Rangers 1-3 St Johnstone: Time to reflect for boss Warburton after first Ibrox defeat

It was a night of firsts for Rangers against St Johnstone, but it didn’t turn out to be the achievements they were looking for.

This may have been Rangers’ maiden match against a Premiership outfit this season but it was only another, if different, test for Warburton and his players, not the definitive one.

There was still a sense of expectation around Ibrox, though. Rangers had to win, not just compete, but it was the Saints who triumphed, a 3-1 victory seeing them book their place in the League Cup fourth round.

The theory in recent years was that wins over top flight opposition in cup competitions proved that Rangers were making good progress on the road to recovery and were on track to be capable of playing Premiership football at the first opportunity.

It turned out to be some way from the reality as Rangers were condemned to another campaign in the Championship, the ties against Inverness Caley Thistle, Kilmarnock and St Johnstone meaning little in the bigger picture of a nightmare season.

It is why the outcome of this match, the defeat that it was or the win Rangers had hoped it would be, will ultimately count for nothing in the coming months. It was a challenge, one they failed, but a greater goal – the Championship title – is what really matters this term.

That is not to say this was a match Rangers didn’t want to win. They did and they believed they had a chance of it.

In the end, it was to turn out to be a night of disappointment as an opportunity was missed. It was the Saints who went marching on.

The post-mortem in the coming days will allow Warburton to determine what his side should have done better and where it all went wrong.

Credit must be given to Tommy Wright and his players but that will not mask Rangers’ deficiencies. St Johnstone played well and ran out deserved winners in front of a crowd of just over 27,000 at Ibrox.

They exploited Rangers’ weaknesses, took their chances when they came along and then staved off a late charge from the Light Blues as Warburton’s side looked to find a way back into the game.

It always looked a forlorn hope, though. On a night when Rangers had to be at their best, they were far from it.

The defeat will be a painful one but it is one from which Rangers will learn. There are still enough positive pointers to prove they could more than hold their own in the Premiership but this wasn’t a night where they showed it.

The last thing Warburton and his players saw when they left the home dressing room before kick-off were two new signs that have been put up to inspire them as they make their way down tunnel.

The first message of ‘Send them home happy’ has been Warburton’s mantra for many weeks, while the other read ‘Enter the pitch with no doubts. Leave the pitch with no regrets’.

When Rangers returned at half-time, they already had plenty to think about. It was bad and it could, and should, have been worse.

While much of the focus in the opening weeks of the campaign has been on Rangers’ free-flowing attacks, there has always been a doubt about their defensive capabilities.

Those fears came true as St Johnstone exploited their weaknesses to take a 2-0 lead in at the break as Warburton’s side were left with it all to do.

The signs had been ominous from the opening minutes when Simon Lappin forced Wes Foderingham to make a smart save after a well struck effort and it didn’t take long for the Saints to break the deadlock.

The goal was typical of their approach and setup as they burst forward at speed and with numbers and when Michael O’Halloran’s cross from the right was flicked on by Steven MacLean, Murray Davidson was on hand to convert at the near post.

Ibrox was stunned but defiant as the Light Blue legions looked to roar on their side and Warburton attempted to spark his players into action.

St Johnstone should have been two goals ahead when O’Halloran picked out MacLean but the striker ballooned his effort high over the bar from just yards out. Rangers couldn’t capitalise, though.

There was a fierce drive from Gedion Zelalem and shot from Kenny Miller that was blocked by Alan Mannus but, with the next goal crucial, it was the Saints who found the target just before the half hour mark.

Rangers’ defence was again slack, the St Johnstone goal again well taken. It was Lappin this time who did the damage as, from acres of space at the edge of the area, he collected David Wotherspoon’s corner and gave Foderingham no chance with a sweetly struck effort.

A chorus of Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’ just before the players re-emerged for the second half had the home crowd believing that everything little thing was going to be alright. It wasn’t.

Within seconds, St Johnstone had made it 3-0 and Warburton was staring his first defeat as Ibrox boss in the face as O’Halloran raced clear and stabbed the ball beyond Foderingham.

Rangers needed a goal, and quickly. After Oduwa hit the bar, Tavernier hit the net.

It was the right-back’s seventh of the campaign as he blasted the ball beyond Mannus. The roar of celebration became one of encouragement.

As the clock ticked down, the belief started to fade. There were half chances, Waghorn headed wide, and the odd moment to get the crowd off their seat, but none to keep them on their feet.

Some started heading for the exits, resigned to the fact that their side were about to be beaten for the first time this season.

When it was confirmed, there was disappointment but appreciation. Rangers had given it a good effort, but it was far from their best.

Now Warburton must find out why as attentions turn to the trip to Cappielow this weekend. The League Cup dream is over, now the Championship one must be realised.