RANGERS NEED TO BE MORE CLINICAL

Steven Gerrard’s side certainly weren’t short of chances here and that will please the Ibrox boss. He could have done with the second goal coming a bit earlier, though, to ensure this game was put to bed as quickly as possible.

Ahead through Connor McCarthy’s own goal, it took until the 68th minute for Rangers to make sure of the points as Alfredo Morelos headed home from a James Tavernier corner.

Not killing games off proved costly for Rangers last term and they cannot afford a repeat this time around. If there was one complaint from an overall straightforward afternoon, that would be it from Gerrard’s side.

JAK ALNWICK SAVED ST MIRREN

Having said all that about Rangers needing to be more clinical, you have to give credit to keeper Jak Alnwick. Chances were hard to come by for the Englishman at Ibrox and he was never going to be a first choice in a side that are expected to challenge for the title.

But he is a shrewd signing by boss Jim Goodwin and his performance here deserves recognition. A couple of his saves were eye-catching, but many were just good, solid blocks that you need your keeper to be making.

If Alnwick can continue to do just that in the coming months, he will more than repay Goodwin’s faith in him after bringing him to Paisley this summer.

ANOTHER STEADY SHOWING FROM BALOGUN

Two games and two clean sheets is an ideal start to Scottish football for Leon Balogun but it is difficult to tell how good he is or can be. Rarely tested against Aberdeen last weekend, he would cruise through this encounter on his home debut.

One block on Ilkay Durmus showed his speed over the ground and precise timing in his challenge. Gerrard chopped and changed at the back regularly last term but Balogun has started well in terms of making a position his own.