Rangers picked up a much needed win as they dumped basement boys St Johnstone at Ibrox.
The Light Blues scored three goals in nine first half minutes to put the game out of sight before the half hour mark in a major boost to under-pressure boss Philippe Clement. Hamza Igamane, Vaclav Cerny and Mohamed Diomade grabbed the goals for the hosts with visiting defender Jack Sanders grabbing what proved a consolation effort after a much improved second half display.
The Union Bears made their presence known with a series of banner protests aimed at the Rangers board before they took part in the promised walkout in the 55th minute as they marched out the ground. It didn't go down too well around the rest of the stands with the diehards who stayed in their seats to support the Light Blues letting rip at their protest.
All the goals came before the Ibrox flashpoint as the Ibrox men reduce the gap to Celtic from 18 points to 15 at the league summit. Clement was able to take off key duo Igamane and Cerny for a rest with the hectic scheduling continuing midweek with Aberdeen visiting Govan on Wednesday night before a Scottish Cup battle with Highland League outfit Fraserburgh next weekend.
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Key Events
Clement felt 'alone in the desert'
Philippe Clement claims he felt "alone in the desert" for months at Rangers before the arrival of Patrick Stewart.
By full time at Ibrox on Sunday, that desolate feeling must have returned as brassed-off punters voted with their feet and the heat cranked up on the Belgian. It’s fair to say results over the course of the last few months have more than just sewn seeds of doubt in the mind of a support who reached the stage of issuing statements calling for his head last week.
Yet, together with the new chief executive Clement has vowed to get Rangers back on healthy ground and blooming. A root and branch review of the football department at Ibrox gets underway today. A department that’s malfunctioned so badly that there’s a snowball’s chance in the desert of a title challenge coming between now and May. There’s no more excuses for Clement though. After months of being left without a CEO, a full-time chairman and a sporting director, he has a full supporting cast.
You can read what he had to say here.
'You can call me crazy if you want' – Valakari
Simo Valakari is convinced the Scottish Cup can provide St Johnstone with some light relief from their catastrophic league situation.
The Perth men are nine points adrift at the bottom of the table after going down to Rangers.
But Valakari reckons his men can take a break from their Premiership pain with Motherwell up in the cup this weekend.
I want to move very quickly from here. You can call me crazy, but I know this club and this team, and I can feel it. It’s starting to turn. There is no better time than the cup this week.
For seven days we don’t need to think about the catastrophic position in the league. Now it’s the cup and it doesn’t matter how badly we have played in the league or what has happened.
It’s the Scottish Cup and we have exactly the same possibility to win as Rangers or anyone else has.
That’s why it’s a beautiful week. We can be light, we don’t have to think about this misery we have in the league. After the cup we can get back to fixing this. It’s a difficult situation and everyone is frustrated but in this cup week we have the same chance as everyone.
Nobody can walk into the ground miserable and sad. The pressure of the league situation isn’t on us.
Yes, it is good timing for the cup but we still need to work at our football – whether it’s league or cup we can’t make the same mistakes.
BBC air 'comical' Union Bears gaffe
The Union Bears suffered a sore one as they were left queuing to get out of Ibrox after their mass protest spectacularly backfired.
It was a day to forget for the Rangers ultras as they made tracks in the 55th minute but their own turned on them with fellow fans showering them in rage before the broadcaster spotted there was no hasty departure for those itching to make some noise against the club they follow home and abroad. The Union Bears let rip at the board and Philippe Clement in a pair of stinging addresses. However, their act of defiance in the 3-1 win over St Johnstone appeared to be an own goal.
The BBC commentary team picked up on the second sore one the Ultras were hit with second after their fellow fans rained down boos on the protestors.
We did have the walkout from the Union Bears, which was roundly booed from a lot of the supporters. There was almost a comical element to it, they couldn't all get out, so they all had to queue up for about five minutes before they could all actually leave the stadium.
Clement reacts to Union Bears walkoout
Unflustered Philippe Clement refused to get worked up over the Union Bears' walkout – saying it's up to his players to give the fans what they want to see.
The noisy Rangers supporters' group planned a walkout protest on 55 minutes during the clash with St Johnstone and went through with it even as they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Simo Valakari's team. They urged every supporter to join them, but very few outside the ultras section did, and loud boos were directed towards the section of fans who did walk out on the team.
It sparked a split among the fans and Clement recognised after the match there were two 'different' approaches on show at Ibrox. Asked about the walkout after his team got back to winning ways, the boss said on BBC Sportsound he hears the frustrated fans loud and clear.
I understand that that fans are not happy with our away record. I'm also not totally not.
Clearly it was two different ways (of supporting the team). A lot of fans stick to the team and support them, some fans want to show their disappointment. So it's important to give the fans what they want to see and then everything will will go back to normal.
A strange one
And that's understating it.
A comfortable win for Rangers and, on another day, the game would've been a bit of a non-event.
But boos, walkout protests and a fallout between the Union Bears and other supporters means the football isn't even the main story.
Philippe Clement is likely to be asked about that and, while he did his best to stay focused on the football, he looked a confused man on the 55th minute.
Stick with us and we'll bring you what he, and everyone else, has to say.
FULL-TIME!!
The whistle goes at Ibrox and it is a much-needed home win.
Rangers 3 St Johnstone 1
Stick with us for all the post-match reaction..
Job just about done..
Philippe Clement need a win and in truth this game was done in half an hour.
Three goals in a nine minute first half period ended this game as a contest.
Saints improved after the break and got that goal that proved a consolation.
They may take heart from their second half display but they face a huge task to survive.
For Rangers, a much needed win for both the Belgian boss and the fans.
Final moments
So the 90 minutes have been and gone and we now enter added time.
Five minutes are shown on the board.
Another change
Leon King gets the final minutes of action and is straight into the mixer.
A ball falls to him on the edge of the area but his effort is blocked.
What an impact that could have been!
Union Bears protest
The ultras group asked fellow fans to join their protest in the 55th minute and while it didn't go down too well around the ground - the Union Bears stuck to their word and headed out from their seats.
The atmopshere noticeable shifted with others in attendance around Ibrox making their feelings known to the group.
10 to go!
We are into the final exchanges at Ibrox and Saints force Liam Kelly into action.
Graham Carey cuts inside after skipping past Ross McCausland's sliding challenge.
But his effort to Liam Kelly's near post is well collected by the goalkeeper.
Changes for both sides
Ianis Hagi is heading off and is replaced by Ross McCausland.
For the visitors, Josh McPake comes on against his former club alongside Graham Carey as both put fresh legs on.
Chance!
A mistake from Sanders offers a chance to sub Cyriel Dessers.
But rather than swing a leg at it, his heavy touch takes the ball away from him and allow a big recovery tackle.
That one goes down as a chance for the hosts.
Final 20 minutes
Rangers haven't found the net after three goals and a dominant first half performance.
They are continuing to push to restore that three-goal advantage and grab a fourth of the match at Ibrox.
St Johnstone have improved in this half with the goal and change of shape giving them more belief.
Cortes forces smart save
Oscar Cortes nearly scores within a minute of coming on the park.
He was part of a double change alongside Cyriel Dessers for key duo Hamza Igamane and Vaclav Cerny.
His low effort forwed a low diving save from Fisher who does well to get down to his right and push the ball away from goal.
Protest takes place - but not all fans are happy!
Angry ultras made a march for the exit door on 55 minutes to underline their fury at the running of the club.
But the diehards who remained in the ground let rip at the protest from their feelow fans.
The Union Bears and Rangers Supporters Association trudged out as they demand change at the club - but it wasn't for everyone.
They also unfurled a number of banners in the build up to the main event.
Hour on the clock
Rangers are trying to push again after that goal for the visitors.
They are popping the ball around and trying to restablish their three goal lead.
A corner is cleared and it leads to another chance from the other side.
The ball eventually ends with Fisher in the Saints goal.
Boos rings around Ibrox
Two leading fans group called for a 55th minute protest and it seems a split opinion on the ground.
As they make their way out others in the ground have voiced their own feelings.
GOALL ST JOHNSTONE!!!
A first corner of the game and a lifeline for Saints.
Jack Sanders heads home from inside the six yard box with Liam Kelly left with no chance.
The hosts will be disappointed with the defending but a rare moment of cheer for the visting fans and Valakari.
Rangers 3 St Johnstone 1
Rare chance for Saints
A bit of belief for Saints?
A shot if deflected and just goes wide of Liam Kelly's post for a corner.
Got to do better
A weird one to say considering Rangers are cruising three goals to go the good.
But a man of Vaclav Cerny's quality really should do better.
Danoilo plays in the winger on the angle and he digs out the shot with the ball slightly behind him.
A simple save in the end for Andy Fisher but he will be disappointed not to double his tally for the afternoon.
Familiar story
It doesn't take Rangers long to put the pressure on Saints and get a first chance of the half.
Nico Raskin unleashes at goal inside 20 seconds but his effort is blocked by Danilo.
He then has a second bite at the cherry but it is deflected wide.
It could be a long half for the visitors..
RESTART!
The players are back out at Ibrox as the second half gets underway.
The visitors have made a double change with Aaron Essel and Nicky Clark off and Barry Douglas and Taylor Steven on.
Rangers 3 St Johnstone 0
Grim reading for St Johnstone
Billy Dodds has handed St Johnstone a stark warning on BBC Sportsound.
St Johnstone are sitting on their own at the bottom of the table and with the score at 3-0 going in at the break, he's delivered a grim message.
These are the kind of results, when you are eight points adrift, that can just finish your season. Right here, right now.
Fans unfurl another banner
A banner is unfurled during the first half in a clear message to the Rangers board.
Fans appreciation
The Rangers players get a round of applause from the fans as the whistle goes.
It's been a dominant display from the first whistle from the home side the points effectively in the bag by the half way point.
Hamza Igamane, Vaclav Cerny and Mohamed Diomande with the goals in an easy first half.
Simo Valakari will take the positive that his side kept the hosts out for 20 minutes after that goal rush.
But the picture is looking bleak for the struggling Saints who will be desperate to avoid any further damage.
5 to go!
We are five minutes from the break.
Rangers are in total cruise control against the Premiership's bottom club.
It may be 3-0 but Philippe Clement will be desperate for more goals.
Strike a pose!
Mohamed Diomande celebrates with Nico Raskin and Clinton Nsiala after scoring Rangers' third.
