Jack Butland and Dujon Sterling had to accept accountability.
In a week where Ibrox chiefs have contacted the SFA to ask questions over officiating, the team on the pitch had no answers. It was jubilant St Mirren who had all of them. Rangers’ defeat was purely on themselves. Their keeper and a woeful opening period backed-up by a late howler from their defender. Butland had to race away from the last game with a new baby on the way as Rangers briefly made some ground in the title race. This time, he made another dash which helped give it straight back.
Butland’s error of judgement and concession of a first-half penalty which Oisin Smyth stylishly sank saw Rangers trail. Philippe Clement needed the right responses from within his own squad and he got some after the restart after making switches. Subs Nicolas Raskin and Danilo injected life into the Ibrox team and the Brazilian bagged his fourth in five games to secure a leveller which was fully merited.
But, in the end, another awful gaffe left them defeated by Saints in the league for the first time in 13 years. Sterling was mugged in his own half in the closing stages and led to a winner from sub Caolan Boyd-Munce which sparked scenes of wild joy in the home stands.
For Robinson, it was a terrific victory for a side firmly in form as well as the top-six after a third-straight win. The Paisley team gave their visitors a torrid time prior to the interval.
They had to ride their luck at times after the restart, but they also hit the woodwork themselves before Boyd-Munce won it. It was another huge step in the right direction for Saints, but a massive Rangers misstep entirely of their own making.
The Ibrox team’s second-half showing was better, but, on a night when Leon Balogun limped off, it’s now a 12-point deficit to Celtic at the top. First-half, they were nowhere near it. Saints were better across the pitch and deserved their interval lead.
Smyth’s penalty capped that strong showing which began when Declan John, who signed an extension to his Saints deal until the summer, raced clear and delivered a ball which Toyosi Olusanya couldn’t properly gather. Both those players returned to the starting-line up along with Alex Gogic.
Olusanya also failed to spot runners in the middle when Balogun began to start limping in the footrace and had to be replaced by Robin Propper. Roland Idowu slashed a wild volley over during the period of adjustment and, although Rangers had the odd foray during that period, they were unable to engineer much meaningful or suitably work keeper Ellery Balcombe.
When Butland was asked his first question, the answer was weak. Balcombe’s long punt caught the Rangers backline sleeping and Greg Kiltie was able to burst through into open space. Butland came out to meet him and slammed into the attacker as they both got to the ball. Referee David Dickison had no doubt and VAR backed him up.
Smyth took the responsibility from 12 yards and displayed composure and authority to send Butland the wrong way with a beautiful spot-kick. It was up to Clement’s team to try and mount an instant response and frustration was growing. Clement and Vaclav Cerny were booked after an incident when Marcus Fraser appeared to block off Hamza Igamane.
The Moroccan did escape to fashion a volley, but it was straight at Balcombe and the visitors simply had to find more after the restart. Having lost their places to Connor Barron and Nedim Bajrami in the starting line-up, Raskin and Danilo took them back as Clement made interval alterations. It worked.
Immediately there was a threat as James Tavernier flashed a ball across the box before curling a free-kick inches wide of target. The captain’s next delivery ended up with Izamane, who spooned over after decent chest control.
Danilo was next to have a crack with a deflected effort which ended up down the throat of a waiting Balcombe in the middle of the sticks. Nonetheless, these were long-awaited positive signs for Rangers and the pressure was building onto the Saints approaching the hour mark.
Suddenly, from being underworked, Balcombe was being peppered and eventually his clean sheet would go up in smoke through a frantic period. Firstly, Cerny escaped down the right channel and unleashed a fierce drive that rattled against the frame of the goal.
It was still shaking when Balcombe had to shovel a shot from Tavernier clear and also make a miraculous goal-line stop from Danilo. However, the Brazilian would not be denied and grabbed the equaliser from close-range.
Cerny’s cross was deflected into the air and kept alive by Raskin. Saints couldn’t get it clear as it bobbled in the box and the alert Danilo stepped in to fire into the net. The momentum of the match had totally switched. Rangers were all over it as they swarmed at their hosts and Igamane blazed a glorious chance over having played a sweet one-two with Cerny.
Saints were toiling, yet still a threat. They had a handball shout against Diomande in the box and, from the resultant corner, Propper nudged against his own bar.
With 10 minutes to go, it was there to be won. And, in stunning fashion, Saints did so dramatically in stoppage-time. Sterling was guilty, Caught in possession by sub Jonah Ayunga who surged forward and crossed for youngster Evan Mooney.
The kid, also off the bench, laid it back for a third sub Boyd-Munce to crack a special beyond Butland from the edge of the box. It was a magical moment for the home side and the fans who celebrated wildly.
Alternatively, a nightmare for Rangers, who didn’t need to look hard to find the reasons for the loss.