St Johnstone

• St Johnstone failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Scottish Premiership since facing Aberdeen on 8 October 2023.

• St Johnstone have failed to score in nine of their 18 games, only Livingston (10) have failed to score more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone attempted two shots in this game, their lowest total in a single match in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have had three players sent off in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Did you take in St Johnstone's away defeat by Rangers? Click here to give your views on the game...

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein told BBC Scotland: "With us being reduced to 10 men for over an hour, to come away from here only losing two goals, the players deserve a lot of credit for that, for the work that they put in.

"In spells we did try and pass the ball. [The red card for Diallang Jaiyesimi] made it extremely difficult for the players out there.

"We were very competitive and all credit to the players for digging in and helping each other out and working so hard.

"Great effort from the guys tonight. It would've been so easy for them to crumble. They stood up and they were counted. It's an important time coming up."

On transfers, Levein added that "some of the things are almost done, some of the things are halfway there".

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BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at Ibrox

As far as victories go this was incredibly comfortable for Rangers, who dominated from the opening whistle.

The sending off early on in the game gave the home side a huge advantage and forced St Johnstone into becoming even more defensively minded than they had been.

Rangers certainly have a momentum and more importantly a belief about them going forward and despite squandering countless opportunities they never looked at any point concerned about the outcome of the game.

The gap at the top with Celtic is down to two points but the next 10 days will be pivotal before the clubs enter the winter break.

St Johnstone’s season will not be determined on the outcome of this game and they have showed in recent weeks they have somewhat turned the corner under Craig Levein.

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St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov kept his side in the contest with some fine saves, though did concede the late penalty that gave Rangers their second goal.

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The St Johnstone starting line-up shows three alterations from that which began Saturday's 1-0 win over Hibernian.

Defenders Andy Considine, Oludare Olufunwa and midfielder Sven Sprangler come in for Craig Levein with Tony Gallacher, Ryan McGowan and weekend goal scorer Graham Carey dropping to the bench.

Forward Nicky Clark is also among the substitutes, having recovered from injury.

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Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz, Lundstram, Lammers, Dowell, McCausland, Roofe, Sima.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Dessers, Cantwell, Matondo, Sterling, Wright, Balogun, Barisic, King.

St Johnstone: Mitov, Franczak, Olufunwa, Gordon, Considine, Robinson, Sprangler, Phillips, Smith, Kucheriavyi, Jaiyesimi.

Substitutes: Richards, Gallacher, McGowan, May, Kane, Clark, Carey, Turner-Cooke, Costelloe.

Jane Lewis discusses all the big news in Scottish football with former Rangers, Carlisle, Falkirk and Dundee striker Rory Loy and Ryan Cryle, joint sports editor of the Press and Journal and Evening Express.

As well as previewing Rangers v St Johnstone and Aberdeen v Livi, they take a look at the Old Firm ticketing row, celebrate the legend that is Kenny Dalglish and, as Derek Adams stands by his controversial critique of the game in this country, they assess a range of ideas for improving Scottish football.

Listen to the full episode here.

• Rangers have only lost one of their last 19 meetings with St Johnstone in all competitions (W14 D4), a 1-2 away defeat in November 2022.

• St Johnstone have only won one of their last 39 league visits to Rangers (D4 L34), a 3-1 victory in December 2017 under Tommy Wright.

• Rangers have won eight of their last nine league games (D1), scoring 23 goals and conceding just three in this period.

• St Johnstone are winless in eight away league matches (D4 L4), last going longer without a win on the road in December 2019 (16).

• Rangers’ James Tavernier has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last nine Scottish Premiership appearances (seven goals, three assists). The right back could provide an assist in three successive appearances in the competition for the first time since November 2021 (five in a row).

St Johnstone travel to Ibrox on Wednesday night, looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership.

If you were in Craig Levein's position, would you go with the same side that beat Hibs last time out?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your starting XI here.

Scotland Under-21 left-back Luke Robinson reveals his thoughts about his loan to St Johnstone and the possibility of being recalled by Wigan Athletic. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport