St Mirren 1 - 0 Rangers

McGinn ends 22-years of hurt

Updated: October 5, 2008, 4:07 PM UK

Stephen McGinn handed St Mirren their first win over Rangers at Love Street in 22 years - and prevented the Ibrox side from returning to the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Saints substitute grabbed the only goal of the game to give the SPL bottom side a major confidence boost, as well as subjecting Rangers to their first defeat of the season.

This was Rangers' last ever visit to Love Street before St Mirren move to their new stadium in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley and McGinn's strike was a fitting way to mark the occasion.

Gers boss Walter Smith made the surprise decision to reinstate Allan McGregor for this clash, with Neil Alexander dropped to the bench despite a string of impressive performances in the three games since the regular first choice goalkeeper was axed.

The return of McGregor between the sticks was the only change from last week's emphatic 3-0 win over Hibernian. St Mirren also made a single change, with the suspended Franco Miranda replaced by Will Haining, who made the starting line-up despite fears over his fitness.

Pedro Mendes picked up the first booking of the game with just seven minutes on the clock for a foul on Dennis Wyness and St Mirren could have claimed the opener from the resultant free-kick.

Steven Robb punted into the box and the ball broke for Garry Brady who had a go with a low shot which fizzed just past McGregor's right-hand post.

Rangers had chances of their own and Steven Davis released Jean-Claude Darcheville on a surging run down the right flank before crossing for Kenny Miller in front of goal but the danger was cleared before he could connect.

Kevin Thomson had a crack at goal when he was gifted possession by Gary Mason but fired straight at the keeper from 22 yards and the ball was hooked out of play before Darcheville could pounce on the rebound.

The midfielder was threatening again when he ran onto a Charlie Adam ball before seeing his thunderous shot touched over by Mark Howard as Rangers attempted to crank up the pressure with the half-time whistle approaching.

Rangers continued to search for the elusive opener after the break and were not too far away when Madjid Bougherra nodded just over from close range from a Davis corner.

There was then a worrying sight for the Ibrox side - as well as Scotland boss George Burley - when Thomson had to be carried off the park after clashing with Brady and replaced by Kyle Lafferty with just under an hour gone.

Rangers were in need of something special to take this game by the scruff of the net but, unfortunately for them, Darcheville was not the man to provide it. A lovely backheel flick from Mendes found Davis who slipped into the path of the striker but his finish was poor as he dragged wide.

That proved to be Darcheville's final contribution and he was withdrawn for the introduction of Kris Boyd after 65 minutes.

Despite Rangers' best efforts, it was St Mirren who took the lead with 76 minutes gone through substitute McGinn, who had been on the park for just five minutes.

Billy Mehmet's header was collected by McGinn inside the box and he sent a superb curling effort past the helpless McGregor into the goalkeeper's top right hand corner, claiming his fourth goal for Saints.

Only the woodwork prevented Rangers from drawing level in the final minutes when Sasa Papac set Boyd up for what looked certain to be the equaliser only to see his header crash off the post.

Boyd and Miller were then both denied at the death in a goalmouth scramble and Kirk Broadfoot saw his header cleared off the line as Rangers threw everything at their hosts only to return to Ibrox empty-handed.