The Premiership curtain came crashing down on St Mirren as Rangers rounded off their season with a comfortable win in Paisley.
Fashion Sakala grabbed a double as he moved onto 12 goals for the season. And Antonio Colak netted for the first time in two and a half months as Gers sauntered to the points.
It was a dead rubber for both sides and it showed in the distinctly tepid tempo. Saints back-up goalkeeper Peter Urminsky was making his league debut but didn’t have much to worry about during a drab opening quarter that saw Ryan Strain limp off injured for the hosts early doors. Sakala and Rabbi Matondo both blazed over for Gers while Curtis Main did the same at the other ends. Even when the opener came it didn’t raise much more than a half-hearted cheer from the bored Bears behind Robby McCrorie’s goal.
To be fair, it was a decent effort from Sakala as he drove in off the left wing, skipping past three players on his way into the top six. It was an uncharacteristic composed finish but as ever with the Zambian, there’s always a little doubt when he goes through on goal and he had to hold his breath as the ball dribbled over the line after Scott Tanser’s desperate lunge on the goal line almost kept it out.
Matondo looked to join the act as he surged forward from half way but again sent his shot soaring. McCrorie coped a sore one when Main slid in on the Ibrox keeper. The Scotland squad member writhed with pain but a booking for the offender was probably the right call given Lewis Jamieson’s cross was there for the striker to attack.
Saints were hoping to hit back as the game restarted after the break and Jamieson had McCrorie world with drive that flashed just wide. But within two minutes of the second period starting the visitors were two up as Sakala again powered in off the flank.
It was another well-hit drive but Urminsky won’t want to see it back after allowing the ball to squirm under his body when the Slovakian really should have kept it out.
Colak was introduced midway through the half and it didn’t take the Croatian ace long to nab his 18th of the season, heading home at the back post after Nico Raskin had flicked on a Todd Cantwell corner.
A Saints season to be remembered - and a Gers campaign to forget
Michael Beale said this week he was looking forward to bidding good riddance to Rangers’ miserable season and no wonder as Celtic prepare to wrap up a fifth Treble in the last seven years. The Londoner was brought in to pick up the pieces after Gio van Bronckhorst’s tenure collapsed.
But despite winning a creditable 23 of his 28 games in charge, that’s still not been enough to put a halt on the Parkhead trophy charge. The end of the season couldn’t come quick enough for Gers but Saints can look back on the last 12 months with huge pride.
The Paisley outfit had not finished in the top half of the table since 1985 but Stephen Robinson’s men at last swept that gorilla off their back. Europe proved a step too far but if the Buddies boss can keep the majority of his squad together they’ll be confident of having another crack next year.
Fashion on trend
You never quite know what you’re getting with the Zambian ace. He’s as likely to find the top corner as he is Row Z but in fairness you can’t argue with his stats. Today’s double made it 12 goals for the season and when combined with the eight assists he’s added this year he’s not far off a goal contribution ever second game.
With 41 appearances this term the 26-year-old has probably featured more regularly than even he was expecting, especially since Beale’s arrival. With the boss planning major changes in his forward line it remains to be seen how big a part he’ll have next year but with those numbers he can expect to remain involved to some degree.
Goodbye Ryan?
Ryan Strain’s final appearance of the season lasted a mere eight minutes as the Australian International limped off early - but was it his last appearance for the Buddies.
The right wing-back has been one of the outstanding performers of a historic for Saints that saw them record a top six finish for the first time in the SPL/SPFL era. The Paisley outfit did well to fend off interest in his Socceroos team-mate Keanu Baccus but they can expect suitors to be circling for both players this summer.
Stephen Robinson will be loath to lose two talented imports but they’ve provided tremendous value since their free transfer switches last summer.
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