By Robert McElroy

A narrow but fully merited 1-0 win for Rangers against St. Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday afternoon with the winning goal coming via an own goal from a former Ranger, namely Jason Holt.

Philippe Clement made two changes from Nice with James Tavernier returning as Captain and Ianis Hagi making his first start since May 2023 with Dujan Sterling and Mohammed Diomande dropping out.

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Both sides were committed to attack from the opening minutes – but it was the Perth men who carried the greater threat in the opening exchanges with full-back Andre Raymond prominent on the left – one surging run forcing a corner and another twenty-yard shot wide of the target.

Rangers – wearing white tops, blue shorts and white socks – appeared unsettled by the home side operating with two forwards up front – but threatened as the quarter-hour mark approached with Vaclav Cerny cutting in from the right before rifling in a left-foot shot that flashed inches wide.

The Ibrox men were now finally beginning to impose themselves – ten minutes later Hamza Igamane’s turn and shot from a Hagi opening was parried by Rae.

The opening goal should certainly have arrived before the half-hour mark when Tavernier broke down the right – his pinpoint cross landing perfectly for Nedim Bajrami six yards out only for the Ranger to somehow fail to control the ball and the opportunity was lost.

Rae again denied the visitors a breakthrough when, from a Cerny cross, he turned wide a right-foot shot from Bajrami.

The half ended goalless – and Philippe Clement made a double substitution at the interval with Leon Balogun introduced for Robin Propper (who had appeared to be struggling with a knock) and Ridvan Yilmaz coming on for Bajrami.

The changes – directly or indirectly – almost made an immediate impact within sixty seconds when Hagi’s 25-yard drive whistled inches over.

Tavernier had been enjoying a fine game upon being restored to the team and captaincy – and he almost broke the deadlock ten minutes in with a trademark 25-yard free-kick that Rae clawed away.

With the hour mark approaching, Danilo substituted for Jefte as Rangers sought a breakthrough – and it finally arrived in the 63rd minute from a Hagi lob after Ianis had worked his way clear on the left, Jason Holt turning the ball into his own net in attempting to prevent it reaching Tavernier, who was poised to pounce.

Two minutes later it was almost 2-0 when – following a Cerny run – Danilo’s shot was turned wide by Rae.

Rangers were now much sharper than during the opening 45 minutes – and came close to sealing all three points in the 69th minute with a classic counter-attack when Igamane’s cross-field pass found Cerny, who in turn fed Hagi, only for Rae to turn his effort wide.

With time ticking on the Ibrox men were controlling the game, with St. Johnstone seldom threatening – although a second goal would certainly have eased any nerves amongst the Light Blue legions.

Danilo came close to that second goal in the 84th minute when his 25-yard effort was turned away by Rae, who also blocked the Brazilian forward from a Dowell opening just seconds after Kieran’s introduction.

The final whistle sounded soon afterwards on a narrow but important win for Rangers.

St. Johnstone: Rae; Wright, Sanders, Mikulic, Raymond; Carey (Essel 46), Sprangler (Sidibeh 66), Clark (Neilson 57), Holt (Kucheriavyi 80); Kirk, Kimpioka (McPake 80)

Unused Subs: Sinclair, Cameron, Smith, Franczak

Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper (Balogun 46), Jefte (Danilo 57); Cerny (Dowell 86), Hagi, Raskin, Barron, Bajrami (Yilmaz 46); Igamane (Diomande 75)

Unused Subs: Kelly, Dessers, King, McCausland

Referee: Steven McLean

Attendance 7,446