Rangers 2 - 0 St Johnstone

by Stevie Miller

Veteran midfielder Lee McCulloch scored Rangers' second goal

Rangers booked their place in the Co-operative Insurance Cup final with a semi-final victory over St Johnstone at a snow-covered Hampden Park.

Steven Davis put the Ibrox side in front with a close-range shot after his initial effort was blocked.

Experienced midfielder Lee McCulloch doubled Rangers' advantage through a low drive from the edge of the box.

Saints keeper Graeme Smith saved Steven Naismith's penalty as Rangers carved out late opportunities on the break.

Both sides took to the field wearing their change strip in front of a disappointing crowd at Hampden Park - perhaps affected by the snow which continued to fall heavily throughout the first half.

Rangers switched goalkeepers with Neil Alexander coming in for Allan McGregor, while Steven Smith replaced Sasa Papac at left-back.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes changed tactics and personnel for the match, with Kenny Deuchar relegated to the bench and on-loan Cillian Sheridan operating as a lone striker.

Nacho Novo, often a thorn in St Johnstone's side, carved out the first opportunity, but shot straight at Smith from the inside-right channel.

Dave Mackay spared Smith's blushes after Novo sprang the offside trap and raced past the onrushing keeper, only to see his net-bound shot cleared off the line by the former Livingston man.

Murray Davidson passed up a golden chance for St Johnstone when he flashed a header wide from five yards following a Gary Irvine cross.

Davis should have put Rangers ahead after working a brilliant one-two with John Fleck before prodding the ball past Smith, but Irvine scrambled the ball off the line.

The Northern Ireland international made amends moments later, latching onto Novo's cross and lashing the ball home at the second attempt from close range.

David Weir almost put the ball into his own net as Liam Craig's free-kick flew into the Rangers box, however the Ibrox captain looked a relieved man as the ball went just over the bar.

However, Rangers were getting a grip of the game in the midfield and McCulloch doubled their advantage following fine build-up play with a low, driven shot from the edge of the box which slipped under the body of Smith.

McInnes brought on Steven Milne at half-time, and the move almost paid instant dividends as the ball cannoned off the forward in the Rangers box and fell to Sheridan, but his effort was saved easily by Neil Alexander.

The Perth side were showing more in the way of attacking intent, but, despite plenty of possession in the Rangers half, they were finding it hard to create any clear opportunities.

Rangers replaced Kyle Lafferty and Novo with Andrew Little and Steven Naismith, and the former Kilmarnock forward almost scored with his first touch, but his close-range shot flew over the bar.

Naismith was handed another chance to score when he went down under a challenge from Irvine and referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot, however Smith dived low to his left to save the penalty.

Rangers looked dangerous and John Fleck should really have put the tie beyond doubt, but left himself too tight an angle after taking it past Smith.

Naismith burst through the Saints rearguard once again as Rangers took control, but, after going down in the box again, his low effort was cleared off the line again by Irvine.

Live text and stats

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Co-op Cup

Home Team	Score	Away Team	Time
Rangers	2-0	St Johnstone	HT

Davis 26 McCulloch 37

Rangers

25 Alexander
03 Weir
16 Whittaker
26 Smith
66 Wilson
06 McCulloch
07 Davis
08 Thomson
10 Novo
27 Lafferty
29 Fleck

Substitutes

01 McGregor,
21 Broadfoot,
69 Wylde,
14 Naismith,
48 Little

St Johnstone

01 Smith
02 Irvine
03 Grainger
05 MacKay
06 Gartland
04 Morris
07 Millar
08 Davidson
10 Craig
11 Morais
09 Sheridan

Substitutes

15 Main,
12 Anderson,
14 Moon,
16 Milne,
17 MacDonald

Ref: McDonald

RANGERS

ST JOHNSTONE

Possession

Rangers 51%
St Johnstone 49%

Attempts on target

Rangers 5
St Johnstone 5

Attempts off target

Rangers 0
St Johnstone 3

Corners

Rangers 0
St Johnstone 5

Fouls

Rangers 4
St Johnstone 6

Half Time
45:00+0:07 It is the end of the first-half.
42:11 Gary Irvine challenges John Fleck unfairly and gives away a free kick. John Fleck takes the direct free kick.
40:54 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kyle Lafferty. Graeme Smith takes the indirect free kick.
40:05 Centre by Steven Davis, save by Graeme Smith.
38:54 Nacho Novo is ruled offside. Daniel Grainger takes the indirect free kick.
38:37 The assistant referee flags for offside against Nacho Novo. Graeme Smith restarts play with the free kick.
38:00 Liam Craig takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Murray Davidson takes a shot. Save by Neil Alexander.
36:57 Steven Whittaker provided the assist for the goal.
36:57 GOAL - Lee McCulloch:Rangers 2 - 0 St Johnstone Lee McCulloch fires in a goal from long range low into the middle of the goal. Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone.
35:37 Jody Morris has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
35:10 Filipe Morais takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Steven Smith.
34:36 Unfair challenge on Liam Craig by Steven Davis results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Filipe Morais from left wing, David Weir manages to make a clearance.
32:46 Filipe Morais takes a shot. Save made by Neil Alexander.
32:33 Chris Millar fouled by Lee McCulloch, the ref awards a free kick. Chris Millar takes the free kick.
32:21 The ball is crossed by Gary Irvine, clearance made by Kevin Thomson.
32:10 The ball is swung over by Daniel Grainger, clearance made by David Weir.
31:46 Centre by Liam Craig, blocked by Danny Wilson.
31:14 The ball is delivered by Steven Davis, clearance made by Graham Gartland.
30:43 David MacKay challenges Kyle Lafferty unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steven Davis restarts play with the free kick.
29:16 Jody Morris produces a cross, Murray Davidson concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee McCulloch. Free kick taken by Neil Alexander.
28:47 Corner taken by Liam Craig from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by John Fleck.
28:41 Filipe Morais produces a cross, blocked by Steven Smith.
25:34 The assist for the goal came from Nacho Novo.
25:34 GOAL - Steven Davis:Rangers 1 - 0 St Johnstone Steven Davis gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the top left corner of the goal. Rangers 1-0 St Johnstone.
25:31 Centre by Nacho Novo,
24:40 Steven Davis takes a shot. Clearance by Chris Millar.
23:07 The ball is swung over by Kevin Thomson.
22:53 Shot by Kyle Lafferty. Blocked by Graham Gartland.
22:28 Filipe Morais takes a shot. Kevin Thomson gets a block in.
22:06 Corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig, Neil Alexander makes a save.
21:58 The ball is swung over by Liam Craig, Steven Whittaker gets a block in.
21:42 Filipe Morais crosses the ball, clearance made by Lee McCulloch.
19:22 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kyle Lafferty on Graham Gartland. Graeme Smith takes the direct free kick.
17:59 Cillian Sheridan has a lobbed shot. Save made by Neil Alexander.
16:04 Gary Irvine delivers the ball, Murray Davidson produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
14:47 The ball is crossed by Liam Craig, Neil Alexander makes a save.
14:07 Liam Craig challenges Nacho Novo unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steven Davis crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, David MacKay manages to make a clearance.
11:46 The ball is swung over by Nacho Novo, clearance by Gary Irvine.
8:36 Centre by Gary Irvine, Foul by Cillian Sheridan on Neil Alexander, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Neil Alexander.
8:07 Drilled right-footed shot by Filipe Morais. Clearance by Lee McCulloch.
7:41 Jody Morris decides to take a short corner.
6:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Cillian Sheridan by Danny Wilson. Liam Craig delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel.
5:03 John Fleck fouled by Gary Irvine, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Wilson takes the free kick.
4:36 Nacho Novo takes a shot. David MacKay makes a clearance.
4:21 The ball is sent over by Filipe Morais, clearance made by David Weir.
2:45 Shot by Jody Morris from just outside the area goes over the net.
0:45 Nacho Novo produces a cross, save made by Graeme Smith.
0:00 The referee gets the game underway.

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Sport Forward

Wednesday, February 3, 2010