seven overall) and emphasizing the desire for more comfortable, effortless victories. Regarding Miovski, McInnes said, “I’m delighted for him. He just keeps going, trains with motivation, does the right things and had a lovely, calm finish when we needed calmness and quality.” The manager’s comments underscored the importance of squad depth and the impact of substitutes in modern football.
St Mirren boss Craig McLeish also addressed the media, expressing pride in his team’s effort. He commended the players for their bravery and defensive solidity, while acknowledging that Chapman’s heroics kept them in the game. McLeish felt the side deserved at least a point, but recognised that football does not always reward effort.
He dismissed any excuses related to a congested fixture schedule, insisting his players performed like “monsters.” McLeish also emphasized that a single point at Ibrox should not define the season and urged his side to continue accumulating points through consistent performances. In summary, the match was a tightly contested affair where a single moment of brilliance – Miovski’s late chip – made the difference. Rangers extended their winning streak, solidified their position near the top of the table, and set the stage for an exciting showdown with Celtic in both cup and league competitions.
Meanwhile, St Mirren left Ibrox with a respectable performance, a few missed opportunities, and a resolve to improve as the season progresses. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250,000! Enter for free.