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Cerny sweeps Rangers into first-half lead & adds second after interval
Hagi sent off - after VAR check - in first appearance since August 2023 for poor challenge on Kimpioka
Clark effort disallowed as St Johnstone try to take advantage
New St Johnstone manager Valakari watches from stand as he awaits clearance to take charge
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Common sense has prevailed over Ianis Hagi. We were hearing that if he played one more game of football, his wages were going up.
They have sat round the table, they have discussed things and it is good to see him back in the squad because he is a good player and Philippe Clement needs as many of them as possible.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound
It's not going to be the biggest crowd. You can tell that already.
So it will not be as intimidating, maybe that will go in St Johnstone's favour.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Callum Davidson
Former St Johnstone manager on BBC Sportsound
It is a game where St Johnstone have nothing to lose. Obviously they got a bit of thumping last week against Celtic so it is really important St Johnstone get that balance in defence and in attack.
They can't sit back all night and need to try to get Rangers fans on the home side's backs. They have three attacking players on the pitch and it looks like they are going for that balance.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Image source, SNSThe new St Johnstone head coach has taken his seat at Ibrox
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Image source, SNSFollowing that bruising European defeat to Lyon, former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson says Rangers must respond tonight with a positive performance and result.
Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, he said: "I think when they reflect, they have played against a good team in Lyon.
"The thing I do know for any Rangers player is if you don't bounce back quickly and if you feel sorry for yourself, you're going to be in trouble.
"So I'm sure the manager and the staff will get around the players. The players will have had disappointments before, it's now about how they react off the back of that."
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox
Rangers manager Philippe Clement said prior to their Europa League loss to Lyon that a draw might be a good result given the gulf in resources.
St Johnstone would bite your hand off for that tonight. They've not scored in any of the last six meetings between these sides. They're off the back of a demoralising trouncing at the hands of Celtic.
A new manager is in place in Simo Valakari, but he's unable to take charge as he awaits a work permit. It might feel like a free hit for them, but a positive outcome feels very unlikely.
For Rangers, it's simple. A positive performance and outcome to get back on track after the midweek disappointment and not lose any ground on Aberdeen and Celtic heading into the international break.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound
Simo Valakari is St Johnstone's first foreign manager, so I think the fans are looking forward to it.
He is a bit different. He likes his tattoos, looks like a rock star from the 70s.
Image source, SNSRangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Interim St Johnstone boss Andy Kirk is in charge for the last time as Simo Valakari sits in the stand waiting for his work permit.
"He been in the building and brought a lot of positive energy with him," the Northern Irishman tells BBC Scotland. "We are hoping that will bring a freshness to the players.
"It is a massive challenge for us, but it's one where we have to try to rise up and put a performance in."
Asked how they will respond to last week's 6-0 thrashing by Celtic, Kirk adds: "Last week was disappointing in that we lost a few goals we could have prevented, albeit against a very strong team, and it will be the same again against another strong team.
"But we have a new manager in place and the players have a chance to impress him and let's hope we get a performance."
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSNicky Clark continues in attack for Saints this evening
Simo Valakari is a familiar name to Scottish football fans of a certain generation following his playing spell with Motherwell in the late 1990s.
Valakari will take proper charge after the international break, but any changes he makes after Sunday could be telling.
Saints sustained a heavy 6-0 loss at home to Celtic last weekend and are bidding to end a run of six defeats in a row to Rangers in all competitions.
However, the player who scored the winner in their most recent victory in the fixture, Nicky Clark, is still going strong in Perth and the former Rangers forward's experience could be crucial as Saints seek to capitalise on any post-Europa League hangover at Ibrox.
Judging by Philippe Clement's pre-match interview, he might get a bit of a shock when he goes to shake hands with the St Johnstone bench and sees no Simo Valakari!
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Scotland: "There's nothing really big, big [with Tom Lawrence's injury].
"But he had to come off on Thursday and he didn't recover well enough. Today we're going to put Nedim Bajrami [in the number 10 position].
"You cannot train too much [with the short turnaround] and it's not clear how St Johnstone will play because they have a new manager, but we'll focus on ourselves.
"You need to have respect for all your opponents. No worries about that, that's a message that's really clear to the players."
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Image source, SNSSimo Valakari was in Paisley yesterday to watch St Mirren lose to Dundee United
New St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari will have to wait a wee bit longer before his official re-introduction to Scottish football.
The interim management team of Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland will take tonight's game, but you can bet the head coach will be in the stand watching on.
The former Motherwell midfielder, who played at Fir Park between 1996 and 2000, has been getting about this week on various scouting missions.
A former Finland international, Valakari has won domestic honours as a manager in his homeland.
So he arrives back in Scotland with an impressive CV - and he believes, with togetherness, he can also create something special at McDiarmid Park.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
As far Rangers' title credentials go, a win is the only option tonight.
Ending the weekend eight, or even seven, points behind Celtic would surely be an insurmountable lead even at this early stage.
For St Johnstone, meanwhile, ending a six-game winless run with a dream victory would move them to within a point of the top half.
Image source, SNSAberdeen's late victory over Hearts kept their remarkable winning run going
I know it's compulsory for us to say a weekend has been packed with drama, but this weekend really has been.
Late, late goals up north in Dingwall and at Pittodrie stretched both Celtic and Aberdeen's winning league starts.
There was also a late win for Motherwell at Hibs and a narrow victory for Dundee United in Paisley, but the maddest madness was at Dens Park.
Ten-man Dundee went 2-0 up on minute 81. Kilmarnock were 3-2 up by minute 94.
Seventeen goals and three red cards across the five games. Rangers and St Johnstone, the pair of you have a lot to live up to.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
BBC Radio Scotland Extra
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Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Derek Ferguson
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound
A little bit surprised that Barron is not starting and Raskin has come in to replace him.
Apart from his midweek mistake, he has slotted in ever so well and has been Rangers' best player.
I think Rangers fans might have been anticipating a change on the right, where Tavernier and Cerny have been struggling.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Image source, SNSCaptain Kyle Cameron is out after going off injured in the defeat to Celtic
St Johnstone switch two following the 6-0 hammering they suffered against Celtic in Perth last weekend.
Strikers Benjamin Kimpioka and Adama Sidibeh return from suspension, with the former coming straight back in as the latter starts from the bench.
Aaron Essel also comes into the XI, while Kyle Cameron and Graham Carey drop out.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Image source, SNSWinger Ianis Hagi is back in the Rangers squad
The big team news for Rangers is on their bench as Ianis Hagi returns to the matchday squad after a contract issue was resolved.
Connor Barron joins him, dropping out of the team that lost heavily to Lyon, while fellow midfielder Tom Lawrence is out with a hamstring injury.
Nico Raskin and Ross McCausland come in.
Rangers v St Johnstone (20:00)
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Bajrami, McCausland, Dessers.
Substitutes: Kelly, Barron, Dowell, Sterling, Kasanwirjo, Balogun, Igamane, Hagi, Fraser.
St Johnstone: Sinclair, Smith, Neilson, Sanders, Raymond, Essel, Sprangler, Kirk, Wright, Kimpioka, Clark.
Substitutes: Rae, MacPherson, Carey, Sidibeh, Kucheriavyi, McPake, Keltjens, Franczak, Bright.
Vaclav Cerny's two goals gave Rangers victory over St Johnstone
Rangers secured a third consecutive Scottish Premiership win, with Vaclav Cerny's exquisite double effectively sealing the points before Ianis Hagi's late red card.
The Czech scored either side of the interval to ensure the Ibrox side end the weekend still five points back from Celtic and Aberdeen.
Hagi, introduced at half-time to make his first appearance since last August following a contractual issue, assisted the second goal.
However, the Romanian's night ended badly, his high challenge on Benjamin Kimpioka's shin being upgraded from a yellow card after a VAR check.
Although stretched at times by St Johnstone's attacking intent in transitions and robust defending, Cerny's brilliant intervention broke the deadlock for Rangers.
Cyriel Dessers had already missed a glaring opportunity and James Tavernier had come close with a free-kick before the Czech took a grip of the game.
He saw an initial shot blocked, regathered possession and brilliantly nutmegged Sven Sprangler before executing an inch-perfect curling low shot.
It was exactly the type of moment his manager and Rangers fans will want more of.
Both sides made changes at the break. Connor Barron and Hagi came on for the hosts and Andy Kirk - in his last match as interim manager before Simo Valakari takes charge - bolstered his attacking options.
But St Johnstone could not find a way through.
Mackenzie Kirk had a header diverted behind but the contest was over when Hagi fed Cerny, he danced inside and out, and found the gap to slot in his second.
St Johnstone still had moments. Adama Sidibeh struck one just off target, then Kirk took the wrong choice allowing Butland to save.
Nicky Clark then thought he had set up a frantic finish when he slammed home an excellent finish, but was deemed offside.
The outcome was the right one despite a spirited St Johnstone effort.
This night was timely for Cerny. He repaid Philippe Clement's faith after recent criticism, particularly after his incredible miss in Thursday's 4-1 defeat by Lyon.
Cerny has an interesting start to life at Rangers. Some early promise, followed by reacting to his own fans, that miss, then deleting his Instagram account.
The winger delivered here and it could be a massive moment for him. He showed the quality he has with his goals and made a bee-line for the manager after scoring.
Cerny looks like a confidence player and this should bring some.
The half-time return of Hagi offered another option for Clement. That will be delayed with suspension to now follow. The guy just cannot buy a break, it seems.
It is another league win that might have been more comfortable with another domestic clean sheet. That eases Rangers into the international break during which they can regroup before a tricky trip to Kilmarnock in two weeks.
This was night and day from the 6-0 Celtic horror show in St Johnstone's previous outing.
The visitors showed enough to suggest positive days may come once Valakari has time to impose his approach on this team.
They demonstrated intent to hit Rangers on the break and did create a number of moments that may have brought more.
They stood firm for the most part and defended very well at times, something that will be of use if they can deliver that consistently.
A moment of real quality unlocked them and fine margins cost them a route back into the game.
Their next fixture at home to Ross County will be key as they look to kick-start a revival and fresh start.
'Glasgow is not easy' - Philippe Clement on goalscorer Vaclav Cerny
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "I still expect more but it's an important win and a deserved win. It's very positive that we get another clean sheet. It's important we continue in that way.
"He [Cerny] did a really good job, he was really down after Thursday. Glasgow is not easy when you miss a big chance on an important night. This is the best reaction you can have after a miserable evening."
Interim St Johnstone manager Andy Kirk: "The result was poor obviously, but there's things on the pitch the new manager will have seen that we can improve on.
"We made some mistakes and got punished - that tends to happen against the better teams, but there's a lot to work with. We will look to improve on those things and hopefully things will turn for us."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 21 |
| |
| 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 21 |
| |
| 3 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 16 |
| |
| 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 13 |
| |
| 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
| |
| 6 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 8 |
| |
| 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | 7 |
| |
| 8 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 6 |
| |
| 9 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 6 |
| |
| 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 5 |
| |
| 11 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 19 | -11 | 4 |
| |
| 12 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 15 | -9 | 2 |
|
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Andy Kirk
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Manager: Philippe Clement
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Andy Kirk
Formation: 5 - 3 - 2
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Rangers have won each of their last six meetings with St. Johnstone in all competitions, their longest winning run over the Saints since a run of seven from August 1993 to November 1997.
St. Johnstone have lost each of their last six away league games against Rangers without scoring a single goal in the process.
Rangers have won back-to-back league games without conceding; only once since the start of last season have they won three in a row while keeping a clean sheet each time, doing so in January/February last term.
St. Johnstone have lost four of their last five league games (D1), while their 6-0 defeat at home to Celtic last time out was their heaviest in the Scottish Premiership since losing 7-0 to the same opponent in April 2022.
Tom Lawrence has scored in each of his last three league starts for Rangers (3 goals), surpassing his goal tally in the Scottish Premiership for the whole of last season (2). The last Welsh player to score in four successive starts in the competition was Christian Doidge for Hibernian in November/December 2019 (run of 5).
