Rangers back on top after win

07 November 2010 14:30
Rangers' 3-1 win over St Mirren allowed them to reclaim top spot in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League even if the victory was not quite as impressive as Celtic's 24 hours earlier. The Hoops' 9-0 win over Aberdeen saw them move into pole position and heap the pressure on their Old Firm rivals ahead of the lunchtime visit to New St Mirren Park. But a Marc McAusland own goal and strikes from Steven Naismith and Kenny Miller saw Rangers return to the summit of the SPL, despite Michael Higdon netting from the penalty spot late on for Saints. Rangers had a goal disallowed just before the break when Naismith and Craig Samson both went for the ball which ended up in the back of the net. The effort was chalked off, although the goalkeeper's frustrated reaction suggested he thought he had just conceded the opener, rather than being the victim of a foul. Any controversy over their disallowed goal was tempered when Rangers did take the lead three minutes after the restart. Kyle Lafferty replaced Vladimir Weiss at the break and he got the slightest of touches on a Steven Davis cross before McAusland nodded into the back of his own net to hand Walter Smith's men the advantage. Naismith then added his own name to the scoresheet after 58 minutes, when Lafferty delivered a lovely ball across the face of goal from the left and all that was required was the simplest of finishes to tap home from a few yards. It was proving to be a nightmare afternoon for McAusland, who failed to deal with a long ball, before being robbed of possession by Miller, who gleefully dispatched a low shot past Samson after 68 minutes. The Buddies did manage to pull a goal back after 75 minutes when Davis was ruled to have handled in the area. Sasa Papac earned himself a caution for his furious protests before substitute Higdon converted from the penalty spot.

Source: PA