St. Johnstone vs Rangers. Scottish Premiership.
McDiarmid ParkAttendance6,799.
Monday 22 May 2017 10:04, UK
Rangers ended their first season back in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 win over St Johnstone in Perth thanks to goals from Kenny Miller and Jon Toral.
Miller put Rangers ahead five minutes before half-time with a fine first-time strike before Toral doubled the lead early in the second half.
Graham Cummins sparked a nervy final quarter-hour for Pedro Caixinha's side when he pulled one back for the hosts.
While Rangers finish the season third, 39 points behind unbeaten rivals at Celtic, with Caixinha recording six wins and just three defeats from his opening nine games in charge. St Johnstone finish in fourth.
Caixinha, whose team are back in Europe, put out a raw back-line containing youngsters David Bates, Aidan Wilson and Myles Beerman, and they were under pressure early on.
Saints should have opened the scoring on six minutes when Blair Alston climbed above James Tavernier to meet Chris Millar's cross, knocking it down for Steven MacLean to toe the ball wide.
Liam Craig came just as close with a couple of long-range efforts while Miller blazed over as Gers created their first chance after 21 minutes.
Gers' understudy keeper Jak Alnwick - making his first appearance since a £250,000 switch from Port Vale back in January - then did well to push a Craig Thomson strike wide.
The Light Blues gradually gained a foothold and, after Miller failed to control a finish from Toral's superb pass, he made no mistake with a second chance on 40 minutes to bag his 14th goal of the season.
Rangers were lucky to escape being pegged back three minutes into the second half when Thomson out-muscled left-back Beerman and teed-up Craig, whose shot was easily turned over by Alnwick.
But any nerves were settled on 53 minutes when Toral, on loan from Arsenal, marked his final appearance in blue with a goal. Toral stroked the ball home after good work from Tavernier, who danced his way past two defenders and cut the ball back from the byline.
Gers wasted a number of chances to extend their lead before Cummins scored with 14 minutes remaining but the visitors were able to hold on.
