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Conor McCarthy’s last-minute winner saw St Mirren stun Rangers in the Scottish League Cup with their 3-2 win inflicting Steven Gerrard’s first loss of the season.
Gerrard saw another chance to claim his first trophy as the Rangers boss slipped through his fingers as McCarthy’s injury time winner watched St Mirren break Ibrox’s team record of 27 games beaten.
Gers was looking for a spot in the Betfred Cup semifinals after Connor Goldson overtook them early.
Paisley’s men responded with Jamie McGrath’s double before Steven Davis thought he had forced extra time with his late strike.
But there was still time for defender McCarthy to appear with the precious goal that gave Jim Goodwin’s team a sensational 3-2 victory at SMISA Stadium.
The Rangers looked imperious this year and their fans were hoping their team would march to Hampden to lift their first trophy in a decade after seeing bitter rivals Celtic walk out of competition in the knockout stages.
But instead, it is the Saints who return to the national stadium for the first time since lifting the League Cup in 2013 after becoming the first Scottish team in nine months to topple the Premiership leaders.
There was a brief delay at the start after referee Andrew Dallas stopped the warm-up, and fourth official David Dickinson took over.
Steven Davis’ late draw seemed to have rescued the Rangers until McCarthy’s last-minute winner
But the Rangers were eager to make up for lost time and took the opener in seven minutes.
Joe Aribo released Scott Arfield into the area, but the Buddies were only able to clear their center to Goldson, who deliberately advanced before punching former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Bongani Zungu suffered a sore spot when Ethan Erahon planted his studs on the South African’s ankle, but Dickinson decided it was only worthy of a yellow.
Gerrard had made four other changes to his squad after Sunday’s win at Dundee United, but there was a disjointed look on them. Goodwin did brilliantly to nullify James Tavernier’s 17-goal threat when Gers swept the full-back.
Calvin Bassey sat deeper than Borna Barisic normally does on the left back and Zungu has yet to find his groove in midfield. Cedric Itten, who started in Alfredo Morelos’ place after the Colombian was ruled out for his elbow on Dundee United’s Mark Connolly, also found it difficult to get involved in a quiet first 30 minutes.
The great Swiss hitman landed a header on goal from a Tavernier corner as the Rangers finally created their only other clear first-half opportunity 10 minutes before halftime, but McGrath was well placed on the line to punt.
And from nearly going 2-0 down, the Saints found themselves tied after 40 minutes.
Bassey didn’t seem comfortable in his early dealings with Dylan Connolly and was caught on the wrong side again when he broke into the Irishman to hand Dickinson the easier decision to award the penalty, coldly hidden down the middle by McGrath.
The Rangers also lived dangerously early in the second period when Connolly’s center went over Allan McGregor’s head before hitting the crossbar.
It was a warning that Gerrard’s team ignored and found themselves behind Scottish opposition for the second time this season in the 53rd minute.
McCarthy scored in the second minute of injury time
The Saints pounced on Leon Balogun’s loose pass, freeing Connolly down the right. Jon Obika pushed back his cross for McGrath, who again refused to panic in the big moment when he switched the ball to his left foot before beating McGregor again.
Gerrard responded by replacing Bassey and Arfield with Barisic and Davis, but Ryan Kent’s attempt to rip off his team with a penalty was spotted by Dickinson, who admonished the Rangers winger for throwing himself to the ground after passing Marcus Fraser.
Tavernier thought it was equal in the 65th minute, but Kemar Roofe let the ball go out of the game before crossing.
It was a full cavalry charge from the Rangers as the game entered the final 20 minutes. Goldson nodded wide with a free head butt when time seemed to be running out.
But with two minutes to go, Davis thought he had rescued Gers, pinning the ball to the ground and onto Alnwick’s desperate reach after Tavernier’s free kick hit the post.
To St Mirren’s credit, they didn’t give up hope and immediately raced up the field to force a series of corners. McGregor did it brilliantly to avoid a header from Richard Tait, but could do nothing when McCarthy struck the winning goal from close range.
Goodwin lost his cool in the celebrations and was sent off for an incendiary gesture, but returned to the field full time to celebrate with his jubilant players.
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