Andy Halliday speaking on BBC's Sportscene show
Andy HallidaySportscene via BBC Scotland

Andy Halliday 'can't understand' actions of Rangers player in dramatic win vs St Mirren

Dan Lewis

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Rangers were somewhat fortunate to come away with victory in Wednesday night's clash with St Mirren.

The Gers were second best for periods of the game, but found a last-gasp winner through Bojan Miovski.

Miovski, who was introduced from the substitutes' bench, brilliantly dinked the ball home in the 91st minute.

That sparked wild scenes at Ibrox as Rangers leapfrogged their opponents and moved into second place in the Scottish Premiership.

The visitors could easily have taken the lead in a dominant period on top in the second half, only for Fraser Taylor to squander a big chance.

Ivor Pandur did well to keep that effort out, but Andy Halliday was not entirely convinced by what he saw from the Rangers keeper.

Andy Halliday critical of Ivor Pandur

Derek McInnes looked frustrated in the Ibrox dugout at times as his side once again toiled.

Rangers, without being at their best, found a way in the dying embers to keep their momentum going into an Old Firm double-header.

It could have turned out so much differently for McInnes and his side, though, had Taylor not fluffed his lines when through on goal.

A delightful pass had the Saints midfielder in behind the Rangers defence and with just Pandur to beat.

What Halliday found most striking about the move is the way the Rangers number one did not come off his line until late on.

"I can't understand how Ivor Pandur is still inside his six-yard box," Halliday said on BBC Sportscene.

"Taylor has run 20, 30 yards. The finish is so poor. You can go across the keeper, near post, but what you can't do is hit it at Pandur."

While many had it down as a good piece of goalkeeping from Pandur to save Rangers, Halliday saw it differently.

Andy Halliday speaking on BBC's Sportscene show
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McInnes accepted after the game that there was a period the opposition were on top, albeit not for too long.

But Halliday - rightly, it must be said - pointed out that the Saints enjoyed a much longer stretch when in control.

"I don't particularly agree with Derek McInnes' assessment of St Mirren in the second half," he said.

"I thought they had much more than a 20-minute period [on top]. Some of the football St Mirren played was excellent and Rangers lost all control.

"They got too forceful too early, but take nothing away from them as that forcefulness led to the late winner."

Rangers fans will simply be delighted to have seen their side come away with another win, which keeps the gap on Celtic to five points.

McInnes will not need telling it is still not good enough in terms of the all-round display.

However, a repeat scoreline against Celtic this weekend - regardless of the performance - is all that matters.

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