Ibrox View: 1/10 flop absolutely terrible, 8/10 MOTM perfect reaction - Rangers ratings v St Mirren

Rangers scraped past St Mirren 2-1 but put in a largely dreadful performance in what was a major comedown from the attacking excellence in midweek.

The Light Blues were extremely sloppy to start but took the lead on 13 minutes as Mohamed Diomande slotted home a simple rebound after Nico Raskin’s long-range shot was parried into his path, but the home side did not improve and Alex Gogic headed the visitors level on 26 minutes from a corner, and the Ibrox crowd booed the players off after a dismal half.

Toyosi Olusanya had a goal ruled out for offside after the break and went close on another occasion but a slightly sharper Gers display paid off when excellent work from substitute Cyriel Dessers through the left channel found Vaclav Cerny to turn home after 69 minutes.

Here, Ibrox News rates the Rangers players out of 10 for their performances in Govan.

Jack Butland – 6

Didn’t cover himself in glory for the Gogic goal as he leapt to punch behind the St Mirren man. Made a couple of other necessary stops, including one to stop Olusanya after Propper was weak, in a reasonable performance otherwise.

Neraysho Kasanwirjo – 6

Up and down day. Starting as James Tavernier was finally rested he was eager to get forward but couldn’t get much going in attack and doesn’t have the same understanding with Cerny as the captain. Put himself about but hardly made it impossible for his manager to take him back out. Shifted to centre-back when the dreadful Propper was removed he nearly conceded a penalty almost instantly in an uncomfortable stint in the middle.

Leon Balogun – 7

Not his best but helped mitigate a catastrophic display from Propper next to him. Strong in the air from the off but looked a lot less controlled with the ball on the ground. Got back with a vital intervention to halt Olusanya after Propper had let him in again.

Philippe Clement drops James Tavernier, Hamza Igamane

Robin Propper (off for Tavernier ’61) – 1

A really dreadful game. Terrible start as he exposed twice inside the first 20 minutes as he failed to cut out nothing balls and let Toyosi Olusanya clean through. The first time the striker should have done better than fire wide of the far post, and in very similar circumstances for the second he hesitated and was halted by Balogun to bail out the Dutchman. Gogic got above him to head the St Mirren level and he was outmuscled by Olusanya again inside his own box inside an hour to concede another threatening opportunity. Absolute must improve a long, long way.

Jefte – 5

One of his poorer outings for Rangers. Very sloppy start as St Mirren put him under pressure and multiple passes and clearances went to opposing players. Settled eventually but was far from his best.

Nico Raskin – 6

Okay. Actually started pretty well with sharp work on the ball in his own half and it was his shot which led to the opening goal. But he soon slipped into the sloppy manner of his teammates with a terrible slack pass that led to the corner from which St Mirren equalised. Started to combine better with Barron as the game wore on.

Connor Barron (off for Sterling ’85) – 7

Pretty good, eventually. Anonymous early but grew into the game. Was excellent alongside Raskin in midweek but it took him a long time to establish himself in this one. Got increasingly involved on the ball after the break and looked much better as he tried to play incisive balls forward.

John Souttar missing from the squad at Ibrox

Mohamed Diomande – 5

Frustrating day. Scored with his first involvement in an advanced role with a simple finish but didn’t offer much else in a scruffy first-half team performance. Involved in some better work after the half but his touch and his passing was disappointing as the three-man midfield man fans wanted to see hardly fired on all cylinders.

Nedim Bajrami – 7

Decent overall, but largely later on. Solid work in the build up to the opener as he recycled a loose ball out on the left and found Raskin on the edge of the box for a low shot. Should have done better when found free at the far post before the break, only to blast into the side netting. Finally started to show his quality late on.

Vaclav Cerny (off for McCausland ’89) – 7

Got the crucial goal. Arguably showed the most in a miserable team first half, but off the back of his sparkling performance in the Europa League it was night and day, and his radar was way off early as he repeatedly overhit balls out of play. Improved after the break without ever reaching the levels of the 4-0 midweek win, but crucially scored again to keep up an increasingly-vital run and started to impose himself as Rangers finally turned the tide.

Hamza Igamane (off for Dessers ’46) – 4

Very disappointing. Starting in place of Cyriel Dessers after the Nigerian walked off with eye trouble vs FCSB and the youngster scored his first, he was booked in just the second minute for a challenge on the touchline. Struggled to have much of an impact and didn’t hold up the ball well. It was the sort of performance which often gets Dessers criticised, even if the youngster may have more leeway given his age and experience but a major missed opportunity.

Vaclav Cerny finds the net again for Rangers

Substitutions

Cyriel Dessers (on for Igamane ’46) – Man of the Match – 8

Vital impact just when his side needed it. Went closer to scoring with a diving header from a Bajrami free kick just inside an hour than Igamane managed in his half. Arguably the best piece of play from Rangers for the entire game as he drove into the box from the left, rounded the defender at the by-line and then found Cerny to score. Still managed to frustrate at times and should have had a goal of his own late on, but on a day when so much of the action was painful to watch he was the difference for a vital three points.

James Tavernier (on for Propper ’61) – 6

Took a while to find his range but swung a few decent crosses into dangerous areas. Philippe Clement will no doubt hesitate to drop him out again if this is how the side reacts.

Dujon Sterling (on for Barron ’85) – 6

Ross McCausland (on for Cerny ’89) – 6

In other Rangers news, a new Ryan Kent update has emerged amid links to a return to Ibrox on a free transfer.

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