Rangers 2 St Johnstone 0: Tavernier and Kamara goals cut gap to six but Willie Collum and fit-again Hagi steal the show
THE new AC/DC merchandise range has hit a bum note with Rangers fans.
But the sight of Ianis Hagi Back in Blue left them Thunderstruck.
It’s been a Long Way To The Top for the midfielder.
Sustaining a career-threatening cruciate ligament injury against Stirling Albion on January 21, last year, Hagi put 12 agonising months behind him with a cameo role in Gers’ win over St Johnstone.
There was also a debut for Todd Cantwell and goals for James Tavernier and Glen Kamara as Michael Beale stretched his unbeaten run to ten.
It would have been a run-of-the-mill victory had referee Willie Collum not put the T.N.T under this one.
Read More Football Stories
Nicky Clark was shown a straight red for a foul on Ryan Jack.
The Rangers midfielder almost walked himself two minutes later.
In between the man in the middle managed to show seven yellow cards.
Not even the ageing Aussie rockers can put on the kind of show Collum delivers.
Most read in Football
The Verdict
How they rated
Rangers: Allan McGregor 7, James Tavernier 7, Connor Goldson 7, Ben Davies 7, Borna Barisic 7, Glen Kamara 7, Ryan Jack 5, Todd Cantwell 7, Malik Tillman 6, Ryan Kent 7, Alfredo Morelos 5
Subs: Lundstram (Jack 46, 3), Sakala (Cantwell 63, 2), Colak (Morelos 72, 3) Wright (Kent 72, 2) Hagi (Tillman 72, 3)
St Johnstone: Remi Matthews 8, Craig Gordon 6, Andrew Considine 5, James Brown 5, Adam Montgomery 5, Drey Wright 5, Cameron MacPherson 5, Daniel Phillips 6, Melker Hallberg 5, Nicky Clark 3, Connor McLennan 4
Subs: May (Hallberg 74, 3), Wotherspoon (Wright 81, 2), Carey (Phillips 81, 2), Crawford (McLennan 89, 2)
MAN OF THE MATCH: Rangers were worthy winners with Glen Kamara have a fine match in the middle of the park. Ben Davies and Connor Goldson’s partnership continues to flourish with Gers keeping another clean sheet. There must be a special mention for Ianis Hagi too who came off the bench to put year of injury misery behind him. However, St Johnstone keeper Remi Matthews gets the nod. He kept the scoreline respectable as Gers threatened to run riot.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE: A truly astonishing performance from the man that never fails to deliver. Seven booked and one red card shown in a match that only threatened to boil over when he lit the fuse. The call to send Nicky Clark off was the right one. Collum then overruled VAR two minutes later when Ryan Jack clattered through Adam Montgomery. Collum’s display infuriated St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson who was also booked during a crazy afternoon.
MEN IN THE DUG-OUT: That’s ten games unbeaten now for Rangers boss Michael Beale. His side are still very much a work in progress but they are heading in the right direction. The return of Ianis Hagi is a massive boost, coupled with the arrival of Todd Cantwell. The former Norwich midfielder had a solid debut. Saints boss Callum Davidson has now suffered seven straight defeats. But reduced to ten men after 36 minutes, his players gave him everything at Ibrox.
These teams were meeting for the second time in a week.
In Perth last Saturday night, Gers edged through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup thanks to Borna Barisic’s first half winner.
Beale made two changes to his side.
John Lundstram and Fashion Sakala dropped out with Kamara and new boy Cantwell handed starts.
After over a year out injured, Hagi was named among the Ibrox subs.
Saints boss Callum Davidson made just one change from last week - Clark coming in for Stevie May.
It was Armed Forces Day at Ibrox as Rangers honoured the brave men and women of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF.
They were treated to a truly astonishing first half.
One goal, four bookings and a red card.
Had Collum not overruled VAR, Jack would have headed up the tunnel too.
Tavernier smashed Rangers in front from the penalty spot with 15 minutes gone.
Morelos should have made it two seven minutes later, but not for the first time Remi Matthews was there to bail out St Johnstone.
The Saints keeper pulled off three incredible saves to keep his side in the game.
The game was just plodding along until the 33 minute when it exploded in controversy.
Collum was right in the middle of the madness.
Clark clattered through Jack, leaving the Rangers midfielder in a crumpled heap on the floor.
There was a delay of around 30 seconds before Collum went casually to his top pocket, whipping out his red card.
Even the home support seemed stunned.
Davidson was livid on the touchline, hurling a water bottle to the floor in anger.
He picked a yellow card for his troubles.
Then, less than two minutes later, Jack needlessly clattered through Adam Montgomery.
Collum was right up with play, quickly booking the Gers midfielder.
But, after another delay, the tackle was referred to VAR.
It seemed inevitable Jack would suffer the same fate as Clark, but after reviewing the incident Collum shook his head and waved play on.
Ibrox erupted - as did the Saints bench.
It had been a nothing sort of match, yet Collum seemed hell-bent on causing chaos.
Drey Wright almost equalised right on half-time, but after rounding Allan McGregor he tripped over the ball just as he was about to shoot.
Unsurprisingly, Jack was replaced at half-time.
It was a clever move by Beale, given his midfielder was walking a tightrope.
With 51 minutes played, Matthews made another outstanding save - this time denying Kent who’d latched on to Tillman’s through ball
You felt a second Rangers goal was coming, and five minutes later it arrived.
Cantwell played the ball forward, with Morelos flicking it into the path of Kamara.
The Finnish midfielder steadied himself before coolly slotting past Matthews.
It was a brilliant team goal.
With 72 minutes on the clock, Hagi came off the bench, replacing Tillman.
He got the biggest cheer of the afternoon, the toughest year of his life consigned to the past.
Sakala - who’d replaced Morelos - thought he’d added a third, but again Matthews pulled off a remarkable save at his near post to deny him.
Rangers continued to press for a third, but Saints, as they’d done all afternoon, worked their socks off to keep them out.
It was another satisfactory afternoon for the home side who are now ten unbeaten under Beale.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
The Gers boss will be happy too with Cantwell’s debut.
With a few days left, he will be hoping, however, to strengthen his midfield options further.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page