Rangers manager knows he has a match-winner

WHAT would Rangers do without Alfredo Morelos?

St Johnstone went out to frustrate and perhaps even anger the Colombian. He refused to get involved, despite much provocation, and instead of seeing red, he kept his cool and walked out of Perth the hero.

Steven Gerrard knows he has a match-winner in the 23-year-old. But St Johnstone felt they were denied a goal with minutes to go and Rangers scored their third on the break.

The first half produced no goals and left the Rangers manager puzzled. His side had almost all the possession and yet should have been behind.

Rangers’ first opportunity came on 11 minutes when an exquisite Ryan Jack pass gave Morelos a clear sight at goal inside the St Johnstone box. The Colombian would have backed himself to score, but keeper Zander Clark got off his line quickly to make a fine stop.

Rangers completely controlled the game and then, out of nothing, St Johnstone came within a whisker of taking the lead.

With 10 minutes to go until the break, a long punt from Clark was headed into Michael O’Halloran’s path by Filip Helander. The Irishman was free with Allan McGregor to beat – but the keeper brilliantly saved with his foot.

Morelos made his former team-mate pay.

Within a minute of the restart, St Johnstone won a corner. Jack got on the ball outside his own box and intelligently passed 50-plus yards to Morelos. He then superbly used his strength to shrug off Scott Tanser, bore down on goal before producing an outstanding finish. It changed everything.

The game was over before the hour. Tavernier had one cross blocked, he made no mistake with his second effort and Connor Goldson impressively guided a header past the despairing Clark.

But with minutes to go, Tommy Wright and his players were left furious.

Referee Andrew Dalls said the ball didn’t cross the line from Murray Davidson’s shot. Steven Davis made his second goal-line block but the ball did seem to be just over. Rangers broke up the park and Jermain Defoe ignored the arguments and got on the scoresheet. Salt was rubbed into the wound when Defoe made it four.

Neil Cameron