Rangers 3-1 Saints

Last updated : 06 March 2010 By Stuart Gillespie

Early reports suggest it was a decent performance, but you wonder how different things would have been if it hadn't taken Lee McCulloch just a couple of minutes to cancel out Graham Carey's opener. After that, it was going to be a struggle to cling on for a point and things weren't helped when McCulloch scored in the second half before we'd even touched the ball! Nacho Novo added another to seal the win.

Surprisingly, we stuck with the 3-5-2 formation but there was no place for Hugh Murray as his wife gave birth this morning. Garry Brady took his place, while Carey replaced the absent Robb. Chris Innes was deemed fit enough to start, although had to go off in the second half through injury.

Saints started well, Michael Higdon going close before we had a penalty claim turned down when Davie Weir appeared to bundle someone over inside the box. Although a foul was given, it was deemed it had occurred outside the box and Weir didn't get sent off. Rangers upped the tempo after that and Sasa Papac struck a shot off the outside of the box.

However, after half an hour came a moment Saints fans had waited over four years for. After another foul, Carey thundered a swerving free-kick past Allan McGregor to put us in front - the first time a Buddie has scored a free-kick since Iain Anderson against Stranraer in February 2006!

If we could just hold on until half time, we had a chance of an upset. Sadly, we were in front for just two minutes as we failed to deal with a free-kick and McCulloch pounced to send a shot past Paul Gallacher with the help of a deflection.

The midfielder scored again at the start of the second half after good work from Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller before Novo came off the bench to wrap things up after John Potter failed to deal with him. O'Donnell and Craig Dargo had chances to get us a goal back, but it wouldn't have made much difference.

So, a spirited performance but once again nothing to show for it. Things are worse at the bottom now as Hamilton drew with Aberdeen, meaning they're now level with us on goal difference. Let's just hope Celtic beat Falkirk tomorrow.