Indeed, a powerful 45th-minute strike from left-back Borna Barisic – his first goal in two years – was enough to see Rangers edge past St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in the Scottish Cup.
The Gers have put together an impressive run of form since the appointment of Michael Beale as head coach, winning eight and drawing one of their last nine games across all competitions, scoring 20 goals in the process.
A Scottish Cup fifth-round tie at home against Partick Thistle awaits Rangers next month, but they must first turn their attention to Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Johnstone, a side that they have beaten in each of their last four home league meetings by an aggregate score of 10-0.
The Glaswegian giants currently sit nine points behind rivals and reigning top-flight champions Celtic at the top of the table, but all hope is not lost as there are 16 Premiership fixtures still remaining this season, including two Old Firm derbies, and Beale remains optimistic that his in-form side can close the gap in the coming weeks.
Rangers will fancy their chances of success on Saturday against a struggling St Johnstone outfit, who have lost each of their last six matches across all competitions.
Callum Davidson’s men have recently lacked a cutting edge in the final third, as they have failed to score in three of their last four games and have registered just four shots on target in those three matches without a goal.
The Saints have lost 12 of their 22 Premiership fixtures so far this season and currently occupy eighth place in the table, sitting just four points above the bottom two.
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Confidence may be low heading to Ibrox, but St Johnstone have already beaten Rangers this season, securing a 2-1 home victory in November courtesy of strikes from James Brown and Nicky Clark, and they will hope to replicate that resilient showing on Saturday.
Rangers’ Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis, John Souttar, Filip Helander, Ianis Hagi, Ridvan Yilmaz and Nnamdi Ofoborh all remain on the sidelines.
Todd Cantwell became the club’s first signing of the January window earlier this week, joining from Norwich City on a permanent deal, and the midfielder is available to make his debut against St Johnstone.
