On a night when Rangers fans protested against their club’s decision to travel to play Celtic in Sydney, a positive trip to Perth did little to calm the growing storm.
McDiarmid Park in Scotland’s Fair City was the venue as Glen Kamara’s early goal brought a much-needed victory for an Ibrox side who had been stuck in a post winter break rut.
But the large travelling support made the depth of their ill-feeling known about the prospect of a first-ever Old Firm game abroad in Australia in November.
Glen Kamara broke the deadlock for Rangers early in the game against St Johnstone
The midfielder celebrated in front of the away fans after giving his team the lead
Billed down under as Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou’s Oz Homecoming, some Rangers fans are unhappy at their club being viewed as a sideshow in the year of the Ibrox institution’s 150th birthday, regardless of the considerable financial rewards on offer.
Their followers chanted throughout this match against their club participating in the Sydney Super Cup. Two banners were also unfurled, warning the Rangers board: ‘Money over morals. No derby friendlies.’
On the pitch, it was not always plain sailing against a struggling St Johnstone. But Giovanni van Bronkhorst’s side ultimately made a much-needed return to winning ways after dropping 11 points in their last eight league matches.
Prior to this the reigning champions had not won away from home in the league since beating Hearts 2-0 at Tynecastle on December 12.
But Kamara’s clinical finish after just three minutes settled this encounter against a stuffy and stubborn Saints side played on an increasingly poor pitch.
When the final whistle had gone, Rangers remained three points behind leaders Celtic after Postecoglou’s side’s 2-0 home win over St Mirren.
Saints boss Callum Davidson had made two changes from the side that lost 3-1 at Ross County on Saturday.
Dan Cleary dropped to the bench while on loan Rangers attacker Glenn Middleton was unable to participate against his parent club.
Kamara latched onto a lovely dinked ball from Alfredo Morelos before slotting home
Into the starting line-up came James Brown and Nadir Ciftci. It was former Celtic striker Ciftci’s first start for Saints since pulling a hamstring on his home debut against Dundee on January 26.
Van Bronkhorst made one change from the side that blew a two goal lead at home to draw 2-2 with Motherwell on Sunday.
Leon Balogun replaced Fashion Sakala with John Lundrum moved from defence back into his usual position in midfield.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has come under fire for his unusually erratic recent form but he kept his place in the Rangers goal and his name was cheered by the travelling fans when the teams were read out.
Aaron Ramsey, the shock January signing on loan from Juventus, was not fit enough to make the bench, let alone his first league start for the Ibrox club. The Wales international now has just nine Premiership matches to make his mark in Glasgow.
The chants about the trip to Australia were loud before kick-off from behind both goals but they gave way to cheers in the third minute.
Rangers defender Connor Goldson looked up and picked out Alfredo Morelos with a decisive forward pass.
The Colombia international played a wonderful first-time flicked ball over the St Johnstone defensive line for Kamara.
The Finland international doesn’t score many but you would not have guessed that by the way he decisively tucked the ball past Saints keeper Elliot Parish.
St Johnstone’s first chance of the game fell to Jamie McCart when Jacob Butterfield’s corner from the right eventually made its way to the defender at the back post. But McCart rushed his effort and sent a shot wildly over the bar.
And Morelos almost made Saints pay dearly when he broke clear in the box and sent a thumping shot past Parish. Luckily for the Saints keeper, the ball thumped back off the right post.
After a bright start some sloppiness began to creep into Rangers’ play and St Johnstone ended the half the brighter side, enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
Butterfield forced a decent save from McGregor from his shot from 20 yards. But just before the break good play from Tavernier and Morelos ended with Arfield shooting over the bar. The former Canada international should have done better.
Kent then saw a shot from outside the box drop just over the bar as Willie Collum whistled for half time.
The second half kicked off to more chanting against the Sydney friendly by the Rangers fans.
Arfield then had another chance to extend the visitor’s’ lead after fine attacking play from Joe Aribo saw the Nigeria international jink his way into the box then pick out his colleague.
Giovanni van Bronkhorst watched on as his side moved three points behind Celtic
The Rangers midfielder’s shot from inside the box was touched round the post by Parish. Referee Willie Collum missed the Saints keeper’s heroics and awarded a goal kick.
Rangers did have the ball in the net when Goldson powered in a header from Tavernier’s freekick. But the Rangers defender was clearly offside.
And there was a fright for Rangers when Tavernier was short with a header back and Ali Crawford nipped in ahead of McGregor.
But Ibrox skipper Tavernier recovered the ball before Calvin Bassey booted it out of the danger zone.
Fans protested the decision to play an Old Firm friendly as part of their pre-season
St Johnstone sent on midfielder Cammy MacPherson and attacking trio Michael O’Halloran, Stevie May and Theo Bair but they could not break down the Ibrox side.
Despite Rangers looking tired van Bronckhorst opted not to make a substitute and his side saw out the match fairly comfortably to claim a precious three points.
The latter stages of this match was played out to the soundtrack of Rangers fans again chanting against the Australian trip.
Just to underline how contentious an issue the Sydney Old Firm match is the Rangers fans remained after the final whistle to voice their disapproval.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
