Nightmare end to St Mirren's cup dream

Apr 27 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Rangers 3 St Mirren 0

ST Mirren’s Homecoming Scottish Cup dream ended in heartache at the National Stadium after an early strike from Andrius Velicka, followed by second half goals from Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller, handed Rangers a place in next month’s showpiece final.

Gus MacPherson’s side had a mountain to climb when Velicka fired home the opener after just 74 seconds on the clock.

With the match finely poised at 1-0 in the second half, MacPherson’s side still had a chance of causing an upset.

But two goals from Boyd and Miller in the space of four minutes put the Ibrox side home and dry.

Buddies boss MacPherson made three changes to his starting 11 – and there was no place in it for captain John Potter.

In a bold move from the Saints manager, Will Haining retained his place in the heart of the Saints defence and Potter had to be content with a place on the bench.

And in another twist, striker Craig Dargo was left out of the squad completely following a thigh injury, which meant Dennis Wyness bagged a start.

Billy Mehmet, fit again after a hamstring strain, also came back to action at the expense of Jim Hamilton.

Rangers scored inside the first two minutes when Velicka prodded home from around seven yards after Kris Boyd forced possession into his path in front of goal.

It was a devastating early blow to Saints.

After seven minutes, Scott Cuthbert was forced to make an important clearance header from a Velicka cross on the left as Boyd lurked menacingly in the penalty box.

Then Mark Howard was called into action after 11 minutes to parry a powerful right-foot shot from Pedro Mendes as the Ibrox side worked another opening.

Saints settled into their passing game and enjoyed a decent period of possession but unfortunately with no end product.

However, after 17 minutes, Steven Thomson changed all that when he lashed a right foot shot from distance towards goal and Neil Alexander was forced to touch it over his own crossbar.

From the resultant corner Rangers eventually got it clear.

The shot from Thomson gave Saints a real lift and they gradually made some inroads towards Alexander’s goal.

Stephen McGinn squared up to Maurice Edu after 21 minutes, with the Saints player clearly unhappy over the midfielder’s crude challenge on him seconds before, but referee Calum Murray gave both players a stern warning as they escaped bookings.

After 25 minutes, Rangers created another scoring chance when Boyd connected with Christian Dailly’s cross from the right but it zipped over target.

Mehmet received a sore one following a Dailly challenge on him after 26 minutes, but the big man shrugged it off easily.

Then Boyd and Mendes combined before the Portuguese star picked out Velicka but all the striker could do was to prod it harmlessly away from goal.

Mendes saw a shot at goal blocked by the body of Hugh Murray, before Dailly picked up a caution after 31 minutes for a foul on McGinn.

Midfielder Mendes went to ground clutching his right knee after he challenged Haining for possession over on the far side after 37 minutes and, while the Saints defender’s boot looked high, referee Murray saw nothing untoward.

However, stretcher-bearers were called upon and Mendes was carried from the field of play and replaced by Nacho Novo.

Rangers should have made it 2-0 after 43 minutes when Steven Davis picked up possession in midfield and found Velicka racing clear on the right, but his finish was woeful and he managed to slice it wide of target.

Before the break, Howard came out to confidently take Stevie Smith’s corner on the right.

Velicka almost got the better of Haining after 48 minutes when he chased Alexander’s long punt upfield but Howard gathered the ball.

There was a moment of controversy after 49 minutes when Dorman went to ground under Steven Whittaker’s challenge and the Saints claimed for a penalty, but Murray turned down the appeals.

Then Mehmet picked out McGinn on the left from Howard’s long kick and the youngster sent a low drive fractionally wide of the left hand post.

After 57 minutes, a good build-up move involving Mo Camara, McGinn, Thomson and Ross, Dorman picked out Wyness but his shot from 16 yards was easily gathered by Alexander.

Miller replaced Velicka up front for Rangers towards the hour mark, before sub Novo forced a Rangers corner on the right but, again, Howard easily took the cross from Smith.

Rangers made it 2-0 after 65 minutes and it was Boyd who was the scorer.

With Saints pressing for an equaliser, they were hit with a sucker punch when Boyd picked up possession 22 yards from his own goal, found Davis, and the midfielder sprinted forward on a long penetrating run with Boyd in support.

Striker Boyd picked up the return pass as Saints sat off him and he slotted the ball beyond the outrushing Howard from 14 yards.

And Miller made it 3-0 after 69 minutes when he picked up a return pass from Davis and fired a low drive away from 10 yards.

The initial cross came from Novo, Miller placed it forward to Davis and the midfielder returned the favour by supplying the pass.

Howard made a remarkable save from Miller after 75 minutes when Dailly’s cross from the right dropped nicely for him in front of goal and the striker had a clear shot, but Howard made a brave block.

A minute later, Thomson was the victim of crunching tackle from Smith and the midfielder required attention from physio John McCreadie.

A Mehmet angled effort from the edge of the box took a touch off a light blue jersey and deflected out for a corner, before David Weir headed clear Dorman’s dangerous cross into the box.

With 10 minutes remaining, Howard denied Novo after the Spaniard checked his run before connecting with a Davis pass on the right.

Five minutes before the end, Novo fired a right-foot shot high and wide from 20 yards, then Edu sped past Murray before firing a powerful shot just wide.

Sean Burns replaced Thomson with two minutes remaining as Saints made their final substitution of the afternoon.