Rangers may have been outclassed at Anfield but they were too strong for St Mirren as Antonio Colak continued his red-hot start with another deadly double.
The Croatian striker was back in Gio van Bronckhorst ’s team after being stood down from action in their Champions League defeat to Liverpool. And he ensured the Light Blues had no hangover from their Merseyside mauling with an early opener.
James Tavernier stroked home a penalty 30 minutes in to give the hosts breathing room at Ibrox and there was no way back for Stephen Robinson’s Saints when Colak notched his 13 goals in just 16 appearances for the Govan outfit with 17 minutes left. There was more pain in store for the visitors, however, as Fashion Sakala marked just his third start of the season with a goal in stoppage time.
There wasn’t much to take heart from on Tuesday as Rangers were lamped by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. But if van Bronckhorst really pushed himself, he may have seen some positives in the displays Rabbi Matondo and Sakala produced off the bench.
Both had chances to add a shine to the 2-0 Anfield defeat late on and were rewarded for those Kop cameos with a place in the Dutchman’s line-up as he made five changes to the team outclassed in their Battle of Britain showdown.
Robinson also made a couple of alterations to the Saints side that beat Livingston last weekend as Curtis Main and Alex Grieve came in for Greg Kiltie and the suspended Jonah Ayunga. It’s been a good spell to be a Buddies of late, with the Paisley side on a run of five wins in their last six games.
But hopes of the visitors experiencing the joy of six lasted all of four minutes as Colak gobbled up yet another chance. The Croatian didn’t know much about it as a low stinger from compatriot Borna Barisic bounced back off the post and into his path.
But the striker’s knack of being in the right place at the right time paid off yet again as he edged himself in front of Declan Gallagher just as the ball rebounded off his shins and into the net. Allan McGregor was Rangers' midweek saviour as he rescued them from an even more savage beating down south and the Ibrox No.1 was at it again, diving at full stretch to keep out Alex Grieve’s shot on the turn 10 minutes in.
But it was Saints stopper Trevor Carson who had the busier first 45 as he was forced to turn away efforts from Scott Arfield, Ryan Jack and Tavernier. But just as the visitor’s thought they had weathered the worst of Gers’ first-half storm force, Gallagher went in late on Colak and referee Nick Walsh went straight for his whistle as he pointed to the spot.
Tavernier took on the penalty duties, sending Carson down to his right as the ball flew straight down the middle. As with the opener, St Mirren had a chance to hit back within moments but the header produced by Marcus Fraser as he got forward to meet the delivery from his fellow full-back on the left Scott Tanser was easily gathered by McGregor.
Matondo had looked bright without offering much in terms of final product during the first half. But the Welshman came within a couple of inches of a netting with a sensational screamer 10 minutes after the change of ends as he drove in from the left before slamming against Carson’s right-hand post.
As Rangers allowed their tempo to drop, Saints sensed a chance to grab a lifeline. Ethan Erhahon swung the ball over for the unmarked Mark O’Hara at the back post but once again it was McGregor who bailed out his team as the veteran pulled off his umpteenth brave block of the week.
And from surviving that scare, Rangers romped up field with frightening pace and made sure of the points. Sakala was the instigator as he leapt off his wing before driving at the Paisley back-line. Colak collected his pass before stepping past Gallagher with ease and finishing with an impudent flash of his right foot.
Curtis Main came close to putting a gloss on the scoreline but saw a late effort come back off the crossbar. There was no goal for Alfredo Morelos as he replaced Colak in the final stages.
But the Colombian did grab an assist as he slid in Sakala to slot home the fourth in stoppage time.
Colak can’t miss
Give this lad the ball in the box and it only ends up in one place. Gio van Bronckhorst may have decided Alfredo Morelos was better suited to lead the line in the Champions League.
But when it comes to domestic action there’s only one man for the job right now and it’s the Croatian. His opener was more accident than design as fellow countryman Borna Barisic’s shot rebounded off his shins into the net.
But his second was all about his predatory instincts as he gave Declan Gallagher the slip before firing past Trevor Carson with the outside of his foot. It’s now 13 in 16 games and if Rangers are to match Celtic all the way they’ll need the former POAK hitman to keep up his mean streak.
Sakala and Matondo on a wing and a prayer
It’s been a frustrating start to the campaign for Ibrox new boy Rabbi Matondo and Zambian ace Fashion Sakala, with neither seeing the number of minutes they’d have liked. Welsh international Matondo had started just five games since his £1.8million move from Schalke while Sakala had featured in just two line-ups before this afternoon’s clash.
But neither will have done their action ambitions any harm with their performances. Matondo was lively down the left as he took over from Ryan Kent and only the woodwork denied him a sensational long-range effort just after the break.
Sakala was also keen to impress and it was his driving run that softened up the St Mirren back line for Colak to add the killer third. And he finished off the rout by sliding home the fourth in stoppage time.
Mark Oh-Hara!
The Buddies were ruthless in their win over Celtic last month, scoring with two of the four chances they created as they became the first Scottish team this season to beat Ange Postecoglou’s Hoops.
Stephen Robinson knew his side would have to be similarly clinical at Ibrox if they were to back up that triumph against the other half of the Old Firm. But any hope of getting a result went out the window when skipper Mark O’Hara failed to bury a golden opportunity at the back post.
With just McGregor to beat, the midfielder only had to pick his spot but a moment’s hesitation cost the Saints ace as the Rangers goalie pounced from his line to make a vital block. Moments later, the game was up as Rangers raged up field to claim a third.
But even this defeat doesn’t take away from what’s been a great start to the season, with Saints sitting fourth nine games in.
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