Rangers’ Scottish League Cup run is over after a defeat at Ibrox against St Johnstone on Tuesday.
I don’t, realistically, think anyone ever thought Rangers would maintain a 100% record throughout the entire season did they? The Gers definitely aren’t going to do this now after goals from Davidson, Lappin and O’Halloran had St Johnstone three-up before Tavernier got one back but it wasn’t enough to prevent a three-one defeat and end the 11-match winning run.
St Johnstone Highlights – Click Here
A 100% record in the Scottish Championship is ‘still on’ and perhaps this will happen, albeit it unlikely, but perhaps this defeat will perhaps temper some expectations a little and remind people Rangers aren’t invincible!
Wright’s side obviously hadn’t read the script, they certainly didn’t agree with the bookies as the gameplan they had worked perfectly with the topflight side preventing the Rangers intentions from being carried out with St Johnstone threatening a lead through Lappin, who forced a save out of Foderingham with his volley.
O’Halloran, who had started the game as he carried on – very well, was involved in the St Johnstone opener, cutting the ball back to MacLean who flicked back to Davidson (19) to make it one-nil from close range.
It could have been two, it should have been in fact, when O’Halloran set up MacLean who managed to somehow shot over from a couple of yards with Rangers limited to half chances for Zelalem and Miller.
A fine Lappin (29) strike, from the edge of the box, from a corner routine caught Rangers and did make two before the half hour mark though to leave the visitors in control.
St Johnstone took advantage of the Rangers intentions to be attacking, which others are starting to learn from and could look to exploit as they did, just a minute into the second half when a simple long ball forward allowed O’Halloran (46) to ran through to basically make sure of the win.
A route back into the game could have come, as St Johnstone in all honesty eased off their intensity, when Oduwa was denied his first goal with a purposeful run as he beat a couple of players and hit the crossbar.
Tavernier’s (62) seventh of the season, after a similar run to the Spurs loanee, gave a little hope past the hour but there wasn’t to be any dramatic fightback as St Johnstone had done their homework and given others an example to look to follow.
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