It’s our trophy – St Mirren send Premier Sports Cup warning to opponents Rangers

Ryan Carr insists St Mirren are geared up to protect their status as Premier Sports Cup holders as they prepare for the last-16 tie against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday.

The Buddies, under former boss Stephen Robinson, beat Celtic 3-1 in the final last December to take the trophy back to Paisley for the first time in 12 years.

Scotland under-21 midfielder Carr signed for Saints, now managed by Craig McLeish, on a two-year deal from Ipswich in the summer and has heard all about the Hampden Park exploits amid a good start to the season where St Mirren came through their Premier Sports Cup group before starting the William Hill Premiership campaign with wins over Falkirk and St Johnstone.

He said: “The gaffer has touched on it quite a bit. Just drilling it into us that it is ours to lose and we’re not going to give it up easy.

“I’ve spoke to the lads about it and they said that that final was one to remember. Hopefully we can do the same.

“I’ve never played at Ibrox so really looking forward to it. I’ve watched on the television, it’s an unbelievable atmosphere so hopefully we can we can get a result.

“As a player, you want to win trophies and I think we’ve got a chance and it’s a good chance.

“We’ve started well in the cup and took it into the league form and we are on a bit of a high at the minute so hopefully we carry it on.”

McLeish said: “That’s the message that we’ve given to the players. It’s our trophy.

“We want to defend it and somebody’s going to have to really fight and scrap to get it off us.

“And we have to make sure that we show the same energy, commitment and aggression as we have done against Falkirk and St Johnstone when we go away to Rangers on Sunday and if we can do that, the outcome of the game will be the outcome of the game.

“But (I’ll be happy) as long as we can leave the pitch and we’ve left absolutely everything out there.”