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Match Review : Rangers Vs St Johnstone Sunday, 29 August 2010 12:13 Written by Bazza

Before a ball had even been kicked for this game I'd read of some impresive winning scorelines for The Rangers, all built from a confidence which is growing within the support. Jelavic had finnaly got his work permit, Weiss was expected to start and Beattie has now had a good bit of time to acclimatise to life at Ibrox, all this, along with Celtic giving us a good laugh midweek had led to an optimism all too rare at Ibrox.

Unfortunately, life tends not to give you such an easy ride and it was the other side of the Champions that was on show yesterday. Grit and determination and a will to win were the attributes that had to emerge, and emerge they did.

Weiss and McCulloch were the two changes to last weeks side as they came in for the suspended Lafferty and Edu respectively and it was the skill of the former and the dog of the latter that Rangers were to focus most of the match on.
 

As has come to be a bit of a norm on matchdays at Ibrox, Rangers were slow out the blocks as St Johnstone were proving to be stubborn and tough, this was epitomised in 18 minutes where three players, Davis, Haber and Davidson all went in for a ball at 110% with Davidson coming off worst in a nasty clash, caused more by his own man than anything else. The stretcher was called for, along with the spinal board, which is never a good sign. The Rangers fans were to applaud there opponent from the field with the genuine feeling of get well soon.

It was Saints that then took the lead after a bit of pressure through a freekick and then a corner. It was a well worked move that saw the ball drop to the edge of the box and a sweet strike by Grainger left McGregor rooted. Rangers needed this to spur them on, why this is the case is another question, and they looked to Weiss to set something into motion. The youngster looked a bit too keen at times but was involved in the Rangers equaliser. He picked out a lovely ball to Naismith at the back post where Naismith nodded the bal back across goal, the resulting scramble saw the ball drop to The Papac who squeezed the ball over the line.

1-1 at half time was probably a fair assessment and Rangers really needed to up the ante in the second to retain their 100% start to the new season. It was all a bit huff and puff but Rangers were in control of the game with chances coming and going. At the 65th minute, Walter's substitute time, their was the biggest roar of the day as Jelavic was stood on the touchline ready to enter the battle. His ovation was something special and if that does not endear him to Ibrox then nothing will.

Like Weiss last week, he was impressive enough in his cameo role but it was the old guard who were to finally break down the dogged Saints and send the Gers back to the top of the league. With just over ten minutes left on the clock, McCulloch played tjhe ball of the game as he carved open the Saints back line and who should be making the perfect run but a certian Kenny Miller. His touch was good and his finish even better and proves once more that a contract for this man would be worth more than another signing at this stage in proceedings.

Overall it wasn't the pretty style, goals galore performance that a lot were expecting but it did show that none of that winning mentality has been lost and that our title will be fought for to thew death.




RM’s verdict:


McGregor: - 5 Unsighted for the goal as it flew through a throng of players. Not overly much else to do.

Whittaker: - 5 Still not his confident best but did manage to push on, especially in the second half.

Bougherra: - 6 Strong and assured, it's one of the big pluses of this transfer window that he's still at the club.

Weir: - 5 Caught out on too many occasions for pace as it was from one of his freekick's given away that led to Saints opener.

Papac: - 5 Is starting to make a habit of scoring against St Johnstone and it was at a crucial time to get us back level before the break.

Naismith: - 7 Again a big part of the game with good workrate, forward surges and a goal threat too.

Davis: - 5 Not really settled into his midfiel role as yet and maybe his best position was as a bit more free role on the right.

McCulloch: - 6 Gave a bit more fight in the heart of the side and proved his deft touch as he split open the Saints defence for the winner

Weiss: - 7 Looked dangerous going forward and showed a very good workrate to boot. Will play a vital role for us this season.

Beattie: - 5 Looking a bit more at the pace of the game today without realy carving out much of a chance.

Miller: - 8 His goals are proving so vital for us, even at this early stage of the season.


Subs:-

Jelavic: - 5 Like Weiss last week, an impressive wee cameo role and shows promise for the near future.




Rangers: - McGregor, Weir, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, McCulloch, Davis, Weiss (Edu 83), Miller, Naismith, Beattie (Jelavic 67).


· Substitutes: - Alexander, Broadfoot, McMillan, Edu, Jelavic, Little, Hutton.



Goals: - Papac 33, Miller 79

Booked: - Papac, McCulloch, Weiss


St Johnstone: - Smith, Grainger, Rutkiewicz, Duberry, Anderson (Dobie 86), Maybury, Morris, Millar, Davidson (Caddis 18), Samuel (Taylor 72), Haber.


Substitutes: - Enckelman, Gartland, Caddis, Taylor, May, Parkin, Dobie.

Goals: - Grainger 25

Booked:- Anderson, Samuel

Att:- 46,109

Ref:- Muray 

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