news-engine

Derek McInnes got off the mark at last at Rangers with a thumping 5-1 Premier Sports Cup last-16 win over St Mirren at Ibrox. Failure to win any of his first four fixtures had the Gers boss already under pressure and he celebrated vigorously when striker Ryan Naderi put the home side ahead in the ninth minute with a close-range finish. Midfielder Vanja Dragojevic fired in an unstoppable shot from 25 yards in the 18th minutes for his first Gers goal since signing from Partisan Belgrade but Saints’ Chris Mochrie reduced the deficit on the half-hour mark with an equally terrific drive. Two goals in two minutes from Djeidi Gassama and debutant James Penrice had the home side in easy street before Gers keeper Ivor Pandur saved a twice-taken penalty from midfielder Killian Phillips. Substitute Ross McCausland made it five in the 74th minute as the home side stylishly sealed a place in the quarter-final draw. Looking to bring an end to troubled times at Ibrox, McInnes gave a debut to left-back Penrice, signed on loan from Greek side AEK Athens as the Gers’ 10th summer recruit, while midfielders Tochi Chukwuani and Dragojevic came in, taking over from captain Lawrence Shankland, vice-captain Dan Neil and Thelo Aasgaard. St Mirren striker Eseosa Sule came close in the fifth minute with his shot and turn from inside the Rangers penalty area which did little to impress the nervy home support. At the other end, Dragojevic fired wide from the edge of the box after being set up by Naderi. Then, after St Mirren defender Jayden Richardson gifted Rangers possession, Saints keeper Jacob Chapman made a good save from a Gassama shot but the German striker was on hand to net, the ball going in off his torso. Rangers doubled their lead when Penrice’s searching free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box by skipper Alex Gogic and Dragojevic controlled the ball on his chest and sent a dipping volley high past the diving Chapman. If slack in defence, St Mirren were a threat going forward and defender Marcus Fraser missed a great chance when he headed over from six yards and then Gassama cracked the crossbar with a curling shot from 20 yards. However, doubt returned to Gers support when Mochrie took advantage of slack play in the home defence, stepping forward to fire in a glorious shot high past Gers keeper Pandur. Chapman saved an effort from Gers winger Daisuke Yokota before the break where he was replaced by Findlay Curtis, who was involved in the third goal, swiftly passing to Penrice wide on the left. When the defender’s perfect pass inside set up Gassama, he confidently slid the ball past Chapman. Moments later, when the ball fell to Penrice inside a packed penalty area as Rangers attacked again, he swept the ball in from six yards. The Light Blues had found their attacking zeal. However, when Gers defender Emmanuel Fernandez clattered into Sule inside the box, referee John Beaton pointed to the spot. Phillips scored but was told to take it again as Beaton had not blown his whistle and this time Pandur dived to his right and saved. In the 74th minute Shankland struck the post from six yards but fellow substitute McCausland fired in the rebound then Buddies’ substitute Luke Thomas drove a shot against the post.