Kris Boyd scored his 100th goal for Rangers as he helped his side progress to the Scottish Cup final with a comfortable 3-0 semi-final win over St Mirren at Hampden on Saturday. Andrius Velicka had given Rangers the lead after in the second minute when he poked the ball home from six yards out before Pedro Mendes was taken off injured shortly before half-time.
Boyd then calmly slotted past Mark Howard after good work from Steven Davis to score his 100th goal for the Gers in 145 appearances since joining the club in January 2006. Kenny Miller, on as a second-half substitute for Velicka, then volleyed home the third as the Ibrox side eased their way to the Scottish Cup final where they will play the winner's of Sunday's tie between Falkirk and Dunfermline on May 30.
Rangers showed they meant business from the start and Velicka headed wide from a Steven Smith cross before he gave his side the lead after just 74 seconds. A good run and pass from Davis played in Boyd and his blocked shot landed at the feet of Lithuanian international Velicka who prodded home high into the net from six yards out.
Mendes came close to doubling their lead after 10 minutes with a curling shot from the edge of the box after being teed up by Velicka but Mark Howard did well to turn it round the post. As the game progressed St Mirren grew in confidence and Neil Alexander had to be at his best to tip a powerful Steven Thomson drive from 25 yards out over the bar as it headed for the top corner of the net.
Boyd should have done better when he headed high and wide under no pressure in the box from a decent Christian Dailly cross after 25 minutes. Rangers suffered a blow in the 38th minute when Portuguese midfielder Mendes had to be stretchered off after taking a heavy knock to the knee following a high challenge from Will Haining. Velicka could have had his second of the game a minute before the break when he raced away from defender Mo Camara in the box after collecting a good ball from Davis but the striker's wayward shot went well wide.
St Mirren fans were screaming for a penalty four minutes after the restart when Andy Dorman went down in the box under a challenge from Steven Whittaker but referee Calum Murray indicated the defender had won the ball. In the 51st minute Boyd laid off the ball to strike partner Velicka whose bobbling shot from 25 yards went straight to Howard before Stephen McGinn replied for the Buddies and sent a low drive just wide of Alexander's post.
Boyd notched up a century of goals for Rangers in the 66th minute after a great run from the impressive Davis. The midfielder ran at the St Mirren defence before releasing Boyd who calmly sent a low angled shot past Howard to bring up his century. Davis was involved again as Miller, on as a sub for Velicka, made it 3-0 just four minutes later.
The Northern Ireland international won a header in the box and played it back for Miller who guided a volley past the keeper from eight yards out. Howard did well in the 75th minute to deny Miller his second when he made an excellent point blank save at the feet of the striker as he unleashed a powerful volley from just yards out. Maurice Edu then came close late on with a drive from the edge of the box as Rangers eased to victory.