Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone: Michael Beale’s side go six points behind leaders Celtic

Rangers easily overcame 10-man St Johnstone with a 2-0 win in a controversial Premiership fixture at Ibrox.

On the day Todd Cantwell made his Rangers debut, captain James Tavernier converted a penalty in the 15th minute before referee Willie Collum took center stage.

He showed Saints striker Nicky Clark a straight red card in the 33rd minute for a foul on Gers midfielder Ryan Jack, and VAR verification confirmed the decision.

Rangers fell six points behind leaders Celtic after a comfortable 2-0 win over St Johnstone.

James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a hand ball inside the area

St Johnstone’s Nicky Clarke was shown a red for a late challenge on Rangers’ Ryan Jack

Collum then stood by his decision to give Jack a yellow card for a late tackle on Adam Montgomery after checking the pitch monitor.

Midfielder Glen Kamara added a second Rangers goal after 57 minutes to bring Govan’s team within six points of league leaders Celtic, who play Dundee United on Sunday.

Michael Beale’s record since taking over as Gers manager is almost flawless, with nine wins and one draw in 10 games, while Callum Davidson’s side, knocked out of the Scottish Cup by the Light Blues in Perth last weekend week, he has lost seven games in a row.

Cantwell had not played since 12 November, but was included in the starting line-up in place of Fashion Sakala, while Kamara replaced John Lundstram.

The 24-year-old midfielder signed by Norwich had plenty of touches in the early stages.

The home side’s first chance came in the sixth minute when Malik Tillman sent Alfredo Morelos on target, but an unconvincing shot was blocked by St Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews, who thwarted the Colombian striker six minutes later after the strike The Saints’ defense opened up again.

The Rangers penalty, awarded after the ball struck defender James Brown in the arm after coming off Tillman’s back, was confidently converted by Tavernier, who lobbed the ball past Matthews.

The McDiarmid Park goalkeeper continued his personal duel with Morelos and in the 22nd minute blocked a new shot from the striker after a clearance by Kamara.

However, Clark volleyed over the bar at the other end of a Connor McLennan cross minutes later to remind Rangers there was still a lot to do.

Todd Cantwell made his Rangers debut on Saturday after his move from Norwich

Matthews made a decent save from a Ryan Kent shot before Saints were down to 10 men after a high tackle from former Gers striker Clark to Jack in midfield left the Ibrox playmaker requiring treatment.

Saints boss Davidson received a yellow card from Collum for venting his frustrations before the referee was asked to check his monitor after showing Jack a yellow card for his strong challenge on Montgomery. To some surprise, he stood by his decision, which Davidson was not amused by.

Matthews made a great save from Tavernier’s free-kick just before half-time, but there was time for Drey Wright to run into a Danny Phillips pass, circle the Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor and then fall off trying to get the ball out of a threw. narrow angle.

Glen Kamara (right) doubled the lead with a strong finish before the hour mark.

To little surprise, Lundstram took over from Jack early in the second half, where Matthews again proved himself, deflecting a Kent pass from close range after Tillman had set him up.

The Rangers kept up the pressure and the unmarked Kamara accepted a smart move from Morelos and beat Matthews from 14 yards out to effectively seal the win.

Sakala came on for Cantwell in the 62nd minute before McGregor made a fine save from an Andy Considine header as the Perth men continued to battle.

There was loud applause as Ianis Hagi, out for just over a year with a knee injury, came on along with Antonio Colak and Scott Wright, with Morelos, Kent and Tillman breaking through, but there was no change to the score despite some Relentless rangers. aggressor.