Borna Barisic fired his first goal in two years to nudge nervy Rangers past St Johnstone and into the Scottish Cup’s last 16.
The Croatian had not found the net since tucking away a penalty in a Europa League clash against Royal Antwerp during Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox reign. But his superbly-taken hit was enough to secure safe passage as Michael Beale’s men laboured to another win.
It’s now nine games unbeaten for the Londoner but yet again the Light Blues struggled to get going and had to survive a few anxious moments at the end before they could seal their place in Sunday’s draw for the next round. James Brown - the match winner when Saints stunned Gio van Bronckhorst’s Gers back in November - was restored to Callum Davidson’s team along with Danny Phillips, Cammy MacPherson, Melker Hallberg and Connor McLennan.
Beale’s rotation policy with his goalkeeper was in use again as Allan McGregor returned after sitting out Wednesday win at Killie, with Ryan Jack and Malik Tillman back in midfield. Slow starts have been a recurring theme during Beale’s tenure and this was no different.
The Light Blues certainly dominated the possession stakes but finding a way through Callum Davidson’s well-drilled Saints was another matter completely. The big travelling faithful had to wait 17 nibbles before their side finally took their first pop at Remi Matthews’ goal as a loose Andy Considine header set Ryan Kent off and running but Fashion Sakala’s volley from the winger’s back-post cross was miles off target.
Incidents of note continued to be scarce on the ground as the drab action ticked past the half hour mark. Tillman picked up a bizarre booking for merely standing his ground after Stevie May ran straight at the Bayern Munich kid.
Beale’s frustration on the touchline was clear as time and time again his team allowed promising moves to breakdown with basic mistakes and slack passing. Borna Barisic was only a whisker away from the opener, however, as he swept a free-kick just wide of Matthews’ left-hand post.
The hosts were forced into a change just before the interval as Brown left the field sporting a nasty shiner after taking a bump to the face from one of his team-mates. Graham Carey was the man sent on in his place but the Irishman hadn’t even had a touch of the ball as Gers finally conjured some quality and the opener. Tillman’s cute back heel from the touchline sent Sakala scampering into the box.
The Zambian’s shot was well struck but cannoned off the post. Barisic caught his effort on the follow up just as well but this time it was perfectly placed as his first-time strike screamed into the top corner. Matthews kept St Johnstone in the contest as he brilliantly clawed Connor Goldson’s header from a Barisic set-piece delivery out of the top corner shortly after the change of ends.
Ryan Jack dragged wide with 15 minutes left while Matthews was again at full stretch as he pushed away a fierce effort from substitute Scott Wright. Gers continued to push for a goal that would kill off the tie but Andy Considine was well-placed for the hosts to hook clear from under his own crossbar as Alfredo Morelos went for goal.
Rangers skipper James Tavernier had to make a similar intervention though as Davidson’s team threatened to send the game into extra-time when Theo Bair got across the front-post to flick past McGregor. There was a bit of frantic stuff at the death as Saints charged forward looking for a lifeline but thankfully for the visitors McGregor moved his feet and was able to grab another Bair effort before the Perth men could scramble level.
No home comforts for St Johnstone
McDiarmid was left resembling a mini-Ibrox as the St Johnstone support staged a boycott of the tie. The Perth faithful were left raging by their club’s decision to award the travelling Rangers fans three sides of the ground and voted with their feet by snubbing the clash.
The result was the lowest home support for the Perth men since they flitted from their old Muirton base in 1989. Gers had no shortage of support, though, with 7000 Rangers fans crammed round the expanded away section.
The extra numbers may not exactly have inspired the Light Blues to new levels as they again made heavy weather of getting the result. But the affair is bound to leave a sour taste in Callum Davidson’s mouth as the Perth powers that be effectively surrendered home advantage to their opponents.
Borna back on target
The Croatian was the surprise scorer as his first goal since a penalty against Royal Antwerp in February 2021 finally got Rangers off the mark just before the half-hour mark. The Ibrox faithful were forced to fork out an eye-watering £30 for their tickets and would have had a decent claim for a refund after a frankly awful opening 44 minutes.
But the opening goal was well worth the wait as Barisic’s full-blooded strike gave Michael Beale’s team the lead. The set-piece specialist had scored seven times previously for Rangers but all had come from dead ball situations.
His struggles hitting a moving target were embarrassingly obvious at Hampden last week, where he was left red-faced after two mortifying clean-air swipes during Gers’ Viaplay Cup semi win over Aberdeen. But this time Barisic made sure he got plenty on the ball as he smashed home a fine strike after Fashion Sakala’s own effort had smashed back off the post.
Another flat demonstration of Beale-ball
The new Ibrox boss will be delighted his side are through to the fifth round but it was yet another night were his team’s performance did nothing to ease the manager’s stress levels.
Tepid, lifeless opening halves have become a worrying recurrence for Steven Gerrard’s former sidekick.
Previously, he’s been able to stir some life into his men with his half-time team talk but this time Gers continued to go through the motions for the full 90.
Barisic’s opener was enough to propel the holders into the last 16 but only after a nervy finale in which Theo Bair very nearly grabbed a late equaliser.
Beale’s team are through but he’ll know this is a team desperately in need of fresh impetus and new January signings can’t come quick enough.
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