Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone: Michael Beale’s side are six points behind leaders Celtic

Rangers edged out 10-man St Johnstone with a 2-0 win in a controversial Premiership cinch game at Ibrox.

On the day Todd Cantwell made his Rangers debut, skipper James Tavernier slammed a penalty in the 15th minute before referee Willie Collum took center stage.

He showed Saints striker Nicky Clark a red card in the 33rd minute for a foul on Gers midfielder Ryan Jack, with the VAR check confirming the decision.

Rangers are six points behind leaders Celtic after a comfortable 2-0 win over St Johnstone

James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot after a handball in the penalty area

St Johnstone’s Nicky Clarke was shown red for a late challenge against Rangers’ Ryan Jack

Collum then stood by his decision to give Jack a yellow card for a late tackle on Adam Montgomery after checking the fieldside monitor.

Midfielder Glen Kamara added a second Rangers goal after 57 minutes to bring the Govan side within six points of leaders Celtic, who play at Dundee United on Sunday.

Michael Beale’s record since taking charge of the Gers is near-unblemished with nine wins and a draw in ten games, while Callum Davidson’s side, who were eliminated from the Scottish Cup by the Light Blues in Perth last weekend, are now seven games lost in a row.

Cantwell had not played since November 12 but was slotted into the starting XI in place of Fashion Sakala, while Kamara replaced John Lundstram.

Signed from Norwich, the 24-year-old midfielder had plenty of touches in the early stages.

The home side’s first chance came in the sixth minute when Malik Tillman sent Alfredo Morelos on target, but an unconvincing shot was blocked by St Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews, who thwarted the Colombian striker six minutes later after the Saints defense had been reopened.

Rangers’ penalty, awarded after the ball struck defender James Brown in the arm after coming off Tillman’s back, was converted confidently by Tavernier, who powered the ball high past Matthews.

The McDiarmid Park keeper continued his personal duel with Morelos, blocking another shot from the striker in the 22nd minute after being sent clear by Kamara.

Minutes later, Clark shot over the bar from a Connor McLennan cross at the other end to remind Rangers that there was still work to be done.

Todd Cantwell made his Rangers debut on Saturday after moving from Norwich

Matthews made decent saves from Ryan Kent’s drive before the Saints were reduced to 10 men after former Gers forward Clark’s high tackle on Jack in the middle of the field meant the Ibrox playmaker needed treatment.

Saints boss Davidson was shown a yellow card by Collum for venting his frustration before asking the umpire to check his monitor after showing Jack a yellow card for his fierce challenge in Montgomery. To some surprise, he stuck to his decision, which did not amuse Davidson.

Matthews saved a Tavernier free-kick just before the break but Drey Wright had time to run on a pass from Danny Phillips, round Gers keeper Allan McGregor and then fall over as he tried to squeeze the ball from a tight angle.

Glen Kamara (right) doubled the lead with a good finish before the hour mark

Unsurprisingly, Lundstram took over from Jack early in the second half where Matthews again proved his worth, chipping away at a close-range drive from Kent after Tillman set it up.

Rangers kept up the pressure and the unmarked Kamara accepted a clever move from Morelos and punched Matthews from 14 yards to effectively seal the win.

Sakala replaced Cantwell in the 62nd minute before McGregor did a good job of deflecting an Andy Considine header as Perth’s men kept fighting.

There was great cheering when Ianis Hagi, who was out for just over a year with a knee injury, came on as a substitute along with Antonio Colak and Scott Wright, while Morelos, Kent and Tillman made way, but the result did not change despite some unrelenting Rangers attacking .