Aribo, Balogun savour victory as Rangers hit St Johnstone 1-2

Nigeria’s duo of Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun were in action for full 90 minutes as Rangers nailed St Johnstone 2-1 away in the Scottish league Saturday. Interestingly both Nigerians got six out of ten post match ratings with James Tavernier clinching the man of the match with seven point rating.

Their teammate James Tavernier struck a brilliant winner as Rangers came from a goal down to beat St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park in early Scottish Premiership game.

The champions’ captain saw himself removed from penalty duties as Kemar Roofe’s spot-kick  equalised an opener from the home side’s Michael O’Halloran  in Perth.

But he was on target from double the distance 11 minutes from time, sending a dipping effort beyond Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark to give Rangers a third straight league win and take them top ahead of Sunday’s meeting between pace-setters Hearts and Hibernian as they continue to leave a stuttering start to the season behind them.

Not so for St Johnstone, who provided customarily tough opposition and were buoyed by the pre-match news of manager Callum Davidson’s contract extension but remain without a league win since completing a domestic cup double in May.

A self-isolating Connor Goldson missed out for Rangers after 81 straight appearances as Steven Gerrard made three changes. James Tavernier returned after his own Covid absence, with Calvin Bassey and Jon McLaughlin also starting.

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St Johnstone gave a debut to new signing Ali Crawford and brought in Michael O’Halloran, Chris Kane and James Brown. Former Nigeria international and St Johnstone New signings Efe Ambrose and Eetu Vertainen started on the bench alongside Stevie May.