St Johnstone's stunning 4-1 victory over Rangers

Apr 2 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

ST Johnstone fans of a certain age still talk wistfully of a thrashing meted out to Aberdeen in the early days of McDiarmid.

Now, a new generation of supporters have a landmark victory to dine out on for years to come.

Hard on the heels of a 4-1 skelping of Hearts in the capital – the Perth club’s rivals for sixth place – a Rangers side savouring a 10-point lead in the defence of their championship lost just their second league game of the campaign in Perth.

But they didn’t just lose.

The stunned defending champions were routed by a ruthlessly committed, adventurous and purposeful Saints side which re-wrote the club’s record books.

Wednesday morning’s back pages were devoured by Perth fans. “Del’s Fantastic 4” and “Gers Given What 4” were just some of the banners adorning a scoreline which caused consternation far beyond the Fair City.

The icy Arctic blasts sweeping McDiarmid were more suited to bears of a polar rather than teddy variety but Saints fans were warmed by a scorching start from an adventurous line-up, with two goals bagged in the first 12 minutes.

The first was exquisite, with Cillian Sheridan chasing down Danny Grainger’s long ball down the left flank in the seventh minute. One bounce and the on-loan Celt whipped in an instinctive left foot strike from the edge of the box, leaving keeper McGregor frozen to the turf watching it crash off one post and then another before nestling in the net behind him.

Steven Anderson was cautioned within 60 seconds but maintained his composure and saw-off Scotland’s most prolific marksman Kris Boyd by the interval.

Saints doubled their advantage with a 12th minute counter attack, with Liam Craig springing Chris Millar. The stand-out, mobile midfielder cut in off from left and tried his luck from 25 yards. He hit the jackpot, and the oldest ever Rangers player, defender David Weir.

The ball spun into the far corner with the Gers keeper again an observer.

Manager Derek McInnes, taking his first Old Firm scalp and outwitting his mentor, may have had a game plan but a two-goal lead was a bonus.

Seeing it halved in the 16th minute was a set-back.

Davis engineered the opening and Sasa Papac had McDiarmid joy when he evaded the offside trap and lashed an angled shot between keeper Graeme Smith and his right hand post.

But instead of finding their backs to the wall spirited Saints regrouped and, with Jody Morris and Michael Duberry dredging-up all their experience, the Perth side pushed on again.

Smith had to leap to thwart Naismith and roving attacker Sheridan rapped a shot into the side netting before Saints made it three in the 36th minute.

Sheridan’s probing attack was repelled and Millar picked-up the pieces.

The cross picked out Craig’s run and the midfielder’s header struck McCulloch’s skull en route to the net for his 10th of a highly productive campaign.

Interval changes underlined the Glasgow club’s discomfort and it would have been aggravated had Fil Morais not misjudged a pass on the break which should have played in Kenny Deuchar.

Morris was cautioned for advising referee Tumilty he’d missed a blatant Lafferty handball and the Irishman allowed Smith to boot clear a half-chance at the back post.

He also set-up a rare chance to peg back the deficit but Edu rammed his 16-yard strike wide of the upright and Saints nailed down the points and a memorable scalp with 11 minutes emaining.

Grainger’s free-kick was only half-cleared by Whittaker and powerful combatant Duberry headed goalwards.

Substitute Murray Davidson’s run was timed to perfection and the midfielder poked a close range finish past the off-balance keeper to send incredulous Gers fans streaming from McDiarmid.

ST JOHNSTONE: Smith, Anderson, Grainger, Mackay, Duberry, Morris, Millar (Irvine 87), Craig, Deuchar, Sheridan (Samuel 80) and Morais (Davidson 76). Subs not used: Main, Sheerin, Swankie and Reynolds.

RANGERS: McGregor, Weir, Papac, McCulloch, Davis, Thomson (Edu 46), Boyd (Lafferty 46), Naismith, Whittaker, Miller and Wilson (Novo 75). Subs not used: Alexander, Smith, Little and Fleck.

Referee: Mike Tumilty.