A CARLOS Pena double helped Rangers to a 3-0 Premiership win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park last night.
The enigmatic Gers attacker’s fine close-range finish in the 27th minute was out of kilter with a poor first 45 minutes.
The second-half was little better but the game swung further towards the visitors in the 71st minute when Saints skipper Steven Anderson was sent off by Don Robertson for picking up a second yellow for a foul on striker Alfredo Morelos.
James Tavernier again provided the assist for Pena’s second in the 78th minute with another fine cross from the right before midfielder Graham Dorrans added a third to take the visitors to within three points of Celtic and Aberdeen, who both play today.
Gers boss Pedro Caixinha made two changes, one enforced, for the trip to Perth. Midfielder Jason Holt replaced suspended Ryan Jack while experienced Portuguese defender and captain Bruno Alves returned from a calf injury with Ross McCrorie dropping to the bench. There was no place for Kenny Miller.
Saints’ top-scorer Michael O’Halloran was ineligible to play against his parent club, while former Gers defender Richard Foster began a two-match suspension.
Saints had the first real chance of the game in the 22nd minute, when a slack pass by Rangers wide-man Daniel Candeias to Dorrans was intercepted by Murray Davidson and Graham Cummins found himself racing through on goal but his shot was tipped over by Gers goalkeeper Wes Foderingham.
The visitors were more clinical when their opportunity arrived after right-back Tavernier took a pass from Morelos and, when his cross from the right went over the head of the in-rushing Colombian striker, Pena volleyed high into the net at the back post.
The Perth side worked their way back into the game and a minute before the break a St Johnstone corner fell to Cummins at the back post but he looped his effort over the bar.
The home side came smartly out of the blocks in the second half but could have been two goals behind in the 53rd minute when Josh Windass’s header, after a Candeias free-kick was cleared, reached Morelos but his shot on the turn from eight yards was blocked by keeper Alan Mannus.
Rangers’ best move of the match involving Tavernier and Candeias ended with Pena turning the cut-back inches past the post.
Again Saints came back and Rangers had to withstand a mostly aerial siege which lasted several minutes before they could break free.
The advantage swung further towards the Govan side when Anderson, booked earlier along with Alves after an altercation in the Rangers box at a corner, was shown a second yellow card after clambering over Morelos.
Rangers’ advantage was stretched in the 78th minute when Pena headed in another deep cross from Tavernier before Dorrans swept in a Holt cross to clinch the points.
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