MCGINN STRIKE SINKS RANGERS

The Saints substitute grabbed the only goal of the game to give the Scottish Premier League's bottom side a major confidence boost, as well as subjecting Rangers to their first defeat of the season.

This was Rangers' last ever visit to Love Street before St Mirren move to their new stadium in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley and McGinn's strike was a fitting way to mark the occasion.

St Mirren almost went ahead after just seven minutes when Steven Robb punted into the box and the ball broke for Garry Brady who had a go with a low shot which fizzed just past Allan McGregor's right-hand post.

Kevin Thomson had a crack at goal for Rangers when he was gifted possession by Gary Mason but fired straight at the keeper from 22 yards and the ball was hooked out of play before Jean-Claude Darcheville could pounce on the rebound.

The midfielder was threatening again when he ran onto a Charlie Adam ball before seeing his thunderous shot touched over by Mark Howard as Rangers attempted to crank up the pressure with the half-time whistle approaching.

Rangers continued to search for the elusive opener after the break and were not too far away when Madjid Bougherra nodded just over from close range from a Davis corner.

Despite Rangers' best efforts, it was St Mirren who took the lead with 76 minutes gone through substitute McGinn, who had been on the park for just five minutes.

Billy Mehmet's header was collected by McGinn inside the box and he sent a superb curling effort past the helpless McGregor into the goalkeeper's top right hand corner, claiming his fourth goal for Saints.

Only the woodwork prevented Rangers from drawing level in the final minutes when Sasa Papac set Kris Boyd up for what looked certain to be the equaliser only to see his header crash off the post.