Rangers have defeated St Johnstone 2-0 at Ibrox to close the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership to two points.
The Gers also have a game in hand on Old Firm rivals Celtic with the club’s sights firmly on topping the table in a dramatic turnaround under Philippe Clement.
Improving striker Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring at Ibrox before James Tavernier netted his 15th goal of the season from the penalty spot late in the second half.
This was after St Johnstone had Dialling Jaiyesimi sent off for a shocking first-half lunge on Rangers midfielder John Lundstram
Here’s three things we learned at Ibrox.
St Johnstone win cuts Rangers Scottish Premiership gap
Rangers have hauled themselves back into a Scottish Premiership title race after looking all at sea before the sacking of Michael Beale.
In the space of a few short weeks Philippe Clement has rejuvenated a confidence-stricken side with qualification from the club’s Europa League group and League Cup victory already in the bag.
The focus now is getting to January with the club firmly in the Scottish Premiership hunt and Rangers are now within two points of Old Firm rivals Celtic.
The club now have a four-game Premiership run before the winter break and fans will be hoping for a very, merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Cyriel Dessers a man reborn
When Rangers signed Cyriel Dessers this summer, clips of the Cremonese striker battering them in for Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League had fans excited.
Having just lost Alfredo Morelos – who will not be returning to Glasgow – the club was in dire need of a mobile focal point up top but Dessers’ start to life in Glasgow drew much criticism from the stands.
At Ibrox, players often sink or swim and the club’s reported £4.5m outlay looked increasingly like money which hadn’t been well spent.
But as Cyriel Dessers scored v St Johnstone to take his Rangers tally to nine for the season, the forward has begun to step up amid an injury crisis at Ibrox.
The striker also won the penalty which James Tavernier duly dispatched to round of the scoring.
Kemar Roofe can’t catch a break
Rangers striker Kemar Roof was recalled to the starting lineup for the win over St Johnstone but lasted only 16 minutes at Ibrox.
Once again being substituted as an injury problem flared up, the frustrated striker let loose in the tunnel as Rangers lost another forward player amid a tough run-in.
Kemar Roofe has shown himself repeatedly – including recently against Real Betis – to be a potent striker option since moving to Rangers in 2020.
But injuries have plagued the forward’s career and continue to blight his time in Govan.
Out of contract in the summer, time is surely running out for the high-earning striker who we’re sure will not be offered a new contract in Glasgow.
