Pena’s double helps Rangers close gap on Celtic

GLASGOW: Mexican Carlos Pena bagged a brace as Rangers closed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone, who finished with 10 men at McDiarmid Park.

Pena opened the scoring in the 27th minute when he prodded home a James Tavernier cross.

The same pair combined again in the 78th minute as Pena headed home his second just six minutes after St Johnstone captain Steven Anderson was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Graham Dorrans fired home a third in the 86th minute to seal the win which moves Rangers to within three points of second place Aberdeen and leaders Celtic, who host Dundee today.

“We tried to get back to the basics and I’m not only pleased about winning but because we didn’t concede goals,” Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha said on Friday.

“We were more organised and when it was time to fight for the ball the boys did it.”

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright wasn’t happy with his side’s defending.

“I’m disappointed in how we defended the goals but I can’t be angry with them because I thought their performance was good,” Wright said. “The number of corners we had, the number of good opportunities we had; we just lacked the final ball.”

Following a cagey start it was the hosts who had the first chance when Murray Davidson’s perfectly timed challenge released Graham Cummins through on goal but the striker’s shot was tipped over by Wes Foderingham.

However, it was Rangers who took the lead with their first effort on target midway through the half.

Alfredo Morelos moved the ball out wide to Tavernier who delivered a perfectly weighted cross to the back post where the unmarked Pena stuck out a leg to stab the ball the ball into the roof of the net.

Pena had a chance for another soon after when he worked the ball on to his left foot on the edge of the box but his shot wasn’t a test to Alan Mannus in goal.

St Johnstone had a chance to level on the stroke of half-time when Anderson headed a Stefan Scougall corner on to Cummins but the striker hooked his effort from a tight angle on to the roof of the net.

Rangers should have doubled their lead shortly after the break when hesitation in the St Johnstone defence allowed Morelos in but the striker dithered and Mannus raced off his line to thwart the Colombian.

The visitors grew in confidence and moments later Daniel Candeias broke down the right and cut the ball back for Pena whose first time effort whistled just by the post before Morelos saw a deflected shot land on the roof of the net.

St Johnstone’s hopes of finding a way back into the game were dealt a blow in the 72nd minute when captain Anderson, booked earlier for a scuffle with Bruno Alves at a corner, picked up a second yellow for pulling back Morelos as he went past him.

Rangers capitalised on their extra man advantage when Pena got on the end of another superb delivery from Tavernier to bullet a header past Mannus to double their lead.

Dorrans came close with a superb strike that rattled the crossbar before he got Rangers’ third late on.

Morelos played the ball out wide to Jason Holt whose ball across the box was hit low into the net by the Scotland international. — AFP