It was not to be and the year ended in completely miserable fashion for Rangers who have a tough fixture coming up at Motherwell on Tuesday,
Le Guen had demanded a reaction from his players in the wake of the miserable defeat in Inverness but he was contemplating going a goal behind after only 14 minutes.
The Ibrox fans could barely believe their eyes as Richard Brittain blasted St Mirren ahead from the edge of the box with a superb strike.
The Rangers defence did not deal with Mark Corcoran, ostensibly St Mirren’s lone striker, as he worked an angle on the left side and found Brittain perfectly.
Fortunately for the Frenchman, Rangers’ response was swift as they produced an equaliser in 19 minutes, courtesy of the returning Kris Boyd.
Charlie Adam produced a good corner from the right side and Boyd rose well to power a header into the Saints net.
Boyd then had the opportunity to turn the match in Rangers’ favour when St Mirren’s mature but normally reliable defender Andy Millen gave the ball away to Libor Sionko in 26 minutes.
Unselfishly, Sionko played Boyd in on the left side of the box but his right foot shot was rather weak and was blocked by the legs of Saints’ keeper Tony Bullock.
Strangely, Rangers failed to capitalise on their levelling of the match and found it hard going to cause any further problems to the Paisley defence which, as you would expect, was packed.
Indeed the only effort of not was a looping Adam free kick which came off the top of the St Mirren bar.
There was an alarming moment seven minutes into the second half when Corcoran was gifted a chance to fire St Mirren into the lead.
Karl Svensson lost possession to Corcoran just inside his own half and suddenly he had a clear run on the Rangers goal. Brahim Hemdani raced back desperately and perhaps did enough as Corcoran pulled his shot wide.
Then the onslaught began. Rangers battered Saints with everything they had but could not find a way through.
Adam shot wide in 54 minutes then Novo pulled a right foot effort past the post when Boyd was waiting in the middle two minutes later.
However, even when the little Spaniard did the right thing in 59 minutes Boyd contrived to miss.
Ferguson brilliantly worked the ball wide to Novo whose cross was good but Boyd miscued on the six-yard line.
]The captain was again the instigator in 66 minutes with a great pass for Burke, who had replaced Adam in 58 minutes. Burke’s cross was good but Sionko’s shot was blocked for a corner by Broadfoot.
It was another day of frustration for Le Guen and his team and he knows that results like this cannot continue.
RANGERS (4-4-2): 22-McGregor; 20-Hutton, 7-Hemdani, 19-Svensson, 5-Papac; 14-Sionko, 6-Ferguson, 7-Clement, 25-Adam (17-Burke 58); 10-Novo, 15-Boyd.
Subs not used: 1-Klos, 11-Rae, 18-Murray, 23-Sebo, 29-Stanger, 42-Lennon.
Bookings: Novo (82)
ST MIRREN (4-5-1): 1-Bullock; 2-van Zanten, 3-Broadfoot, 4-Millen, 16-Maxwell; 17-Reid, 7-Murray (22-McKenna 45), 12-Brittain, 14-Brady, 8-Lappin; 15-Corcoran (27-Gemmill 89)
Subs not used: 24-Smith, 6-Potter, 9-Sutton, 21-McCay, 41-McGinn.
Bookings: Brittain (14)
Ref: Eddie Smith