Rangers 1-1 St Johnstone

Blair Alston (number four) scored against Rangers for Falkirk last season

Rangers and St Johnstone had to settle for a point each after a Scottish Premiership draw in Glasgow.

Saints - the last visiting team to win at Ibrox 13 months ago - took the lead early on when Blair Alston curled in a fantastic strike.

Joe Garner headed Rangers level from a corner before the break.

The visitors had several chances in the second half with Alston firing against the post while Garner had a header saved for the hosts.

With Aberdeen defeated at Hamilton Academical on Tuesday and Hearts beaten at Kilmarnock, Saints could have gone second with victory but instead they go level on points with the second-placed Dons, albeit having played a game more.

Rangers, having taken 16 points from a possible 30 since being promoted, stay fifth edging to within a point of Hearts.

The Ibrox side have won only two of their home league games this season, having also dropped points to Hamilton and Ross County.

Garner (left) scored his second Rangers goal

Rangers fall behind again

Mark Warburton's side had improved defensively in recent weeks with clean sheets in league wins over Partick Thistle and Inverness.

However, with Wes Foderingham resuming goalkeeping duties from Matt Gilks - Rangers' best player in the 1-0 Scottish League Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic - the Ibrox side found themselves a goal down early on to Saints as Alston picked his spot after robbing Lee Hodson for his first Saints goal.

Tommy Wright engineered an away win over Rangers in last season's League Cup when the hosts - then in the Championship - bringing an end to a 11-game winning sequence.

And the Northern Irishman's team had several opportunities to go back in front early in the second half with Brian Easton, Liam Craig, Danny Swanson and Chris Kane all going close before Alston fired against a post.

Saints pegged back

Garner had netted just once since his summer move from Preston North End but the striker broke his Ibrox duck with a headed finish off Harry Forrester's corner, having gone close from a similar situation moments before.

And Garner threatened to nod Rangers ahead on 74 minutes but could not beat Zander Clark, who made good first-half saves to deny Jason Holt and Josh Windass.

Warburton sought fresh impetus in attack with the introduction of Martyn Waghorn, Kenny Miller and Barrie McKay off the bench but St Johnstone held firm with David Wotherspoon clearing a Miller effort off the line.

Warburton and Wright were left frustrated at Ibrox

What the managers said

Rangers' Mark Warburton: "It was a decent first half but we didn't continue that and we gave the ball away cheaply.

"We weren't brave getting out, despite the possession stats we didn't play the way we wanted to.

"It's a demanding crowd because they're used to success. The players have to recognise it's an expectant crowd - and quite rightly. We have to respect that and learn from that."

St Johnstone's Tommy Wright: "It's never easy coming here. We're happy to take a point but we could have taken all three as we had a few good chances in the second half.

"We knew we'd stay above Rangers with a positive result. We're content with the return but there are no prizes given out so we're not going to get carried away with it."