Rangers secured their first win over St Mirren in more than a year to end 2025 within six points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and within three of Celtic before Saturday’s second Old Firm game of the season in the league.
Goals in each half from Thelo Aasgaard – his second in as many games – and Emmanuel Fernandez subdued a St Mirren side who were looking for consecutive victories at Ibrox for the first time in their history.
The League Cup winners got a goal back with 10 minutes left when Mikael Mandron headed in after home keeper Jack Butland had saved well from Miguel Freckleton.
And that left the Paisley side rueing a missed penalty shortly before when captain Marcus Fraser’s tame effort was easily saved by Butland after the video assistant referee (VAR) officials spotted a handball.
The visitors also blew a wonderful opportunity to level shortly after half-time following a mistake from the returning Rangers defender John Souttar, with Butland saving well from Mandron, who seemed set to score.
That came after Aasgaard’s fine header from Jayden Meghoma’s cross had given Rangers a deserved lead at the interval, and just before a cross at the other end found Fernandez unmarked able to steer the ball past Shamal George.
The goalkeeper had to be alert earlier on, tipping an acutely angled Mikey Moore volley onto the bar, and diverting a deflected Djeidi Gassama shot past a post.
The Ibrox side’s evening could have been even more comfortable had Nico Raskin not missed a glorious early chance, although prior to that, Butland had saved well from Jayden Richardson.
The win means Danny Rohl’s side have momentum to take to Celtic Park at the weekend, where a win would draw them level on points with the defending champions.
The defeat is St Mirren’s first in six matches and is unlikely to spoil the the League Cup winners memories of an outstanding 2025.
