St J’stone 2 – 1 Rangers

St Johnstone piled the pressure on under-fire Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst with a shock 2-1 victory at McDiarmid Park.

The Ibrox side now trail Celtic by seven points in the Scottish Premiership title race after failing to take their early chances.

They piled on the pressure in the first half but a stunning goal from James Brown saw the hosts take a half-time lead, with Nicky Clark doubling their advantage.

James Tavernier pulled a goal back in the 74th minute before John Lundstram smashed a shot off the underside of the bar, but they could not find an equaliser.

St Johnstone’s first victory over Rangers since 2017 sees them up to fifth in the Scottish Premiership while there are now big questions about Van Bronckhorst’s Ibrox future, less than a year after he took charge.

Pressure increases on Van Bronckhorst

Rangers started the game strongly and in the sixth minute Elliot Parish had to save Malik Tillman’s effort from a tight angle, following Tavernier’s cross

Minutes later, Parish dived low to his left to push a decent Lundstram drive around the post for a corner and the home side emerged unscathed.

In the 11th minute, Antonio Colak should have done much better when he was sent through on goal by Tillman but veteran Perth defender Andrew Considine ensured the Croatia striker did not get a shot on goal.

As the siege on the St Johnstone goal continued, Gers winger Fashion Sakala leapt above defender Adam Montgomery to head a Borna Barisic corner off the crossbar.

However, against the run of play, the home side took the lead and it all started when a mix-up between Lundstram and Sakala gave possession away.

Rangers still had a chance to take control but that was passed up, and when Saints striker Stevie May’s shot from the edge of the box was blocked out to Brown, he thundered a drive high past Gers ‘keeper Allan McGregor for a landmark goal.

It was the third successive league game in which Rangers had conceded first and it turned the second half into a huge 45 minutes, but the Ibrox side were less than convincing.

Parish made a comfortable save from Ryan Kent’s long-distance drive in the 56th minute but it was clear the home side had grown in confidence.

Alfredo Morelos and Scott Arfield replaced Ben Davies and Tillman on the hour mark before the home side doubled their lead.

May beat 18-year-old Gers defender Leon King on the byline and Clark got in front of Barisic at the near post to flick his cross past McGregor and immediately the huge travelling support turned their ire on Van Bronckhorst.

Rangers rallied as Lundstram sent a left-footed shot from the edge of the box just off the outside of the post before Tavernier (74) beat Parish with a shot from the edge of the box, after Considine headed clear a corner.

Back in the game, the Govan side piled on the pressure.

Lundstram hit the bar with a powerful 25-yard drive before Parish saved a Tavernier header and a long-distance effort from Lundstram, but the desperate Light Blues ran out of time – and so too, perhaps, has Van Bronckhorst.

What’s next?

St Johnstone head to St Mirren on Wednesday at 7.45pm before hosting Motherwell on Saturday November 12 at 3pm.

Rangers welcome Hearts on Wednesday at the same time before travelling to St Mirren three days later live on Sky Sports. Kick-off is at 12.30pm.