Michael Stewart hails ‘wonderful result’ for Rangers after St Johnstone win
The edgy 1-0 victory Rangers secured at St Johnstone was a “wonderful result” because of the circumstances according to Michael Stewart.
A third-minute goal from Glen Kamara but the visitors in front, but they were unable to find the net again and had to battle to hold on to their win on a difficult pitch at McDiarmid Park.
Following the weekend’s 2-2 draw with Motherwell at Ibrox, Gers had only managed to win three of their eight Scottish Premiership matches in 2022, so the victory was big despite the performance.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene on Wednesday night (2 March), Stewart said: “I think in the grand scheme of things that’s a wonderful result for Rangers.
“They hadn’t won in their last four away from home.
“It wasn’t a great performance, it wasn’t great conditions, they get the three points and that’s all that really matters.”
Struggle
It is a worry that the Light Blues have found themselves once again in the middle of a slump early in the New Year.
After Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in during November the team had sailed through to the winter break with a perfect record, opening up a comfortable lead at the top of the table.
Drawing at Aberdeen first time out upon return would have raised a few doubts in fans’ minds, but the turnaround has seen 11 points dropped and a surrendering of the league lead.
In that sense any win is an achievement, and it is hard slogs like last night which the players have too often not had enough to force through.
But that doesn’t escape the fact that these matches were not so difficult just recently, and shouldn’t be now.
Gers need to use this result as a springboard to start a run domestically if they are to have hope of retaining their title.
The manager appears not to trust his wider squad, which has manifested in a lack of rotation in forward areas, and probably too much at the back.
Some stability in defence and some fresh legs further forward, with the exception of stand-out Alfredo Morelos, might be a good idea.
In other Rangers news, angry shareholders have demanded answers from the club over their controversial November plans.