Rangers Triumph 2-0 Over St Johnstone

Rangers clinched their third consecutive Scottish Premiership victory with Vaclav Cerny’s stunning double securing the points before Ianis Hagi received a late red card. Cerny scored two goals, one on either side of halftime ensuring Rangers ended the weekend five points behind rivals Celtic and Aberdeen. Hagi, who made his first appearance since August due to contractual issues, assisted Cerny’s second goal but saw his night turn sour after a high challenge on Adama Sidibe led to a red card following a VAR review.

Rangers faced pressure from St Johnstone, who displayed attacking intent and solid defending but Cerny’s brilliance broke the deadlock. After Cyriel Dessers missed an earlier opportunity, Cerny regained possession, nutmegged defender Sven Sprangler and curled in a precise low shot to give Rangers the lead. Later, Hagi set up Cerny again, who skillfully maneuvered through the defense to slot in his second goal.

Although St Johnstone had their chances including a near miss from Sidibe and a disallowed goal by Nicky Clark for offside, they struggled to capitalize on their opportunities. This match was pivotal for Cerny, who had faced criticism after a poor performance in a previous loss to Lyon. His performance here, particularly after his social media response to fan criticism, suggests a turning point for the winger.

Despite Hagi’s suspension, Rangers head into the international break with momentum and the chance to regroup before their upcoming match against Kilmarnock. St Johnstone under interim manager Andy Kirk showed signs of promise compared to their previous 6-0 defeat against Celtic indicating that with time, they could improve under their new manager Simo Valakari. Kirk acknowledged the need for improvement but saw potential in the team’s performance.