JIM GOODWIN admits St Mirren had Jak Alnwick to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable at Ibrox as his side went down 3-0 to Rangers.

A first half own goal from Conor McCarthy had the Buddies on the back foot and Alfredo Morelos struck twice in quick succession after the break to clinch a comfortable win for Steven Gerrard's side.

The scoreline would have been significantly worse for St Mirren had Alnwick not produced a string of terrific stops throughout a one-sided encounter.

And Goodwin was pleased to see the former Rangers keeper produce such a showing as the Saints' attentions turn to the visit of Celtic in midweek.

He said: "I don’t think it is a result that we should allow to knock our confidence too much, we won’t be judged on these particular games.

"We have to now try and pick the bones out of it tomorrow, look at what we can do better and try and re-energise us for another extremely difficult game on Wednesday.

"He (Alnwick) was outstanding and he was brilliant last week against Livingston. Today in particular he has had three or four really good saves to keep the scoreline respectable – if 3-0 is respectable.

"I do not fault the effort of anyone. To come here second game of the season when match fitness is not what you would like it to be is always going to be a difficult task physically. Our season is not defined on these games v Rangers or Celtic."