St Mirren 0-2 Rangers: Ryan Naderi and Dan Neil fire Rangers to Scottish Premiership victory
Rangers moved one point behind Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic thanks to goals from Ryan Naderi and Dan Neil in a 2-0 win over St Mirren.
Draws against Dundee and Hearts in their last two Premiership games away from Ibrox had blemished the Gers' focused title challenge, but Derek McInnes's side were determined to leave The Marbill Coaches Stadium without a mark on them.
In-form striker Ryan Naderi scored a penalty after 18 minutes after James Penrice was fouled - a decision Sky Sports' co-commentator James McFadden called "softer than soft".
Dan Neil added a second just after the hour mark with a deflected strike to extend the Light Blues' unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 games.
Rangers moved to within one point of leaders Celtic having played the same number of fixtures, albeit the Hoops can can restore their four-point lead against Kilmarnock at Celtic Park on Sunday before the international break gives the league another breather.
Chris Sutton said Penrice had played referee Nick Walsh "like a piccolo" to win Rangers their penalty against St Mirren.
"I think we all agree that it was the wrong decision. There has to be sufficient contact. James Penrice has played Nick Walsh like a piccolo."
Penrice told Sky Sports: "I've not seen it back. I'm being told it is a penalty, it isn't a penalty. I don't know. I feel the contact and he dangled a leg. He kicked us, I couldn't get the ball."
After the interview, Sutton responded saying: "He sounded pretty guilty. I'm not sure he was convinced it was a penalty. It was an admission from him that it wasn't really [a penalty]."
Kris Boyd added: "It doesn't matter if it's a soft boiled egg or a hard boiled egg, it's still a boiled egg."
Rangers boss Derek McIness speaking to Sky Sports:
"I thought we deserved to win. When we were good, we were very good. We mixed the game up. St Mirren are a good team, they test your organisation. We took the game away from them by controlling things. When you get the second goal away from home it takes the game away from them. We could have added to the 2-0 scoreline and been a bit more clinical. We're glad to get out with the three points."
St Mirren boss Craig McLeish said:
"My thoughts on the penalty. If that's the criteria for contact in the box, then fine.
"But Ismeal Kabia gets wiped out in the second half after he puts a cross in. I don't even know if anyone looks at it.
"We get an apology after the game at Ibrox for a penalty that we should have got again where there was a decent amount of contact on it.
"I get that if the ref gives it on the field, then it's maybe difficult for VAR to overturn it.
"I think if he doesn't give it there and then, I don't think VAR gets involved to give it.
"It's a difficult one and it's a frustrating one from our point of view, but there's also bits leading up to it getting to that situation that we need to deal with better.
"I need to be careful with what I'm saying. It's a frustrating one from our point of view."
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8 of November 2026
