By Valencia05
Borna Barisic rifled Rangers into the fifth round of the Scottish Cup as the holders passed another away-day challenge under boss Michael Beale.
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The Croatian’s strike just before half-time was enough to see the Ibrox men through against a stuffy St Johnstone side who relish nothing more than giant-killing cup clashes.
Beale said afterwards: “I’m delighted to get through. We’ve had three games in six days. Fantastic mentality from the group. I’m delighted to be in the next round.”
The Rangers roadshow rolled into Perth on the back of three successive wins away from Ibrox — a place which must feel like a distant memory at the moment during this tough run of fixtures.
However, with three sides of McDiarmid Park rammed with 7,400 Rangers supporters, the stadium resembled a mini-Ibrox as the home fans (400 or so apart) stayed away in a protest over ticketing allocations.
Beale reverted to the same XI who started the Viaplay Cup semi-final the previous weekend. That meant following the midweek 3-2 win at Kilmarnock, Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack and Malik Tillman returned to into the starting line-up with Jon McLaughlin, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield taking their seats on the bench.
Rangers in orange, Saints in blue — a colourful sight that would no doubt irk a certain reporter blinded by football strip hues and personal views.
There was expectation in the air as referee Alan Muir blew for battle to commence.
But, as the first half ‘bore’ on, the biggest battle was to stay awake. There was a hiatus from the humdrum in 38 minutes when Borna Barisic fired a free-kick which kissed the post from the edge of the box.
That was the jolt from the blue Barisic — and Rangers — needed as they took the lead just before the break.
Tillman and Fashion Sakala one-twoed their way down the right touchline, allowing the Zambian to race into the box and arrow a low shot off the far post.
Barisic’s eyes lit up as the ball pinged straight to him on the other side of the area. Quick as a flash, it was thundered back again, and this time into the net. It was pinpoint pinball and 1-0 to Rangers.
It was almost 2-0 10 minutes after half-time. Almost.
A corner arced in from the right and Connor Goldson levitated above his markers to power a header towards the top corner — but Saints keeper Remi Matthews somehow managed to push the ball away with a stunning save.
Sakala and Tillman made way for Scott Wright and Kamara in 67 minutes as Beale looked to refresh his side.
It seemed to work as Wright forced Matthews into another good stop in 77 minutes before Alfredo Morelos went close soon after.
Those let-offs sparked an instant Saints response. Theo Bair diverted a cross from the right towards goal and it looked like the leveller….. until James Tavernier raced back to hook the ball away from the line.
Cue Rangers to revert to panic mode for the remainder of the match. Beale knew it was coming —admitting it is a real sense of frustration — so the Ibrox manager made three more subs to see out time and calm the calamity within his players.
“The most important thing is we won the game and we are very proud,” Barisic told Viaplay at full-time.
“I’m very happy because of [scoring], but I’m more happy that we won the game. Scoring doesn’t matter.
“I’m enjoying it under the new coach. I knew him before, I know the style and everything. It suits my style.
“We want to get to get this trophy. We are doing everything. It’s never easy, but we have started very well and hopefully we continue.”
Rangers boss Beale added: “It was a tricky tie. I think St Johnstone played well throughout and carried a threat. I knew we were going to have to use the bench. In the nine games I’ve had, six have been away from Ibrox.”
And he left fans with a feelgood final message: “There will be some news [on transfers] in the coming days.”
St Johnstone (4-4-2): Matthews, Brown, Gordon, Considine, Montgomery, MacPherson, Phillips, Hallberg, Wright, May, McLennan. Substitutes: Parish, Mitchell, Murphy, Clark, Wotherspoon, Bair, Crawford, Carey, Gallacher.
Rangers (4-2-3-1): McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Jack, Tillman, Sakala, Morelos, Kent. Substitutes: McLaughlin, Colak, Kamara, Sands, Wright, Arfield, King, Devine, Lowry.