Rangers have been playing poor since returning from the winter break, although they showed the quality that they posses when they came from two goals down to defeat Braga in the first leg of their Europa League clash 3-2. St. Johnstone however were still on their good run, but have thrown away some great chances to earn 3 points recently, conceding goals in the 93rd and 94th minute to Hearts and Ross County respectively, both games in which they were the better team.
Rangers were keen to carry on their momentum from Thursday night and almost did that when the ball broke to Nikola Katic, the Croatian could only find the side-netting after getting goal-side of Anthony Ralston.
Saints had an early chance as well, David Wotherspoon took a corner low into the box, Callum Hendry picked up the ball, and breezed past Alfredo Morelos, James Tavernier and Andy Halliday before drilling a shot that was well held by Allan McGregor.
Wotherspoon met McGregor's kick and headed it towards Stevie May, the Scot flicked it into the path of Hendry, this would be the start of Katic's nightmare day when he sent his clearance high into the air and stumbled to the ground as the ball bounced through for Hendry, the striker stayed calm and composed to slot the ball between the legs of the Rangers keeper to put Rangers behind away from home yet again, this time after only 8 minutes.
The visitors were hunting for an equaliser and twice stung the palms of Zander Clark, Ryan Kent who is searching for the form that made Rangers spend £7 Million on him, couldn't find it on an angeled effort, it was the other Ryan who had the next attempt, the ball bounced nicely for Jack, and caught it well, the looping effort had Clark backpedalling to tip it over.
Saints worked another chance from a corner-kick routine. Wotherspoon and Wright worked a one-two, which allowed the Canadian space to go at Andy Halliday, his cross only found the foot of Jack, who got the clearance all wrong, Matt Butcher got to loose ball and stood it up to the back post for Kerr, who headed back to his centre half partner, Jamie McCart, who showed why he plays there, getting a right footed volley all wrong, firing over the bar, and wasting a glorious chance to double the hosts' lead.
Rangers were back trying to create chances soon after. This time it was their captain James Tavernier who had a great chance of the back post. Kent's cross found his fellow Englishman, who had the goal at his mercy, but he could only volley into Stevie May's back.
The half time break did not stop the end-to-end action. Drey Wright had a driving run into the box and drifted past Katic like he wasn't there, but he elected to shoot instead of squaring it to Hendry who was open with a gaping goal in front of him. Rangers won the ball back and instantly tried to get on the counter attack. Kent rolled the ball out to Tavernier who whipped in a deep and early cross. It evaded Ianis Hagi but it well to Florian Kamberi, who could only get contact with his shin, but that would prove to be enough as the ball nestled in the top corner, and gave his side an instant impact off the bench.
Rangers were now controlling everything and pushing for a second when they were looking for a second chance off a corner. Katic found himself in an unnatural position out on the wing, but he got his pass through the legs of Anthony Ralston into Kamberi, who put Kerr on the floor with a lovely spin move, he got to the byline and his cutback to Joe Aribo was perfectly weighted, allowing the Englishman to stroke the ball into the corner.
The game could have been killed when Kamberi was involved in another good Rangers move, played a lovely ball round the corner to Morelos who could only stab an effort wide.
Katic was troubled by another long ball over the top and eventually conceded a corner, Wotherspoon whipped in an inswinging corner, it was Katic who got to it, for some reason he touched the ball into the path of Stevie May, like he was his strike partner. May accepted the gift and struck home a late leveller.
The point means Rangers fall even further behind Celtic at the top of the table, dropping twelve points behind their rivals, having dropped 10 points since coming back from the winter break. For Saints the point is a big one in the race for the last two top six places.
Line-Ups
St. Johnstone: Zander Clark; Anthony Ralston (Michael O'Halloran 75'), Jason Kerr, Jamie McCart, Callum Booth; Drey Wright, Ali McCann, Callum Butcher, David Wotherspoon, Callum Hendry (Chris Kane 65'), Stevie May (Liam Craig 86').
Substitues: Elliot Parish (GK), Scott Tanser, Chris Kane, Danny Swanson, Michael O'Halloran, Liam Gordon, Liam Craig
Scorers: Callum Hendry 8', Stevie May 80'.
Rangers: Allan McGregor; James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Nikola Katic, Andy Halliday (Florian Kamberi 45'); Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo, Scott Arfield; Ianis Hagi (Greg Stewart 78'), Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos (Steven Davis 76').
Substitutes: Wes Foderingham (GK), George Edmundson, Steven Davis, Sheyi Ojo, Brandon Barker, Greg Stewart, Florian Kamberi
Scorers: Florian Kamberi 50', Joe Aribo 71'.
MOTM: Jamie McCart - This was a difficult decision because of the impact that Kamberi had when he came off the bench, but McCart was the best of the Saints defence that held Rangers at bay and helped them to secure a great result,
Scottish Premiership Round-Up
Results
Friday
St. Mirren P-P Hearts
Saturday
Aberdeen 1-2 Ross County
Hamilton 0-0 Motherwell
Hibernian 1-1 Livingston
Sunday
St. Johnstone 2-2 Rangers
Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock
Table GP PTS GD
1. Celtic 28 76 +65
2. Rangers 27 64 +45
3. Motherwell 27 42 +1
4. Aberdeen 28 41 +2
5. Livingston 28 38 +3
6. Hibernian 28 37 -3
7. Kilmarnock 28 32 -9
8. St. Johnstone 27 32 -19
9. Ross County 28 29 -27
10. St. Mirren 26 22 -14
11. Hamilton 28 21 -22
12. Hearts 27 19 -22
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