DEREK McInnes says he was delighted for match winner Bojan Miovski after the North Macedonian sprung from the substitutes bench to deliver a 1-0 victory over St. Mirren in stoppage time this evening.
The forward latched onto Ryan Naderi’s smart flick-on to lob the advancing Jacob Chapman.
It was a huge moment for the side, as evidenced in the celebrations in the aftermath, and lifted the Gers to a fourth successive victory ahead of Sunday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.
Speaking to RangersTV after the victory, the manager commented: “You’re grateful for any late winner at any time.
“It’s no more than we deserved in terms of chances created and shots on target.
“We were guilty of passing up so many opportunities, but our passages of play, intensity, quickness of passing, and aggression in the first half were first-class for the majority of it.
“Having been an opposition manager when you come to a place like Ibrox, if you can get in unscathed after taking a bit of a doing like it was in the first half, you take some extra belief and encouragement.
“I thought we started the second half somewhat similar to what we had in the first half, but then St. Mirren came onto us, and between the 65th and 85th minute I thought they were the better team.
“We were guilty of a few things, but especially so many bad decisions.
“And when St. Mirren started to come onto us, and there were fewer spaces to play, there’s nothing wrong with playing forward, like we did for the goal.
“Just because we’re Rangers and wear Rangers shirts, we should not think that we’re too good to play that type of football.
“I’m delighted with the perseverance and sheer will of the team. We’ll score a lot of late goals this season – I’m sure of it – so we need to have that trust and belief to keep going.”
Rangers were rampant in the first-half but couldn’t quite breach the St. Mirren goal.
The Paisley side then grew in belief after the interval and were denied by a fantastic save from Ivor Pandur when Fraser Taylor raced through on goal.
For Miovski, the winning moment was his first goal of the campaign, and he’s had to bide his time for opportunities this season.
McInnes said of the goalscorer: “I was so pleased to see it hit the back of the net. It’s not an easy finish.
“It’s a lovely flick from Ryan [Naderi], and a ball played forward that we didn’t do enough, and he times his run to perfection.
“The goalkeeper had a brilliant game for St. Mirren, making save after save, so he still had a lot to do.
“I’m absolutely buzzing for him. He’s a popular boy, and he’ll feel a bit closer to it now.
“His goals-per-minute in the Premiership is really strong, both for Aberdeen and ourselves, and I’m pleased we have someone of his quality, experience and prowess in the building.”
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