Rangers fans travelled to Paisley more in hope than expectation yesterday, and sadly, the team gave us another reminder of just how far standards have slipped. In a match where Rangers had nothing on the line competitively, the minimum expectation was still simple: win the game. That didn’t happen — and at Rangers, that is a failure.
Despite taking the lead twice, Rangers were pegged back twice by a spirited St Mirren side who played with composure, belief, and no fear — something Barry Ferguson himself admitted after the game. When Barry Ferguson says teams don’t fear Rangers anymore, it’s impossible to argue. You could see it with your own eyes.
Team News: Changes, But Not Enough
Barry Ferguson made four changes to the starting XI from our last outing in Europe. Clinton Nsiala, Bailey Rice, Robin Propper, and Hamza Igamane came into the side. Liam Kelly started in goal behind a back line of Tavernier, Propper, Souttar, Nsiala, and Jefte. In midfield, Bailey Rice and Mohamed Diomande joined Nico Raskin, while Dessers and Igamane led the attack.
Early signs were promising: Cyriel Dessers forced a good early save from Zach Hemming, and Nico Raskin — the standout man once again — showed his class throughout. Raskin deserves a huge amount of credit. He grabbed a goal and an assist and looked several levels above everyone else on the park. If Rangers are smart this summer, they’ll build a team around him. But with only two years left on his deal, the board faces a huge call: extend his contract or sell. They cannot afford to let another asset run it down.
How It Unfolded
Dessers opened the scoring just before half-time, holding off a defender to slot home after a clever ball from Raskin. But within minutes, Rangers had thrown the lead away — a long throw-in caused chaos and Mark O’Hara pounced to level for St Mirren.
Into the second half, Nico Raskin restored Rangers’ lead with a lovely low strike after a driving run from Diomande. Once again though, Rangers couldn’t hold on. Substitute Conor McMenamin tapped home for St Mirren, and a long VAR check ruled the goal onside.
Late changes came too little, too late: Vaclav Cerny, Connor Barron, and Nedim Bajrami came off the bench as Ferguson chased a winner, but nothing clicked. St Mirren even had the better chance at the death.
Tactical Frustrations
Fans questioned Ferguson’s loyalty to the 5-3-2 formation as soon as the team was announced. Against a side like St Mirren, we should be more aggressive. Instead, Rangers looked slow, predictable, and far too cautious. Full-backs Tavernier and Jefte rarely got forward with any conviction, and the tempo throughout was nowhere near high enough.
While Ferguson deserves our gratitude for stepping in during a difficult spell after Philippe Clement’s departure, it’s clearer than ever that Rangers’ next permanent manager must have more experience, more tactical flexibility, and a clear identity.
Player Performances: A Mixed Bag
- Nico Raskin: Outstanding again. A leader on the pitch.
- Cyriel Dessers: Scored but missed another sitter. You know how it goes.
- Liam Kelly: A few good stops but poor on crosses and distribution.
- John Souttar: Sloppy in possession, never settled.
- Robin Propper & James Tavernier: Wasteful and passive on the ball.
- Bailey Rice: Did OK for a young lad thrown into a tough game.
- Hamza Igamane: Wasted out of position to accommodate Dessers — a baffling decision that stifled one of our best young talents.
The harsh truth is this: the squad lacks quality. Injuries expose a thin squad, and too often, the players called upon are either inexperienced or simply not good enough. That’s not on the interim manager — it’s a bigger issue that the new regime must tackle head-on.
Final Thoughts
It was a long, frustrating afternoon in Paisley, and a reminder of the huge rebuild job facing Rangers this summer. Players need moved on, contracts must be managed properly, and above all, the club must show ambition again — on and off the pitch.
Thanks to Barry Ferguson for steadying the ship — but it’s time for the board to show us all they mean business with the next appointment.
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