Rangers 3-0 St Mirren: Alfredo Morelos strikes twice as Steven Gerrard’s side cruise to victory

At last, a well-timed reminder of what all the fuss has been about. Questions about the true value of Alfredo Morelos are easier to answer when he performs like this.

Last Thursday night, Steven Gerrard admitted the Colombian’s head had ‘been turned’ by persistent transfer speculation. With Lille still in pursuit of his signature, Morelos produced a sluggish display against Bayer Leverkusen that didn’t exactly exude commitment to the Rangers cause.

Perceptions were very different less than 72 hours on.

Alfredo Morelos scored a brace as Rangers beat St. Mirren 3-0 in their second league match

The Colombian striker scored two quick-fire goals in five minutes to secure three points

Retained in the starting line-up by Gerrard, Morelos scored his first two Premiership goals of 2020 in a 74-minute contribution that carried belated echoes of his excellent form from the previous year. Constantly looking to be involved, he was a key link in a dominant team display and could easily have claimed a hat-trick.

Lille may yet return to the table with an offer than swiftly expedites his exit. For now, though, Morelos has dispelled some of the doubts about his continuing worth to Gerrard’s squad while he remains in Glasgow.

A handshake with Gerrard confirmed the manager’s satisfaction with what he’d seen. Replacing Morelos with new £2.5 million signing Cedric Itten also underlined the depth of options currently available at Ibrox. As it was, the Swiss international didn’t have much chance to impress during his 16-minute debut as a comfortable afternoon for Rangers eased towards its conclusion.

Morelos had netted just once in his previous 13 appearances, so there was no doubt about the major positive from a happy, hassle-free homecoming for Gerrard.

This was his side’s first Premiership fixture at Ibrox since a 1-0 defeat to Hamilton on March 4, a dismal affair that signalled the further unravelling of last season’s challenge. It wasn’t just empty stands that signalled change this time round. Racking up many more days like this one will be a vital element of the attempt to prevent Celtic from winning a tenth successive title.

The Morelos double added to a first half own goal from Conor McCarthy and reflected the control Rangers had throughout the match. It will be a script Gerrard hopes can be reproduced when St Johnstone visit on Wednesday night.

St Mirren face Celtic that evening in the second part of their Old Firm double header. There was no lack of commitment or energy from Jim Goodwin’s side here, but they struggled throughout to contain multiple points of threat. Morelos chief among them.

Gerrard’s decision to stick by the 24-year-old provided the main source of pre-match debate. His comments since full-time in Germany on Thursday has seemingly laid the groundwork for a demotion to the bench.

As it was, Itten was among the substitutes while fellow incomer Kemar Roofe – ‘seven to 10 days behind in his fitness preparations’, according to Gerrard – wasn’t yet ready for a place in the matchday squad.

There was, however, a competitive debut for Jon McLaughlin. Signed on a free after leaving Sunderland, the Scotland goalkeeper stepped in as Allan McGregor was still nursing a knock sustained against Bayer Leverkusen. In truth, this was the easiest of introductions. McLaughlin went through the entire first half here without seeing any meaningful action.

Conor McCarthy scored an own goal midway through to first half to give Rangers the lead

Rangers midfielder Ianis Hagi tries to get away through the St. Mirren defence as he is fouled

A reshaped St Mirren defence – including former Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick – had performed impressively in an opening clean-sheet win over Livingston. This, however, was a different challenge. One that required disciplined positioning and a constant monitoring of runners as the Ibrox outfit sought to stretch them this way and that.

Morelos dropping deep asked the first question. He pinged it wide left to Ryan Kent, before Ryan Jack took over with a cross that led to Ianis Hagi scuffing a difficult shot.

The dangers of switching off were clear for St Mirren. Winger Cammy MacPherson did precisely that when he failed to track Borna Barisic on a driving run that was expertly picked out by a Connor Goldson diagonal. The Croatian’s low, fizzed cross zipped just beyond Morelos’ sliding attempt to connect.

The Colombian had a clearer chance in the 12th minute when released by Hagi, but the near post strike lacked real conviction and was smuggled away by Alnwick.

Greater expertise was needed to deny Morelos three minutes later. Joe Aribo fed off a James Tavernier pass to cut back into the heart of the penalty area. Morelos took it on the spin and got good power behind a drive repelled by a flying Alnwick save.

St Mirren posed a brief flicker of threat when Ilkay Durmas broke. Halted by a perfectly timed tackle from Leon Balogun, it was the only real interruption to the relentless pressure being applied in the opposition direction.

The inevitable happened after 23 minutes. A Barisic out-swinging corner had the visiting defence scrambling, with first Tavernier and then Jack seeing shots blocked by the massed ranks of black-and-white jerseys. Their resistance was admirable but it couldn’t last.

Joe Aribo of Rangers and Richard Tait of St Mirren fight for possession at the Ibrox Stadium

Kamara kept alive the threat by feeding Morelos, who drove a cross from the right into the six-yard area. Goldson sought to home in, but it was Saints defender McCarthy who got the touch that diverted it beyond Alnwick.

The sole consolation for Saints was in the scoreline not increasing before the break. Rangers’ dominance was near-absolute.

Tavernier came closest in truly spectacular style. When another Barisic corner was cleared, the Ibrox skipper controlled with one touch before connecting superbly with a 25-yard volley. Alnwick had to react smartly to deny a player he has known since their early days together at Newcastle.

Opposite number McLaughlin was finally given something to do a minute into the second period. And it led to a flutter of nerves.

Durmas got half a yard on Tavernier to deliver a cross that McLaughlin misjudged on the stretch. Jamie McGrath sought to capitalise with a long, angled drive that was blocked. Durmas then saw a free-kick held by McLaughlin as Saints sought to reshape the story.

The regular plot-line soon resumed, however, pitching Morelos back against Alnwick. Sharp interplay involving Hagi set up the Colombian for an instinctive strike that was heading into the bottom corner of the net before Alnwick scrambled across. Morelos threw up his arms as he wheeled away in frustration. It was a feeling amplified when he then glanced over a header from a Barisic cross.

Morelos finally got his reward in the 69th minute as he timed his run well to meet a Tavernier corner with a firm finish. A roar of delight and relief directly down the lens of a television camera explained what it meant.

Five minutes later, Barisic drove down the left and delivered a cross that was deflected into Morelos’ path. A tap-in completed the scoring.