Rangers Claim Comfortable Victory Over St Johnstone Amid Fan Protests
Rangers bounced back to winning ways with a commanding 3-1 victory over St Johnstone at Ibrox on Sunday, 12th January 2025, but the match was marred by a walkout from some fans in protest against the club’s management. The fans’ frustration, primarily stemming from the team’s recent poor away form, became evident during the 55th minute, as promised by the Union Bears supporters group. Despite the protests, Rangers’ performance in the first half ensured that they took the three points with relative ease.
From the outset, Rangers were determined to make a statement. Within the first 25 minutes, they had already put the game beyond St Johnstone's reach. The opening goal came in the 16th minute when Hamza Igamane capitalized on a sloppy St Johnstone throw-in, tapping in Mohamed Diomande’s assist. Just minutes later, Vaclav Cerny extended the lead, taking advantage of more defensive errors before Diomande added a third, nodding in a loose header from Jack Sanders. At that stage, it seemed like a matter of how many goals Rangers could score.
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However, after the break, St Johnstone showed signs of life. They appeared more solid defensively and created a few opportunities. In the 54th minute, Jack Sanders redeemed himself by scoring a well-executed goal following a clever corner delivery from Max Kucheriavyi. This gave St Johnstone a glimmer of hope, but they never truly threatened to make it a contest. Rangers, though not as clinical in the second half, continued to control the game, and substitute Oscar Cortes nearly extended the lead with a curling shot that was well saved by St Johnstone’s goalkeeper, Andy Fisher.
While Rangers will be pleased to have taken the three points, manager Philippe Clement could not help but feel that his team’s performance was somewhat flat after the early blitz. Despite the win, Clement expressed that he expected more from his side in the second half and acknowledged that their attacking fluidity had diminished. The result lifted Rangers to 44 points, still 15 behind league leaders Celtic, and they will now look to build on this victory, hoping to gain more consistency in upcoming fixtures.
For St Johnstone, the result leaves them firmly entrenched at the bottom of the table, with just 15 points from 22 matches. Despite showing some resilience in the second half, their defensive vulnerabilities were once again exposed, and manager Simo Valakari will need to reassess his tactics as his side faces a tough battle to avoid relegation.
The walkout by the Union Bears, timed just after St Johnstone’s goal, reflected growing discontent among Rangers fans, frustrated by the team’s lack of away form. While some fans supported the protest, others booed the gesture, creating a divided atmosphere at Ibrox. The walkout followed an earlier statement from Rangers’ CEO, Patrick Stewart, affirming the board’s support for Philippe Clement despite the manager’s struggles on the road.
Ultimately, Rangers earned the win they needed, but questions remain over their consistency and ability to challenge Celtic for the title. For St Johnstone, it was another setback in a season that is becoming increasingly difficult, and the road ahead looks perilous for them.
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