Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over St. Mirren on September 9, 2026, thanks to a dramatic late goal from Bojan Miovski. The striker, who had been a forgotten man at the club and considered fifth-choice, came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the closing moments of the match at Ibrox.
Mana gered by Derek McInnes, Rangers had dominated the first half, creating numerous scoring opportunities but failing to convert. St. Mirren, under the guidance of Craig McLeish, staged a strong comeback in the second half, even squandering a clear chance to take the lead.
The victory marks Rangers' third consecutive 1-0 win and keeps them within five points of Celtic in the league standings. The win, however, was hard-fought, with Rangers struggling for fluency for large parts of the game, particularly in the second half. Manager Derek McInnes acknowledged the team's need for improvement, stating that the club could not use the closed transfer window as an excuse for their performance.
Miovski's late heroics came as a surprise given his previous situation at the club. He had reportedly considered leaving at the end of the transfer window due to dissatisfaction with how his situation was being handled. With new signings like Kevin Kelsy, and established forwards such as Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti, Miovski found himself lower in the pecking order.
The match saw Rangers adopt a 4-4-2 formation initially, with new signing Kevin Kelsy partnering Ryan Naderi up front and Badredine Bouanani making his first start on the wing. Despite early pressure and several chances, including shots from Naderi and Nico Raskin, Rangers could not break down the St. Mirren defense. Goalkeeper Jacob Chapman made a series of saves to keep the visitors in the game.
St. Mirren showed resilience, with defenders like Louis Jackson making crucial tackles. Calvin Ramsay nearly scored an own goal in the first half, but Chapman was again alert. The first half ended goalless, a frustrating outcome for Rangers given their territorial dominance and the volume of chances created.
In the second half, McInnes introduced Min-su Kim and Findlay Curtis, replacing Kelsy and Bouanani, as the team shifted to a 4-2-3-1 formation. St. Mirren grew into the game, with Ramsay hitting the crossbar with a free-kick and Fraser Taylor missing a golden opportunity to score. News of Celtic taking a lead in their own match intensified the pressure on Rangers.
The introduction of Miovski and Cammy Devlin in the later stages signaled a more desperate push for a goal. The decisive moment came when a long punt from goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was flicked on by Naderi, allowing Miovski to race clear and dink the ball over the advancing Chapman.
The win sets Rangers up for a crucial Premier Sports Cup tie against Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday, followed by a league fixture at Parkhead. Manager McInnes was visibly emotional after the final whistle, reflecting the tension and relief of the late victory. Despite the win, the team's performance has raised questions about their consistency and ability to convert dominance into goals, a challenge McInnes will need to address as the season progresses.