Rangers 2 St Johnstone 0: Clement extends unbeaten run as Dessers and Tavernier cut gap to Celtic to just TWO points
JUST four days ago, poor old Santa was close to tears after being booed at Celtic Park.
Across the city at Ibrox, he was back shaking his belly like a bowl full of jelly - partying on the pitch with the League Cup.
Father Christmas wasn’t the only one bearing gifts in Govan last night.
Diallang Jaiyesimi’s senseless straight red card - just minutes after Cyriel Dessers had fired Gers in front - effectively ended St Johnstone’s hopes of an upset.
The ten men put up a fight, but James Tavernier’s late penalty saw Rangers round off a historic week by cutting the gap on Celtic to just two points.
Time will tell just how seismic the last seven days have been.
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But from a side that had completely lost its way under Michael Beale, the Light Blues are through to the last 16 of the Europa League, with the Viaplay Cup already in the bag.
By the turn of the year, they could be top of the league.
Given they were at one stage 11 points behind - albeit with a game in hand - the transformation, inside just two months, has been nothing short of remarkable.
Under the stewardship of Philippe Clement they’ve shaken off the scar tissue and for the first time in a long time they are winning big games.
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They are back winning trophies.
The League Cup returned to Ibrox just days after Rangers won away to Spanish opposition for the first time in the club’s history.
But as Clement admitted himself, none of that would matter unless they continued to build.
So often in the past they’ve failed to apply the necessary pressure on their bitter rivals.
Yet Clement is now 15 games unbeaten since taking charge and Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers now knows he has a genuine title fight on his hands.
This was game number eight - in a run of 12 - in just 38 days for Rangers.
Last week, victory in Seville was followed by glory at Hampden as the Light Blues ended their long wait for League Cup success.
But such are the demands at Ibrox, it was back to work against St Johnstone.
Back-to-back league defeats for Celtic - their first since 2013 - had presented Clement’s side with a gift.
From seemingly down and out, suddenly they found themselves in a title race.
Win their games in hand - and avoid defeat at Celtic Park on December 30 - and Rangers would end the year top of the league.
What an incentive for a group of players widely written off just two months ago.
In a 26-year managerial career Saints boss Craig Levein had beaten Gers just three times - and only once at Ibrox.
But he arrived on the back of a big win at the weekend - his third since taking charge at McDiarmid Park.
Clement made five changes to his starting line-up with Kemar Roofe starting in attack for the first time since October.
Kieran Dowell also returned - making his first start since August.
After a quiet start, this one exploded into life.
THE VERDICT
Rangers: Butland 6, Tavernier 7 (King 86, 4), Goldson 7, Souttar 7, Ridvan 5, Lundstram 6 (Sterling 46, 4), Dowell 6, Lammers 5 (Cantwell 67, 3), McCausland 6, Sima 6 (Wright 67, 4), Roofe 2 (Dessers 16, 7).
St Johnstone: Mitov 9, Franczak 4 (Gallacher 60, 3), Olufunwa 5 (McGowan 71, 3), Gordon 5, Considine 5, Robinson 4, Sprangler 3 (Kane 35, 3), Phillips 7 (Carey 71, 3), Smith 6 (Costello 71, 2), Kucheriavyi 5, Jaiyesimi 2.
Referee: Alan Muir...6
Star man: Dimitar Mitov.
Saints, from being relatively comfortable, found themselves a goal and a man down inside the space of two manic minutes.
Rangers had been forced into an early change.
Roofe had got himself into a shooting position on the edge of the box. Liam Gordon blocked his shot in what proved to be the striker’s last act.
Clearly toiling, he was replaced by Dessers with just 15 minutes gone.
What an impact the Nigerian striker would have. Rangers had dominated possession without really cutting Saints open.
John Souttar - who’d received lengthy treatment inside the opening two minutes - was unfortunate not to score when he latched onto a Tavernier corner.
Daniel Phillips did well to get access and block.
With 28 minutes gone, Rangers got their noses in front.
Connor Goldson burst out of defence and fed Tavernier who was wide right.
His early cross seemed to wrong foot Oludare Olufunwa who misjudged the bounce.
Dessers showed real awareness to spin off his marker, finishing through the legs of Saints keeper Dimitar Mitov.
St Johnstone just had to compose themselves - instead Diallang Jaiyesimi flew in, studs up, on John Lundstram.
Initially referee Alan Muir showed the mindless midfielder a yellow card.
Following a VAR review it was branded serious foul play and upgraded to a red.
McCausland and Tavernier combined to set up Dessers who forced Mitov into a fine save.
The Saints No.1 was at it again moments later - this time diving low to his left to deny Sam Lammers.
Tavernier flashed a fizzing drive inches past the post as Gers came close to adding a second just before the break.
Sima went close two minutes into the restart - Dujon Sterling having replaced Lundstram at the break.
Lammers then forced Mitov into another stop at his near post.
The Bulgarian then pulled off two miraculous saves - first to deny Dessers and then Lammers - to keep his side in it.
Sima went close again - but still that crucial second goal wouldn’t come.
With seven minutes left it finally arrived.
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Sub Scott Wright pierced the Saints defence with Dessers rounding Mitov - all the Saints keeper could do was bring the Gers striker down.
Up stepped Tavernier from the spot to score.
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