Rangers’ odds against St Johnstone are likely to make for positive reading for the Gers support. But are they in for a bigger test than they realise?
Firstly, why shouldn’t Rangers be confident? They just dismantled Dundee 4-0 in a terrific performance in the league, with several of their big stars performing. St Johnstone can easily fall into the same category as the Dees, can’t they? In truth, not really.
Tommy Wright’s men deserve massive respect heading into this clash on Saturday. Rangers have a terrific record against St Johnstone in recent years, and have lost just twice in their last 16 meetings. Those two defeats, however, came in recent years at Ibrox.
Nobody will surely need remembered of the highly disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Saints under Graeme Murty. The Gers were on a high at that point, with talk of a title-challenge simmering. That, however, was a huge set-back for the club at the time.
Rangers are a lot better than they were under Murty back then. Steven Gerrard has brought in a plethora of summer signings, and they’ve raised both standards and expectation levels.
St Johnstone, however, have also improved themselves this summer. They’re a much better side than the one that pitched up and won handsomely at Ibrox last season.
With Drey Wright and Matthew Kennedy down each side, the Saints now have genuine pace on either flank. They still like to be physical when the time and match demands it, but they’re playing much better than last season.
Tony Watt and David McMillan up top are also looking dangerous. McMillan just notched his second goal in two games against Aberdeen last weekend. Watt, on the other hand, is on something of a renaissance under Wright this term.
Let’s not kid ourselves, Rangers should still turn up and beat St Johnstone. Nobody is going to deny that. But it’s important to respect the qualities this Saints side have, as Rangers have been caught cold by them before.
