St Mirren were edged out 2-1 by Rangers at Ibrox in our final match of 2025.
Goals from Thelo Aasgaard and Emmanuel Fernandez either side of half-time gave the home side the impetus. Marcus Fraser saw a penalty saved by Jack Butland with less than 15 minutes remaining, though Saints would pull one back through Mikael Mandron to set up a big finish. The Buddies couldn't find an equaliser though and saw their unbeaten December run come to an end.
Stephen Robinson made two changes for Saints with Jayden Richardson and Mandron coming into the starting 11 in place of Conor McMenamin and Dan Nlundulu.
The home side dominated possession in the early proceedings but didn't create anything to trouble Shamal George in the Saints goal. The Buddies carved open the best early opportunity just after 20 minutes when Mandron slipped the ball through for Richardson. His effort was tame and straight at Butland with the offside flag raised in any case.
Rangers came close a few minutes later when Djeidi Gassama got to the byline and cut it back for Nicolas Raskin. The Belgian midfielder slid it inches wide of the far post in what was the best chance to that point.
Jonah Ayunga won a free-kick in a good area 25 yards from goal, but Declan John sent his effort high and wide just before 30 minutes. Saints were then forced into a first-half change when Ayunga went down injured deep in the Rangers half with just under 10 minutes of the opening 45 remaining. He was replaced by Nlundulu.
The home side broke the deadlock soon after. A short corner saw Jayden Meghoma swing the ball into the box to meet Aasgaard who headed home. Rangers almost added a quickfire second goal with George at full-stretch to push a Mikey Moore volley onto the bar just a minute later.
The Buddies started the second-half brightly with good running from Roland Idowu seeing the midfielder make his way into the Rangers box and pulling it back for Mandron. The forward got a powerful shot away but was denied by a terrific save from Butland. Nlundulu tried to follow up though couldn't force home before the offside flag was raised.
But despite Saints' early pressure after the break, it was Rangers who would extend their lead on 52 minutes. Youssef Chermiti's cross from the left found Fernandez who slid it low through the legs of George to double the hosts' lead.
Saints were presented with a big opportunity to reduce the deficit with less than 15 minutes remaining when a VAR check saw us given a penalty for a handball against Fernandez. But the Buddies couldn't convert with Fraser's attempt saved by Butland.
The Buddies would pull a goal back with eight minutes remaining. Miguel Freckleton rose the highest to meet a cross but was denied by another outstanding Butland stop. However, Mandron was on hand to force home on the follow up.
Mikael Mandron's 11th goal of the season wasn't enough to prevent Saints falling to defeat at Ibrox (Image: Craig Brown)
Try as they might, the Saints couldn't find the equaliser and that saw their five match unbeaten run in the month of December come to an end as 2025 drew to a close.
Robinson's men will look to get back to picking up points with a run of four league matches over 11 days starting with a trip to Fir Park to face Motherwell on Saturday.
Full-Time: Rangers 2-1 St Mirren
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips (Donnelly 87), Gogic, Idowu (McMenamin 57), John, Ayunga (Nlundulu 37, Mooney 88), Mandron
Subs: Mullen, Tanser, Sobowale, Taylor, Dijksteel
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier (c), Souttar (Nsiala 79), Fernandez, Meghoma, Raskin, Diomande (Curtis 90), Aasgaard (Barron 69), Moore (Aarons 69), Gassama, Chermiti (Danilo 79)
Subs: Kelly, Dowell, Matondo, Cameron
Referee: Ryan Lee
AR1: Frank Connor
AR2: David Dunne
Fourth Official: Gavin Duncann
VAR: John Beaton
Attendance: 50,526
