Gio van Bronckhorst's Ibrox days are surely numbered after his Rangers side suffered yet another slip-up in Paisley.
Although James Tavernier grabbed a point for his side as his VAR-awarded spot-kick cancelled out Jonah Ayunga’s opener for the Buddies, it’s was nowhere near enough for their under-pressure gaffer. Having spilled seven points in their last five least games, the Light Blues now face the prospect of watching Ange Postecoglou’s rampant Celtic disappearing over the horizon.
The Ibrox board gave their manager a stay of execution after last week’s defeat to St Johnstone but only in the expectation he lose no further ground on their bitter rivals. But the men at the top of the marble staircase must now decide to if they still have faith in the former Feyenoord coach to turn this increasingly desperate situation around. For Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren, it was another game where they couldn’t hold on. Having been pegged back by a 97th minute equaliser against St Johnstone in midweek, they were denied a sixth win in their last nine home games by Tavernier’s penalty six minutes from time as the chance to move back into the top six slipped through their fingers.
Given Rangers’ on-going troubles, an early goal would have done just the trick to settle nerves and lift confidence. But as Gio van Bronckhorst has found on an increasingly regular basis, his best laid plans seldom seem to come off.
He’d certainly have been hoping for more out of Alfredo Morelos as the Colombian got his big chance to impress with Antonio Colak injured.
Instead of making the most of a rare start, he was the very definition of an empty jersey. Of the many, many issues that have brought Rangers to this point, one of the most glaring is the failure to get a player who was their most valuable asset only 12 months ago back into the top mental and physical shape.
If he does indeed leave when his contract ends in June, it will be with a shrug of the shoulders instead of the fanfare you’d have once expected.
It was left to Malik Tillman to provide most of Rangers’ threat in the opening stages.
Seven minutes in, Scott Wright and Glenn Kamara - making his first start since August - combined to feed the Bayern Munich loanee on the edge of the Saints box. Some silky footwork saw him slip the ball through Marcus Fraser’s legs but the American couldn’t do the same with the posts as he dragged his finish wide.
Fraser did better not long after as he put in a vital last-gasp block after Tillman was picked out in the middle by Kamara again.
Rangers really should have taken the lead quarter of an hour in but it was another tale of Scottish Premiership woe.
Ryan Kent sent Borna Barisic to the byeline as the Croatian dug out a great cross to the back post.
It looked nailed on for Wright to nod Gers ahead but the winger made if all too easy for Trevor Carson as he headed straight at the Northern Ireland keeper.
Barisic’s notorious blind spot on his shoulder was almost exploited when he failed to spot Main creeping in. To the left-back’s major relief the Saints striker could only send his header into Allan McGregor’s arms.
Wright had another go as he burst through the middle, riding three challenges but there was no finish to match his daring run.
But Rangers found themselves in trouble just before the half-hour mark as James Sands failed to deal with Curtis Main.
That allowed Greg Kitlie to charge into the box but his teasing ball across goal slid by with neither Ayunga or Mark O’Hara getting the necessary touch for the opener.
The longer Gers went without a goal, they more hesitant they grew.
It would have been panic stations had Declan Gallagher got his free header on target from a wicked Ryan Strain corner.
Kid defender Leon King certainly had a fraught look on his face as his misplace clearance from another of the Aussie ace’s deliveries took a wild bounce before skimming McGregor’s crossbar.
Kamara’s return to the starting line-up lasted just 45 minutes as he was replaced by Arfield.
But before the Canada international had touched the ball Rangers found themselves in trouble once again. Morelos’ moronic barge on Ethan Erhahon straight from kick-off allowed Saints to win force a throw in.
Van Bronckhorst’s team hadn’t looked comfortable dealing with balls into their box all afternoon and it proved to be their undoing less then two minutes after the restart as Gallagher’s long throw was flicked on by Main. McGregor pulled off a stunning one-handed stop to deny Ayunga’s first attempt but could do nothing as the former Morecambe frontman rattled home at the second attempt.
If that wasn’t sore enough for Rangers, they then had to watch with concern as youngster King was taken off on a stretcher wearing a neck brace following a collision with Main.
Van Bronckhorst needed a reaction from his players but it was Saints who almost snatched a second as Ayunga rifled a fraction wide.
The Ibrox boss was praying for a lifeline and he got one with six minutes left thanks to VAR.
Referee Kevin Clancy thought Kent had taken a dive as he fell at Marcus Fraser’s feet but he soon got word from Clydesdale House that there was clear contact from the Saints defender and reversed the call.
Tavernier kept his nerve as he slotted home the spot-kick past Carson.
Confirmation on nine added minutes was not what St Mirren wanted to see.
But there was no further damage for the hosts as Carson turned away a Kent effort before Ryan Jack spurned a glorious free header at the death.
GIO ON THE BRINK
There were calls for the Rangers boss to go after Sunday’s shocker in Perth but the board decided to give van Bronckhorst a stay of execution ahead of Wednesday’s Hearts showdown.
They got away with that one as Malik Tillman’s winner provided the Dutchman with a much-needed three points.
But time now appears to be running out after yet another slip up in Paisley.
With five weeks before Rangers are back in action, the Ibrox board have plenty time to come to a decision.
But judging back the resigned look of the manager as he darted straight down the tunnel at full-time, it would be remarkable to see him back in the dug-out when Gers face Hibernian on December 13.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH A PROBLEM LIKE ALFREDO?
It’s been an issue for van Bronckhorst all season with the club’s once-indispensable talisman out of shape following last year’s season-ending injury.
Four months into the season and the sulking Colombian still doesn’t look ready physically or mentally to lead the line but had to be thrown in due to Antonio Colak's injury.
Van Bronckhorst felt he had no other option to throw him back into action from the start against Saints but frankly, he was like a man down.
The boss said on Friday he was still hopeful the club could come to an agreement to extend the striker’s contract but judging by his performance, they’d be better off looking elsewhere.
FORTRESS PAISLEY CREEKS AGAIN
It could be a valuable point down the line for St Mirren but right now this will feel like two points dropped for Saints after failing to hold out for the second game running.
They suffered a bitter blow in midweek as they allowed Nicky Clark to rescue a point with the last kick of the ball against St Johnstone.
And just as they thought they were set to record league wins over both halves of the Old Firm for the first time since 1991, VAR threw a spanner in the work.
It’s now four games without a win for Robinson’s men but they have every reason to be proud of their home record, which shows only one blemish from nine games so far having lost to Motherwell on the opening day of the season.
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