Dessers helps Rangers close gap on Celtic by beating 10-man St Johnstone | Scottish Premiership

Rangers moved to within two points of the Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic with a comfortable 2-0 win against 10-man St Johnstone at Ibrox.

Philippe Clement, who picked up his first trophy as Rangers manager on Sunday after the 1-0 League Cup final win against Aberdeen at Hampden Park, watched on as the luckless striker Kemar Roofe went off after 16 minutes with another injury.

However the replacement, Cyriel Dessers, fired Rangers ahead in the 28th minute before the Saints forward Diallang Jaiyesimi was almost immediately sent off for a hefty challenge on John Lundstram following a VAR intervention.

The dominant hosts doubled their lead in the 84th minute with a penalty from the captain, James Tavernier, who had scored the winner at Hampden, and Rangers moved tantalisingly closer to the Hoops with a game in hand.

As expected Clement shuffled his pack again. Kieran Dowell made just his third start of the season in midfield as John Souttar, Ridvan Yilmaz, Sam Lammers and Roofe made up the five changes from the starting lineup at Hampden, while the Saints manager, Craig Levein, brought back Andy Considine, Oludare Olufunwa and Sven Sprangler.

After barely a minute of a strangely low-key start, Souttar required a lengthy spell of treatment for a facial injury after clashing with Max Kucheriavyi but there was more distressing injury news soon on its way for the home side. Roofe, making his first start since 8 October, had a couple of attempts on goal before he had to go off and the striker looked distraught, with Dessers taking over.

Rangers had the bulk of possession with the game played in the Perth side’s half but the Saints defence looked organised and disciplined until Olufunwa missed a cross from Tavernier which allowed Dessers to knock the ball past the goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov and a VAR check confirmed there was no offside.

Almost straight from kick-off Jaiyesimi crunched Lundstram and VAR checked for serious foul play after the referee, Alan Muir, gave the Englishman, on loan from Charlton, a yellow card. The official checked the pitchside monitor and upgraded the yellow to a red, with Chris Kane soon coming on for Sprangler as Levein reshuffled. Mitov saved a decent drive from Dessers in the 36th minute and Tavernier fired wide of the far post in added time but there was no sustained pressure on the Saints goal.

Lundstram stayed inside at the interval – when Santa got cheered by the home fans when he came out with the League Cup – with Dujon Sterling taking over. Within minutes Abdallah Sima volleyed a Tavernier corner just past the post before Mitov made a series of fine saves from Lammers, twice, and Dessers.

Sima missed the target with another effort in the 66th minute before being replaced by Scott Wright with Todd Cantwell on for Lammers. There were further efforts from Cantwell and Tavernier before Mitov clearly brought down Dessers inside the box with the Rangers captain slamming the spot-kick low into the corner.