Rangers will look to finally get their first Premiership win of the season as they face a tricky trip to Paisley at lunchtime on Sunday.
Rangers have made an abysmal start to their Premiership campaign, as they have drawn 1-1 in both their opening two matches away at Motherwell and home to Dundee.
The Teddy Bears did progress to the quarter-finals of the League Cup following an unconvincing 4-2 victory over League One Alloa Athletic last Saturday, so it was no surprise they struggled in Europe on Tuesday night.
Russell Martin’s side were three goals down to Club Brugge inside the opening 20 minutes at Ibrox, and whilst Danilo pulled a goal back in the second half – a goal which landed our man Kevin a 20/21 winner – Rangers’ Champions League hopes appear all but over.
St Mirren have just a point to show from their opening two Premiership matches, as a late Luke McCowan goal saw them leave Celtic Park empty-handed, whilst they played out a lacklustre goalless draw with Motherwell the game after.
However, Stephen Robinson’s men did advance to the quarter-finals of the League Cup last weekend, as they defeated Hearts on penalties, setting up a tie away at Kilmarnock.
How the bookies view it: Buddies look big
BoyleSports have Rangers as unconvincing 4/6 favourites to leave Paisley with their first league win of the season.
St Mirren look an appealing 14/5 to claim their first Premiership win of the campaign, whilst the draw is also 14/5 at BoyleSports.
Head to head: Gers to struggle against Saints again?
Rangers won the opening meeting last season 2-1 at Ibrox, but St Mirren avoided defeat in each of the next three, winning two of them.
Players to watch: O’Hara to make his mark against Gers again?
Mark O’Hara has an excellent goal-scoring record against Rangers, with The Saints captain scoring seven times against the Glasgow giants. One of those came in their most recent meeting, and looks a value bet at 9/2 at BoyleSports to get on the scoresheet here.
Djeidi Gassama has looked good since signing from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer. The ex-Owls winger has scored four times already this season for Rangers, and is 15/8 at BoyleSports to get his first Premiership goal.
Predicted line-ups:
St Mirren will be without Liam Donnelly through injury.
Following his red card against Dundee, Nasser Djiga will miss out here through suspension, whilst Jayden Meghoma is expected to make his Premiership debut at left back.
St Mirren: George, Richardson, Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton, John, Baccus, Phillips, O’Hara, Mandron, Ayunga
Rangers: Butland, Aarons, Souttar, Fernandez, Meghoma, Raskin, Rothwell, Diomande, Antman, Gassama, Danilo
Anything else catch the eye?
With the exception of one and a half games this season, Rangers have been poor, with Russell Martin’s men an absolute shambles defensively whilst looking toothless going forward, and I see them struggling at Paisley once again on Sunday.
As mentioned above, the Saints are unbeaten in each of their previous three meetings with Rangers (W2-D1-L0), notching on multiple occasions in each of them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they repeated that feat on Sunday at an appealing 7/4 at BoyleSports.
Both Teams to Score & Over 2.5 Goals was a winning selection in three of those four meetings last season – including both in Paisley (2-1 & 2-2) – and a repeat pays 10/11 at BoyleSports, which also appeals.
GambleAware