Match report

Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Saints left to reflect on missed opportunity

Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final
Rangers (2) v Saints (0)
Attendance [17,971]

Derek McInnes made three changes to the starting line-up for this Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden Park.

Out of the starting eleven that beat Hearts on Saturday went Kevin Moon, Steven Milne and Kenny Deuchar who didn’t train yesterday due to a back injury and was out of the squad.

Into the side came Jody Morris, Liam Craig and Cillian Sheridan.

Saints lined up in their change strip of maroon for this game and the snow was falling steadily as the teams kicked off – Saints shooting towards the west end of the ground where the Rangers fans were congregated.

We opened brightly enough with Jody Morris trying his luck from distance but there was soon a sign of what was to follow later in the half when a Saints defender found himself having to make a goal-line clearance in just four minutes.

Dave Mackay was the man in question and he slid in to boot a Nacho Novo effort away after the Rangers player had slipped it past Graeme Smith at the edge of the box and had fired a goal-bound effort which was heading into the empty net until Mackay’s vital interception.

Saints took the game to the SPL leaders but although outfield play was good, too often the final ball was poor and it was in front of Graeme Smith’s goal that another desperate clearance had to be made – Gary Irvine heading away a dangerous Novo ball at the far post.

After further good play, Saints had a golden chance to take the lead in 16 minutes but Murray Davidson passed it up. The midfielder rose high in the box to meet a Filipe Morais cross but as Alexander came to meet it, Murray could only head it wide of the goal. It proved to be our best chance of the night.

Saints continued to play some attractive football and what half-chances there were fell to us. But it’s full chances that count and in 25 minutes Rangers took the lead with just one such opportunity.

Steven Davis saw an effort blocked but the danger wasn’t cleared and the Ibrox man was on hand when the ball eventually fell at the back post and he was close enough to goal to make the tight angle count for little as he fired it into the roof of the net.

Filipe Morais was in a lively mood and he fired in a low effort which Alexander stopped but couldn’t hold and the Rangers keeper was quick to pounce on the loose ball.

There was further heartbreak for Saints eight minutes before the break when Rangers doubled their advantage and it was a soft goal to lose. Lee McCulloch was the scorer, drilling it from just outside the box and it seemed to swerve, leaving Graeme Smith helpless and it shot past him into the net.

Saints were unable to get a goal before the interval and the travelling Perth support were left to reflect on a half that was so typical of some Saints games this season: plenty possession and some nice passing football but an underworked opposition keeper while goals were conceded in a few fateful seconds.

Saints made one change at the interval, Filipe Morais being replaced by Steven Milne and although the hard-working Cillian Sheridan had Neil Alexander working in the first minute of the second half, it didn’t bring the goal that Saints really needed to give themselves hope of a comeback.

The early stages of the second half followed a familiar pattern – Saints seeing plenty of the ball but unable to create a real clear-cut chance let alone a goal while the Ibrox side looked dangerous on the break and the Perth defence – well marshalled by Dave Mackay - had to be on their toes to avert a game-killing third goal.

Rangers sub Steven Naismith almost scored within second of coming on the pitch when he got on the end of a ball into the box but although he got in ahead of Graeme Smith, his effort was high.

In 66 minutes Peter MacDonald replaced the Cillian Sheridan and moments later Steven Milne forced Alexander into a save after Liam Craig’s cross had been knocked into his path.

Three minutes later and hearts were in Perth mouths when Rangers had the chance to finish the game from the penalty spot. Gary Irvine pushed Naismith as the pair went for a high ball at the back post and the Rangers player himself stepped up to take the kick. However, Graeme Smith was equal to the task and he dived to his left to push away the spot kick.

A third goal would have been cruel on Saints but equally, it never looked likely that we could get back into the match.

Indeed, Rangers came closest to grabbing any further goals – John Fleck twice denied as was Steven Davis.

Kevin Moon was introduced as the clock ticked down but apart from a Steven Milne effort from 22 yards it was fairly clear that there was going to be no dramatic comeback.

The night was summed up towards the end when Chris Millar should have tried an effort on goal from 20 yards but opted to try and slip it into a colleague in the box and the chance was gone.

The Perth support continued to back the team brilliantly but ultimately it was an evening of disappointment as Saints failed to seriously threaten the Rangers goal and it is the Ibrox side that go forward to a final date with St Mirren.

Saints: Smith, Irvine, Grainger, Morris, Mackay, Gartland, Millar, Davidson, Sheridan (MacDonald), Sheridan, Craig (Moon), Morais (Milne). Subs not used: Anderson, Main

Rangers: Alexander, Smith, Weir, Whittaker, Wilson, McCulloch, Davis, Thomson, Fleck, Novo (Naismith), Lafferty (Little). Subs: Broadfoot, Wylde, McGregor.

Referee: Dougie McDonald