3 weeks ago
19
Teenager Findlay Curtis rescued ragged Rangers with a late strike in a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw at St Mirren to leave Russell Martin still looking for his first league win in charge.
The visitors started without a recognised centre-forward with midfielder Thelo Aasgaard leading the line and they found themselves behind in the 33rd minute when Saints striker Jonah Ayunga raced through to beat goalkeeper Jack Butland. Martin changed tactics and personnel in the second half and in the 78th minute, 18-year-old substitute Curtis drilled in the equaliser with his third goal of the season but it left under-fire Martin with three wins in nine games as Rangers head coach.
Martin’s side have now drawn against Motherwell, Dundee and the Buddies, the first time since 1989 that Rangers have gone without a victory in their first three league games. Celtic can go nine points clear of their rivals if they win the Old Firm game at Ibrox next Sunday. First Rangers have to rescue their Champions League hopes with a trip to Club Brugge on Wednesday, where they look to claw back a 3-1 deficit from the first leg of the playoff.
There were eyebrows raised before the game when it emerged that Aasgaard’s first start would be at centre-forward with Danilo and Hamza Igamane starting on the bench and Cyriel Dessers still injured.
Inside five minutes, Saints goalkeeper Shamal George made a fine save from Oliver Antman’s 20-yard drive. In the 21st minute, Buddies’ battling midfielder Killian Phillips ended a fine move by sclaffing his shot from 14 yards and, at the other end, Cameron volleyed a dipping cross from left-back Jayden Meghoma.
St Mirren looked sharper and more aggressive and striker Mikael Mandron just failed to get enough on a terrific Phillips cross to the back post. However, when Mandron split open the visiting defence with an incisive pass to fellow forward Ayunga, he left the visitors’ captain John Souttar trailing and confidently drove the ball past Butland.
Rangers fought back and minutes later George somehow managed to claw the ball away from Aasgaard just yards from goal, before clutching Djeidi Gassama’s curling shot from the edge of the box.
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Martin was forced to take action at the break as Danilo and Mikey Moore replaced Antman and Meghoma and he went to a back three. But it was not long before Butland dived to save Ayunga’s angled-drive and the hosts, stronger and more cohesive, continued to threaten.
St Mirren’s final shot or pass let them down on several occasions and they were made to pay when Curtis – on for Joe Rothwell – picked up a clearance from a corner and drilled a shot low past George and into the net. Rangers pressed for the winner in the final stages and George made a good save from substitute James Tavernier’s long range shot and Butland tipped an Alex Gogic header over the crossbar, as the match ended in excitement and boos from the travelling fans at the final whistle.
