Rangers Held by St Mirren as Winless Run Extends
It was another difficult afternoon for Rangers as they were held to a 1-1 draw by St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, a result that has stretched their winless league run to three games and handed new manager Russell Martin the worst league start by any Ibrox boss in 36 years.
The match in Paisley was full of tension and drama, not least because of the ongoing uncertainty around the squad. St Mirren struck first in the 32nd minute when Jonah Ayunga broke clear and finished calmly past Jack Butland. It was a well-taken goal, but from Rangers’ point of view, the defending was again called into question. That left Martin’s side trailing at the break, with the frustration among the away supporters becoming more and more audible.
In the second half, Rangers showed more urgency. They dominated possession, but chances remained scarce until 19-year-old substitute Findlay Curtis made a decisive impact. In the 78th minute, the youngster pounced on a loose ball and fired a crisp finish into the bottom corner to level the game. It was a moment that lifted the team and briefly gave the sense that a comeback might be on. James Tavernier went close with a deflected strike, but St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George pulled off an excellent save. At the other end, Butland had to be sharp late on to deny Alex Gogic, ensuring Rangers at least escaped with a point.
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What overshadowed the football, though, was the controversy around Hamza Igamane. Martin revealed after the game that the striker had refused to come on as a substitute, claiming he was injured despite having trained and warmed up. With transfer speculation swirling, that admission drew heavy criticism from pundits and former players, who described the situation as “embarrassing” and insisted that no Rangers player should ever refuse to play.
For St Mirren, the draw was a mixture of pride and disappointment. Manager Stephen Robinson admitted his side had controlled the first half and probably should have secured all three points, but he also took encouragement from the fact that his team are now unbeaten in four matches against Rangers.
For Martin, however, the pressure is mounting. Three wins from his first nine matches across all competitions has left him with the poorest early record of any permanent Rangers manager. Supporters are growing restless, and with huge fixtures looming — a Champions League qualifier against Club Brugge and then the Old Firm derby against Celtic — the margin for error is shrinking fast.
Martin himself tried to stay calm after the match, insisting it is “not the end of the world,” but even he admitted that uncertainty in the squad and a lack of conviction on the pitch are major problems that must be addressed quickly. If results do not turn soon, the goodwill that usually greets a new manager could vanish altogether.
For now, Rangers are left reflecting on another frustrating afternoon, while St Mirren walk away knowing they had come close to a famous victory. The season is still young, but the storm clouds are gathering over Ibrox.
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