Kevin Kelsy scores twice as Rangers defeat St Johnstone 4-0

Kevin Kelsy marked his return to the starting line-up with a brace as Rangers secured a convincing 4-0 victory over St Johnstone. Kelsy opened the scoring in the first half after Ryan Naderi squared the ball to him, allowing for an easy tap-in following a pass from Minsu Kim. This win represents Rangers' seventh victory in their last eight league matches, putting pressure on Celtic at the top of the table.

St Johnstone made a triple substitution at half-time and initially gained momentum, but it was Naderi who extended Rangers' lead against the run of play. He bundled the ball into the net after Toby Steward failed to hold onto a shot from Kim. This goal came as a surprise, as St Johnstone had been pressing for an equaliser before the goal shifted the momentum back to Rangers.

Kelsy was again on target shortly after, converting a header from Emmanuel Fernandez to make it 3-0. The home side's dominance continued, and substitute Tochi Chukwuani capped off the scoring, turning in a cross from Djeidi Gassama. This performance showcased Rangers' attacking prowess and solidified their position just one point behind Celtic, who are set to face Hibernian next.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes expressed mixed feelings about the match, noting the team's dominance in the first half but frustration at only leading by one goal at half-time. He acknowledged the importance of scoring goals and maintaining a clean sheet, while also highlighting the lessons learned from the game. St Johnstone's manager Simo Valakari admitted that his team had chances but failed to convert them, leading to their defeat.

via Sky Sports