A confusing Cyriel Dessers goal helped Rangers overcome St Johnstone 2-0 in their Premier Sports Cup last-16 game at Hampden Park as the Light Blues fans voted with their feet.
The holders went into the game on the back of their costly Champions League qualifying exit to Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night at the national stadium, used as a temporary home by the Govan club due to the delayed reconstruction of one of the Ibrox stands, and Hampden appeared to be less than half-full for this cup clash.
Philippe Clement’s side had plenty of efforts on goal while Saints struck woodwork in the goalless first half before half-time substitute Dessers netted in the 58th minute.
The goal was awarded after referee Matthew MacDermid was asked by the VAR to check his monitor after initially appearing to blow for a foul by the Gers striker before he drove it in, with substitute Ross McCausland adding a second in added time.
Rangers go into the quarter-final draw but add to current injury woes, new signing Robin Propper went off before the interval to add to the list including Nicolas Raskin, Oscar Cortes, Ridvan Yilmaz, Leon Balogun and Scott Wright.
There was some positive news in the shape of Brazilian striker Danilo, who featured for the first time since recovering from a knee injury sustained last December, while Dujon Sterling, Kieran Dowell, Vaclav Cerny and Rabbi Matondo also came in to the side.
Levein’s side, buoyed from last week’s 3-0 win at Kilmarnock, had Graham Carey in for the suspended Aaron Essel.
Matondo’s pace down the left was proving an early threat for Rangers and his drive from the edge of the box in the 15th minute was parried by Saints goalkeeper Josh Rae, but Cerny could not capitalise on the loose ball.
Saints were not without a threat and midway through the first half, defender Andre Raymond came out of a tackle with Rangers skipper James Tavernier with the ball but his shot struck defender John Souttar and spun past for a corner.
At the other end, Danilo flashed a cutback from fellow Brazilian Jefte over the crossbar after good work again by Matondo.
Rangers slowly stepped up the pressure and Rae made a great double save, first from Mohamed Diomande’s drive and then Danilo from the rebound, before Jefte and then Cerny cleared the bar with efforts.
Saints, however, came closest when Matthew Smith’s cross from the right was volleyed on to the post and behind by lively attacker Adama Sidibeh.
Just before the break, Clement’s injury problems were compounded when Propper looked to pick up a groin strain and had to be replaced by Ben Davies, and there was time for Danilo to miss the target with a header and Rae to make another save from Cerny’s header.
There was no surprise when Dessers replaced Danilo for the start of the second half and there was confusion after he hammered the ball past Rae.
It looked like referee MacDermid had called a foul by Dessers on St Johnstone defender Jack Sanders at the edge of the box before the Ibrox forward scored, but after being sent to look at it again on his pitchside monitor he pointed for a goal, giving the home fans something to cheer at last and angering the visitors.
Rae saved at his far post from Davies following a corner and in a quick St Johnstone attack, Rangers keeper Jack Butland tipped a powerful Sidibeh drive over the bar.
Dessers came close with an effort in the 85th minute and the Light Blues spurned other chances – Sidibeh also missed an opportunity before McCausland, on for Cerny in the 82nd minute, beat Rae with a drive after latching on to Dessers’ miscontrolled ball.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
