Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi celebrateImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Strike partners Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi scored three of Rangers' goals

At a glance

  • Kelsy sweeps Rangers into half-time lead

  • Naderi, Kelsy and Chukwuani add to scoreline in second half amid wild weather conditions

  • Fotheringham sent off after VAR review for visitors

  • Rangers one point off Celtic at top of Scottish Premiership

Highlights: Rangers v St Johnstone

24/10/26

ByAndy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Ibrox

Rangers narrowed the gap to Celtic at the Scottish Premiership summit to one point as Kevin Kelsy's double helped them to an emphatic victory over St Johnstone.

Wild weather conditions at Ibrox did not deter Derek McInnes's side as they bounced back from dropping points at Dundee last weekend to extend their unbeaten run to eight matches.

Rangers dominated the first half and only a combination of wayward finishing and some inspired goalkeeping from Toby Steward in the St Johnstone goal kept the scores level.

That changed just before the half-hour mark when Kim Min-Su carved open the defence with a superb ball to Ryan Naderi, who unselfishly squared for Kevin Kelsy to fire home the opener.

The hosts looked to go for the jugular, with Min-Su unlucky to see his effort from 20 yards crash off the outside of the post before Steward pulled off an excellent save to deny Kelsy a second goal.

St Johnstone were afforded few opportunities to break forward, though Josh Fowler should have done better than hit the side-netting after he was put clean through on Ivor Pandur.

Having had total control before the break, Rangers found themselves under pressure at the start of the second half, but Ryan Naderi settled the home fans' nerves when he tapped home from close range after Steward could only parry Kim's effort.

Kelsy stole in at the back post to turn home Emmanuel Fernandez's flick-on from a corner to put the result beyond doubt.

St Johnstone's misery was compounded when substitute Kai Fotheringham was shown a red card for a studs-up challenge on Nico Raskin following a video assistant referee (VAR) review, and Djeidi Gassama teed up fellow substitute Tochi Chukwuani to give the final scoreline a little polish for Rangers.

Rangers analysis: Strike partnership starting to blossom

Rangers were all over St Johnstone in the first half and really should have been out of sight by half-time.

The strike partnership of Kelsy and Naderi is starting to blossom, with their physicality, work rate and link-up play causing all sorts of problems.

Both strikers finding the net will only give them more belief as a partnership, and they were ably assisted by lively performances from both Rangers wide players.

Badredine Bouanini was dangerous coming off the right flank onto his left foot, and Kim was the outstanding player on the pitch. He was instrumental in the creation of Rangers first two goals, hit a post and was a constant menace to the Saints defence.

Aside from that little wobble at the start of the second half, it was a comfortable afternoon's work for Rangers.

St Johnstone analysis: Saints fail to contain Rangers

Simo Valakari spoke ahead of the game of St Johnstone staying true to themselves and retaining an attacking threat despite knowing the inevitable pressure Rangers would apply.

His frustration will be that it took until the second half for his side to show anything meaningful, and when they did, they were unable to convert their chances.

Fotheringham had a decent chance when picked out by a brilliant Jamie Gullan cross, while Taylor Steven's decision not to shoot having broken into the box and facing Pandur one-on-one was inexplicable.

Enes Alic's 35-yard dipping strike drew a good save from the Rangers keeper, but having failed to capitalise on that little period of pressure, St Johnstone faded after falling 2-0 down and were ultimately well beaten.

What they said

Figure caption,

'As good as we have been for a while'

Rangers manager Derek McInnes: "First half we were very good. The only frustration was we took too long to get the first goal and we should be more than a goal to the good at half-time.

"We didn't want to let that frustration get the better of us. St Johnstone changed their approach, played forward quicker and we looked a bit slow to get going [in the second half].

"The scoreline was just about right because of chances created. It's a learning curve for us. It's hard to maintain levels, but the first half was as good as we've been for a while.

"We're in good form, we're slowly but surely chalking up wins. You go to any game expecting to get a result. We know it will be tough [at Tynecastle] but we want to make it tough for them as well."

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Disappointing result, no complaints. Rangers deserved to win.

"We could not handle. We changed a couple of things for the second half and played very well for the first 15 minutes. When you get your chances, you have to take them. We did not and with the quality of the opponent, they will take their chances and it's game over.

"I've seen [the red card] quickly and I think Kai is a little bit unlucky. He wins the ball but the follow through is high and caught the opponent. No complaints there."

Player of the match

Number: 19 K. Kelsy
Average rating 7.99
Number: 19 K. Kelsy
Average Rating: 7.99
Number: 10 Kim Min-Su
Average Rating: 7.88
Number: 20 R. Naderi
Average Rating: 7.72
Number: 26 B. Bouanani
Average Rating: 7.56
Number: 24 O. Makhanya
Average Rating: 7.37
Number: 29 J. Penrice
Average Rating: 7.36
Number: 21 D. Sterling
Average Rating: 7.26
Number: 43 N. Raskin
Average Rating: 7.26
Number: 1 I. Pandur
Average Rating: 7.20
Number: 42 T. Chukwuani
Average Rating: 7.17
Number: 37 E. Fernandez
Average Rating: 7.00
Number: 6 D. Neil
Average Rating: 6.94
Number: 23 D. Gassama
Average Rating: 6.81
Number: 25 T. Rommens
Average Rating: 6.60
Number: 4 B. Godfrey
Average Rating: 6.57
Number: 28 B. Miovski
Average Rating: 6.31

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.