ALFREDO MORELOS hit the century of goals when he scored the winner in Rangers’ 2-1 comeback victory over St Mirren in Paisley yesterday.
The controversial Colombian hitman completed a spirited response by Steven Gerrard’s men when he stopped to head a right-wing cross from James Tavernier beyond the stranded Jak Alnwick.
The Saints had gone ahead after just four minutes through Connor Ronan’s spectacular 30-yard strike, only for the visitors to claim two goals in an electrifying one-minute-and-46-seconds burst.
CENTURIAN…Alfredo Morelos heads in his 100th goal for Rangers and claims the win against St Mirren.
The equaliser came via the penalty spot after Alan Power had brought down Ianis Hagi just inside the area and Kemar Roofe calmly thumped the award past the keeper.
Moments later, Morelos struck with his points-clinching header in his 199th appearance for the club. He celebrated by racing into the crowd behind the goal to earn a booking from referee Steven McLean.
As a consequence of the win, Gerrard’s side moved back to the top of the table, three points above Hearts, who drew 1-1 with Dundee, and Dundee United, who beat Motherwell 2-1, and four ahead of Celtic, who overcame St Johnstone 2-0 at Parkhead at the weekend with goals from Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis and Josip Juranovic, from the penalty spot.
Delighted Gers gaffer Gerrard, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “That’s what we want our number nines to do, run through the goal. We know we have the service from the sides.
THE THINKER…Steven Gerrard is pensive as he discusses the match with Sky Sports.
“It was a fantastic cross from James, but 100 goals at any level for any club is a magnificent achievement.
“I said last week he will smash 100 and, hopefully, go on and get many more for Rangers.
“Kemar Roofe, 50th appearance, 26 goals, we’ve got two poachers/goalscorers in our armoury now which is fantastic for me.
“Over the course of a campaign it is not always going to be pretty, you are not always going to find your style and passing rhythm.
“The conditions weren’t really for us on this occasion, but what we did was find a way to win. All in all a lot of positives, but they all came after the first 25 minutes because St Mirren were better in the opening period.”
UNHAPPY…Jim Goodwin rues St Mirren’s mistakes against Rangers.
Paisley chief Jim Goodwin added: “Really disappointed not to have anything to show from what was a decent performance.
“We were comfortable and the disappointing thing for me was the manner of the goals we conceded.
“When you are playing against Rangers or Celtic, if they cut you open and play some fantastic free-flowing football you hold your hands up and say it was a good goal.
“But it was two really poor goals from our point of view. The penalty, when Alan Power watches it back he will agree he doesn’t need to try to nick the ball, if he just jockeys Ianis Hagi he is probably not going to do a great deal with it.
“You stick a leg out and unfortunately players are going to go over and in the modern day it is penalty.
“The second goal is a real killer blow. Five minutes before half-time, we need to manage the game better. We have to get to half-time level pegging and we need to defend that cross better.
“Conor McCarthy gets himself into a good area at the near post and he needs to clear it – as simple as that. Morelos is never going to miss that two yards out.”
