An improved St Johnstone performance was not enough to avoid exiting the Scottish Cup at the fourth round stage.
Saints had looked far more structured and hard to break down across the evening but Borna Barisic’s impressive finish on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure Rangers’ progression in the competition.
The build-up had been dominated by the decision to hand the opposition three of the four McDiarmid Park stands, as well as the pricing structure of £30 for adults and £20 for concessions. It had not gone down well.
On the playing front, manager Callum Davidson had hinted at changes and made five from the painful result and performance against Livingston last weekend.
James Brown, Cammy MacPherson, Dan Phillips, Melker Hallberg and Connor McLennan were all handed the opportunity to impress.
Dropping out completely was Ryan McGowan - he has a groin injury - while Alex Mitchell, Graham Carey, David Wotherspoon and Nicky Clark settled for a spot on the bench.
Not been witnessed much this season, Saints had four across the backline. Brown on the right, Liam Gordon and Andy Considine in the centre and Adam Montgomery out left.
It appeared to be a four in front of them. Drey Wright, MacPherson, Phillips and McLennan. More advanced and playing off Stevie May was Hallberg.
Saints, going against the form book in recent weeks, had actually started pretty well and looked comfortable enough in possession. That was aided by the work of Phillips and MacPherson.
Despite a few promising breaks into Rangers territory, goalkeeper Allan McGregor remained untested. But similarly, up the other end, Remi Matthews had not been called into action.
Fashion Sakala did take up a dangerous 17th minute position at the back stick but was unable to turn Ryan Kent’s lofted cross on target.
Saints continued to show discipline and determination in equal measure as the half progressed. There was a scare when Barisic’s free-kick from the edge of the box was inches wide.
The left-back had his angles spot on in the 44th minute, though, with a clever finish after Sakala had struck the post with a fierce strike from the opposite side of the box.
The opener had arrived moments after Brown was required to leave the field of play for what appeared a painful facial injury. Carey was the replacement.
What the first half had done was give Saints hope that there could well be something in this game for them but an assured restart was required.
It was not a bad one, although Matthews was needed just shy of the hour mark to pull off a terrific diving save to deny Connor Goldson’s header.
Davidson rolled the dice in the forward department in the 67th minute when Clark and Theo Bair replaced Hallberg and May.
Rangers, however, looked to double their advantage as the game reached its latter stages and Scott Wright forced Matthews into action before Considine was positioned well to clear an Alfredo Morelos attempt off the line.
Not long after there was another goal-line clearance. James Tavernier this time denying Bair, who had produced a clever front post run and flick.
David Wotherspoon and Jamie Murphy were thrown on with seven minutes remaining in place of MacPherson and McLennan, who could both be pleased with their performances.
Clark had Saints’ best chance of a late leveller when sending a volley from Bair’s knockdown towards the centre of the goal with power. McGregor managed to hold on.
