RANGERS added a point to their Premiership tally but this was undoubtedly two dropped.

Mark Warburton has yet to taste victory over St Johnstone and he would have returned home with a feeling of what might have been once again.

It should have been better for the Gers. In the end, they were just glad that it wasn’t worse as Tommy Wright’s side came from behind to earn a share of the spoils.

The wins over Aberdeen, Hearts, Hamilton and Inverness had seen confidence levels rise as momentum was built but Rangers now face a far sterner test.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton won't risk Lee Wallace for Old Firm clash

The visit of Celtic on Hogmanay is not just important in terms of their Premiership ambitions, it is also crucial for Warburton and his players to prove that they have learned from their mistakes in the two previous derby clashes.

Rangers may no longer have an ambition to win the top flight title this term, but they will still be judged against Celtic come the end of the campaign.

Progress has been made by Warburton’s side in recent weeks but Rangers couldn’t take another step forward at McDiarmid Park as they once again came unstuck against the Saints. An evening that started out with much promise would end in disappointment.

The main selection question in the build-up to the trip to Perth surrounded Lee Wallace after the Gers skipper was injured at the weekend.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton won't risk Lee Wallace for Old Firm clash

Wallace wasn’t fit enough to make the Gers squad but Warburton didn’t opt for a like-for-like replacement as he redrew his blueprint.

It saw Rangers adopt a 3-5-2 formation as Danny Wilson came back into the starting line-up alongside Clint Hill and Rob Kiernan.

After a couple of games in midfield, James Tavernier reverted to the right hand side, while Barrie McKay was on the opposite flank and Josh Windass joined Andy Halliday and Jason Holt in midfield.

Up front, Kenny Miller partnered Joe Garner as Warburton set out a forward thinking side in the search for a fifth successive Premiership win.

It was a plan that worked well as Rangers dominated the opening exchanges but the first half would end with the scores level as a defensive lapse and series of missed chances once again cost the Gers.

Warburton’s side were impressive going forward as they created a handful of good opportunities but they could only convert one as St Johnstone rallied after going behind.

Windass and Miller combined well before the midfielder fired just wide of target and Garner saw a weak header gathered by Zander Clark a couple of minutes later.

The striker has become a firm favourite with supporters in recent weeks but his efforts haven’t been rewarded in front of goal and he fired another blank here.

He had a half chance after Clark made a good save from a Miller effort but the Saints keeper was rooted to the spot when Rangers next tried their luck.

A McKay corner was cleared but the winger worked the ball back to Tavernier, who saw a superb curling effort come back off the bar.

The pressure was building and it eventually paid off for Rangers after 22 minutes. Garner was again denied by Clark but the keeper could do nothing to prevent his side falling behind.

McKay collected the ball, kept his composure and finished well to give the travelling support something to cheer as Warburton’s side deservedly took the lead.

It should have been the foundations upon which a comfortable victory was built but a moment of madness from Kiernan allowed St Johnstone back into the game as the flow of the match turned in an instant.

The defender is reportedly attracting the interest of Championship side Fulham but this was a black mark on any scouting report as a slack pass to Wes Foderingham allowed Steven MacLean to score.

Rangers had to regroup but they couldn’t respond before the end of the half, a McKay shot from a tight angle and follow up from Garner and a Windass effort all they could muster.

It was the former Accrington midfielder who had the first chance after the break but his shot was deflected as the wait continued for Rangers.

Frustrations began to grow for the Light Blues as Warburton’s side toiled and the Gers boss made his first switch as Martyn Waghorn took over from Garner in attack.

Just minutes later, Warburton had to turn to his bench again. It was Hill that was replaced this time, the veteran hobbling off in clear discomfort and replaced by Lee Hodson.

What had started as an entertaining and flowing fixture had become a war of attrition. It was a competitive encounter but there was little quality from either side now.

Read more: Rangers boss Mark Warburton won't risk Lee Wallace for Old Firm clash

The game was there to be won for both, though, and St Johnstone still fancied their chances as they looked to make it three games without defeat against Warburton’s side.

Referee Crawford Allan had to take action after Jason Holt reacted angrily to a challenge from Paul Paton. In the stramash that followed, Halliday and Richard Foster were booked as tempers flared.

The closing stages were scrappy, chances few and far between. It wasn’t the finale that Warburton would have hoped for, and certainly not the one that appeared on the cards earlier in the evening.

The point in Perth could yet prove crucial in the Premiership. Rangers now have one to prove at Ibrox.