Analysis The numbers behind the result
Rangers' late winner masks shot dominance over stubborn Saints
Rangers deserved their narrow victory based on chance creation, but St Mirren's resilience kept the game level until Bojan Miovski's 91st-minute winner. The hosts generated 1.8 xG (via 18 shots, 7 on target) compared to St Mirren's 0.6 xG (10 shots, 2 on target), with Rangers' dominance most evident in their 12 corners to Saints' zero.
Despite only marginally higher possession (54%), Rangers were far more penetrative, with 14 shots inside the box to St Mirren's 8. The away side's 5-4-1 shape limited clear chances (only 2 blocked shots conceded) but offered little offensive threat - their lone shot on target before the 60th minute underlined their defensive focus. Miovski's late intervention (assisted by Ryan Naderi) broke the deadlock after Rangers had steadily increased pressure, taking 7 of their 18 shots in the final 30 minutes.
The decisive stat: Rangers created triple the expected goals (1.8 vs 0.6) that their single-goal margin suggests.