JACK BAIRD refused to point the finger of blame at referee Andrew Dallas as St Mirren went down 4-0 on a remarkable afternoon at Ibrox.

Rangers converted three out of the four penalties they were awarded as James Tavernier netted twice and Jermain Defoe opened his account on home soil for the Light Blues.

Boss Oran Kearney wasn’t overly critical of the performance of the officials after the game – despite insisting that only one of the decisions was correct from Dallas and his team.

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Baird was booked in the aftermath of the second incident when Paul McGinn was penalised for a challenge on striker Defoe.

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But the Buddies defender was understanding of the position of whistler Dallas on what turned out to be a disappointing day for the visitors.

Baird said: “It’s not nice to get beat 4-0. We did alright in the first half and came in at 1-0. We started the second half okay as well, but it just turns and we end up being beaten 4-0.

“I’ve never been in a game with four penalties against us. I was trying to think back and maybe two or three, but four is a first.

“I had a wee moan at the second one because I, personally, didn’t feel it was a penalty.

“But it’s hard for the ref, isn’t it, because he’s got to do it at the speed of the game.

“There is not a lot you can do now. We just have to look ahead to Wednesday.

“I don’t know [if Defoe said anything]. I don’t know if the ref has asked him.

“It was maybe a bit of a harsh one on Paul because I thought he did alright in the tackle and maybe there wasn’t loads of contact. But what can you do, really?”

St Mirren were only 1-0 down at the break after Tavernier hit the post with his second effort from 12 yards but the visitors offered little attacking threat of their own.

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And boss Kearney was frustrated at how the second half unfolded as Ryan Kent made it 4-0 and Rangers threatened to pile on the misery at Ibrox.

Baird said: “I’m not going to stand here and say the ref should have done this or that. He has as hard a job as we have coming here.

“So I don’t blame him or anything like that. It’s difficult for us. We can’t give away four pens and expect to get a decent result.

“We had a game plan and giving away the penalty so early didn’t really change it. In the second half, we didn’t want what happened towards the end. The start of that half was okay before it came piling on.

“It’s fair for [the manager to be critical about the last ten minutes]. He’s got to have a go at us for that.

“It’s stressful for him. You work hard going into a game and give away four pens. You are maybe doing okay and then all of a sudden they are right on top of you. On their home pitch, it’s not easy.”

The Ibrox clash was St Mirren’s first outing since a busy transfer window closed as Kearney overhauled his Paisley ranks last month.

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The Saints remain bottom of the top flight standings but Baird is confident a host of new recruits can help them out of their Premiership predicament.

He said: “I’ve hung in for a few windows. I don’t mind the turnover.

“It’s good to play with different people and hopefully the guys who come in can make a difference. Different guys who play in different leagues might be able to bring something new.

“They are all nice guys, so it is good. I don’t mind as long as I am playing.

“I think it is good for you in the future to play as part of different defensive partnerships and different formations.”