8/10 Ben Davies MOTM, 4/10 Sam Lammers stinks yet again – Rangers player ratings v St Johnstone
Rangers returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday 16 September to ease the pressure on Michael Beale.
After losing their last two to PSV Eindhoven in Europe and Celtic before the international break, the Gers put in a professional and assured performance with goals from Danilo and Rabbi Matondo either side of the break to hand them a crucial win at McDiarmid Park.
The win takes the Gers into third in the Scottish Premiership table, a point behind their Old Firm rivals who face off against Dundee later on Saturday.
Here, Ibrox News rates the Rangers players out of 10 for their performance against St Johnstone.
Jack Butland – 7
Rarely had much to do in the first half and that was down to the solid defending from those in front of him. They say you need to be crazy to be a goalkeeper but you also need to be alert and vigilant when nothing seems to be happening for you and Butland was, commanding his box in set-piece scenarios, regularly in communication with his defenders and proved a solid and assured presence when playing out from the back.
James Tavernier – 8
Still undisputedly remains the best Rangers player on the pitch and it showed through his wonderful cross for Danilo’s header. Always in the right places at the right times to influence proceedings in the final third and looked a real threat all throughout. While his attacking play is his calling card at Ibrox, St Johnstone’s Dara Costelloe rarely got a sniff against him, winning 75% of his duels, and registering two clearances [SofaScore].
Connor Goldson – 7
Another dominant showing from one of Rangers’ most senior stars as he rarely gave St Johnstone a sniff alongside Ben Davies. Just where will Beale be without him? Tremendous leader and assured presence in defence as the Gers got back to winning ways with the added bonus of a clean sheet. Won 100% of his aerial duels and successfully completed 90% of his passes [SofaScore]
Ben Davies – 8
Returned to the lineup in fine fettle and proved to Beale why he’s got to be Goldson’s long-term defensive partner. A no-nonsense performance from the former Liverpool centre-back and like Goldson, rarely gave St Johnstone’s attacks an inch in a comfortable showing, winning a whopping 12 of his duels, successfully completing 85% of his passes and dribbled past zero times [SofaScore]. Man of the Match.
Ridvan Yilmaz – 6
Never too flashy in a Rangers shirt, but Yilmaz did his job and did it with an assured and easy aplomb, providing plenty of width in attack all while excelling defensively. Much has been made of his immediate future at Ibrox but his performance against St Johnstone certainly shows a player who has much to offer at Ibrox despite all the uncertainty.
John Lundstram – 6
While his midfield teammate Raskin grabs all the headlines, Lundstram quietly goes about his business and he certainly did that again today with an assured performance deep in midfield, breaking up play and instigating attacking moves while holding things together when things got rocky in the second half. An excellent and reliable performer to have in your squad but it will be interesting to see how consistent he is when faced off against much better opponents. He’ll get those tests in the Europa League.
Nicolas Raskin – 7
A wonderfully gifted midfield player who once again kept things steadily ticking over in possession for Rangers. So composed, assured, dynamic and classy in everything he does and proved again why he is a vital tool and cog in Beale’s system at Ibrox. Completed all of his 41 passes in the first half whilst excelling in his midfield duels, winning seven of his total duels. A player undergoing a stunning upward trajectory.
Tom Lawrence – 7
A decent first start of the season for Lawrence and will be encouraged by his road to full fitness. Failed to set the St Johnstone stadium to life in this performance and almost needlessly gave away a cheap penalty after some risky marking of his opponent in the box, he’ll certainly count himself very lucky on that instance. Still has plenty to do to get up to speed but delivered a superb assist for Matondo’s goal which rounded off the game. Superb awareness and vision to execute that pass.
Sam Lammers – 4
Took up some great positions in the first half in order to disrupt St Johnstone’s low block and contributed to Danilo’s goal with some brilliant movement and understanding of Tavernier’s run to feed him for the vital cross. Other than that, Lammers was largely ineffective after that pre-assist and again is missing his shooting boots which will be a huge worry for Beale. Won only one of his duels, lost possession 13 times, failed to register any key pass and registered just one shot on target [SofaScore].
Kemar Roofe – 5
Put himself about and tried to make things happen for the Gers but nothing came off in an uneventful and uninspired first-half performance and manager Beale may well be thinking about an axe for Rangers’ next game. Got another goal chalked off by VAR after he was unselfishly found in the box by Sima who was through on goal, but was deemed offside. Roofe will feel he isn’t getting the rub of the green right now.
Danilo – 6
Rarely got a touch in the game with the St Johnstone defenders ushering him out of the contest for much of the early stages before registering one of the most crucial touches of the game, a brilliantly taken header in the 16th minute which put Rangers in front. That’s what Beale will want from him moving forward, that touch of class even when he isn’t involved as much. The mark of a clinical striker.
Will have been distraught to have been forced off just minutes following the goal after he clashed heads when leaping to score coming off with what looked like a sore blow to his left eye. Hope this injury doesn’t derail his Ibrox career kickstart.
SUBS
Abdallah Sima (on for Danilo 20′) – 6
Looked a real threat as soon as he took to the pitch early on replacing the stricken Danilo and his off-the-ball runs and movement meant the St Johnstone simply could not live him. Still has some very raw edges to his game, though as he tends to make rash decisions when in crucial areas in the final third. Certainly needs more attentive coaching.
Rabbi Matondo (on for Lammers 72′) – 7
In other Rangers news, a journalist has shared the board’s stance on Beale’s future.