St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson had no complaints about Ryan Strain’s red card for handling the ball near the line which proved so pivotal in what was his first league defeat of the season.
Rangers comfortably defeated the Paisley side at the SMiSA Stadium 3-0. James Tavernier scored a double and Abdallah Sima continued his fine form in front of goal.
Skipper Tavernier scored from the spot in the 29th minute after Saints’ Strain was shown a red card by referee Nick Walsh for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
Attacker Sima stroked in a second in the 70th minute and Tavernier hammered in a third in the 90th minute as Rangers leapfrogged Robinson’s side into second place, seven points behind leaders Celtic going into the international break
He said: “I thought we were excellent to start with. The red card changes the whole game. People have to make decisions in the game. It’s just a reaction from him. It’s a poor decision – we know that – and the referee gets it 100 per cent correct.
“I was miles away and thought at first it had hit a Rangers hand but obviously it didn’t. But it’s definitely a sending-off.
“If you go 1-0 down with 11 men we’re still right in the game. We’re playing really well. But the red card changes it completely.”
Steven Davis believes Rangers’ 3-0 win at St Mirren was a “step in the right direction” for the managerless Ibrox club.
The former Gers midfielder, whose contract had expired in the summer but was continuing his rehab from a knee injury at the club, took up the reins on an interim basis last weekend after Michael Beale departed following the 3-1 home defeat by Aberdeen.
Davis’ first game in charge was an embarrassing 2-1 Europa League defeat against Aris Limassol in Cyprus on Thursday night, but today's result was far more positive for the Ibrox side.
“Robbo has them really well organised so we are delighted to come here, keep a clean sheet and score three goals,” said Davis, who revealed 17-year-old debutant Zak Lovelace had to come off in the first half with a hamstring complaint. “It is a step in the right direction, going into the international break.
“It was important to come here as a group, and the fans as well, and win. There is still a long way to go but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
“We have to take the positives out of today. But we will not get ahead of ourselves. It is only a small step to where we want to go but it is a positive step and I’m sure the players will take some belief from it.”
