Rangers vs St.Johnstone

On Sunday afternoon, two teams situated at starkly different ends of the Scottish Premiership standings will face off, as title-chasing Rangers welcome relegation-battling St Johnstone to Ibrox. Rangers, currently second in the table with 41 points after 21 games, will be eager to maintain pressure on league leaders Celtic, while St Johnstone, sitting at the foot of the table with only 15 points from 22 matches, will be desperate for a win to keep their hopes of survival alive.

Rangers entered the 2024-25 season with ambitions of reclaiming the Scottish Premiership title, a crown they last won in the 2020-21 campaign, when they secured an astonishing 102 points in an unbeaten season. However, the campaign has not unfolded as expected, with the team already 15 points behind Celtic, their closest rivals, after only 21 matches. This points deficit has been a direct result of a disappointing start to the season, leaving manager Philippe Clement under increasing scrutiny.

Clement, who took charge of Rangers in the summer of 2024, has faced significant pressure due to the team's poor opening to the campaign. Rangers’ start to the season was their worst since their return to the top flight in 2016-17. The team managed only seven wins, two draws, and three losses from their first 12 matches, causing frustration among fans and critics alike. The underperformance prompted widespread criticism of Clement, who had hoped to guide Rangers back to the top of Scottish football, but the team's inability to consistently perform has resulted in a difficult early period.

Despite the early struggles, there was a glimmer of hope when Rangers managed a four-match winning streak, sparking optimism among supporters that they had turned a corner. However, their form has once again deteriorated in recent weeks. Out of their last five matches, Rangers have won only one, raising doubts about their ability to challenge for the title. Their inconsistency has been evident, with strong home performances contrasting sharply with disappointing results away from Ibrox. Rangers' home form has been exemplary, as they have won nine of their 10 home league games and drawn the other, a solid record that has helped keep them in contention for European qualification. However, their away form has been woeful, with only three wins from 11 matches on the road, coupled with four draws and four losses. This stark contrast between home and away results has been one of the most frustrating aspects of their season.

As the pressure continues to mount on Clement, he will be hoping that his team can rely on their home form to secure a crucial three points against St Johnstone. The visit of the bottom-placed team offers Rangers a significant opportunity to get back on track, but Clement knows that anything less than a victory will only add to the growing pressure surrounding his tenure at the club.

For St Johnstone, the match represents a crucial opportunity to gain some much-needed points in their fight against relegation. The Saints are languishing in last place, eight points adrift of 11th-placed Hearts, and their form has been worrying. The club has been on a downward spiral for much of the season, with only one win from their opening five matches. The board took action early in the campaign, sacking manager Craig Levein after the team’s poor start. Andy Kirk was appointed as interim manager but was unable to turn things around, with St Johnstone managing just one draw and two losses in his three games in charge.

In a bid to steady the ship, the club appointed Simo Valakari as permanent manager. The Finnish coach initially sparked some hope, leading St Johnstone to back-to-back wins in his first two matches in charge. However, the momentum was short-lived, as the Saints have since struggled to find consistent form, winning only once in their next 12 outings. With the club now firmly entrenched in the relegation zone, the pressure on Valakari is immense. The team is in dire need of a strong run of results to have any chance of avoiding the drop, and every match from here on out is a must-win.

St Johnstone’s situation is dire, and history suggests that a victory over Rangers will be a monumental challenge. The Saints have failed to defeat Rangers in their last eight encounters, a streak that includes losses in both league and cup competitions. This poor record against the Glasgow giants adds to the sense of inevitability surrounding the match. St Johnstone’s ability to break their winless run against Rangers will be crucial not just for their hopes of survival but also for Valakari’s future at the club. With a squad that has struggled to keep pace with the top teams in the league, the task facing the Saints is monumental. However, they will be buoyed by the knowledge that, in football, anything is possible, and an upset victory over Rangers could spark the turnaround they so desperately need.

For Rangers, the match is a chance to build some much-needed momentum after a difficult period. They will look to continue their strong home form and ensure that their dominance at Ibrox remains intact. A victory over the bottom-placed side would give them some breathing room in the race for second place, keeping them in touch with Celtic and ensuring that their title challenge stays alive for the time being. However, any slip-ups could prove costly, as the pressure mounts on Clement to deliver results in a season that has so far been disappointing.

The match also carries significant implications for the broader league picture. With Celtic seemingly out of reach at the top, Rangers' primary goal is now to secure second place and qualify for European competitions. However, the teams below them in the table are closing the gap, and any further drop in form could see them lose ground in the race for a top-two finish. On the other hand, St Johnstone’s situation is far more dire, and they will need to start picking up points if they are to avoid relegation to the Scottish Championship. The stakes are high for both teams, and the outcome of this match will have a profound impact on their respective seasons.

As the two teams prepare to clash, the focus will be on whether Rangers can continue their home dominance and secure the three points that will ease the pressure on Clement, or whether St Johnstone can pull off a shock result and revive their chances of survival. While Rangers have the upper hand on paper, St Johnstone will be hoping to defy the odds and secure a vital victory that could prove to be a turning point in their season. As the match unfolds, both teams will be fully aware of the importance of the three points on offer, with Rangers looking to stay in the title race and St Johnstone fighting to avoid relegation. The outcome of this game will be crucial in shaping the rest of the campaign for both clubs.