The Light Blues impressed in the Ibrox rain as the Glasgow giants thumped St Johnstone 4-0

Ten-man St Johnstone were blown away on a wet and wild day at Ibrox as Rangers closed the gap on Celtic to one point.

Derek McInnes watched his team dominate their Perth visitors from the get go but it took half an hour for Kevin Kelsy to bag the opener.

Josh Fowler had a huge chance to equalise before the break but buried his shot into the side netting.

Simo Valakari’s side came roaring out for the second half but had their resistance shattered by Ryan Naderi’s close-range tap-in on the hour mark.

And the points were rapped up six minutes later as Kelsy snatched a second of the afternoon.

Saints’ day got even worse when Kai Fotheringham was ordered off for crude shin-high foul on Nico Raskin - with Tochi Chukwuani’s late strike rounding off a miserable day for the Saintees.

Here Record Sport assesses how the Ibrox individuals performed:

IVOR PANDUR – 7

So lucky to get away with a sloppy pass into Dan Neil that set St Johnstone swarming forward but pulled off a key save to deny Enes Alic as the Perth men upped the ante after the interval. Otherwise a quiet afternoon for the Croatian keeper.

DUJON STERLING – 7

Looked eager to drive down the right hand side from the start but delivers rarely worried Simo Valakari’s men. Appears to be enjoying his new partnership with Bouanani as the pair combined well. Bailed out his team-mates after a sloppy start to the second half with a vital block on Jamie Gullan.

MANNY FERNANDEZ – 7

Testing conditions for the centre backs as the swirling wind made it a challenge to read the ball in the air but the giant Londoner handled them pretty well all things considering, positioning himself well to win his headers. Was just where Gers needed him to be to flick on Kim’s corner as Kelsy scored his side’s first set-piece goal of the season.

OLWETHU MAKHANYA – 7

Another stroll in the park for the smooth South African. Rarely looks flustered by anything thrown at him as he calmly goes about his work winning tackles and intercepting the ball. 7

JAMES PENRICE – 7

Got a battle on his hands to keep his jersey now Tuur Rommens is fit but certainly isn’t giving it up easily. Continues to play with energy and fierce commitment. Neat and tidy when moved into midfield for the final 20 minutes.

NICO RASKIN – 7

Another quiet but highly effective display of discipline from the Belgian international, reading the danger signs and snuffing out threats before they could become really troubling. Had to give a few of his team-mates a rollicking as they let standards slip at the start of the second period.

DAN NEIL – 7

Skipper’s disastrous mistake last week cost his side victory last week and he looked determined to make amends. Came up with a couple of cracking cross-field switches of play and led the charge that finally got McInnes men going after a sluggish start after half-time.

BADREDINE BOUANANI – 7

Looking sharper by the week. Kept his place after bagging his first goal for the club at Dens Park. Should have gravid a second after a superb combination with Kim but wasted a great chance as he skewed horribly wide. Close with a couple of other efforts. Booked for some late handbags with Taylor Steven.

MINSU KIM – 9

South Korean ace is still looking for his first goal and assist but he outstanding playmaker had a hand in three of Light Blues four strikes. Taking Djeidi Gassama’s spot on the left wing he played the key pass in the build up to Rangers’ opener as he released Naderi in behind the Saints defence, while it was a spill from his shot that presented Naderi with No2. Denied his long-awaited first goal for the club by the base of the post after a smart dart inside before sending over the corner that set up Kelsy for the third.

RYAN NADERI – 8

Unselfishly set up his strike partner to roll home the day’s first goal as he cut the ball back across goal. Got in on the act himself as he reacted sharper than the St Johnstone backline to bundle home after Steward let the ball spill from his grasp.

KEVIN KELSY – 8

Back with a goal as he returned to the starting line-up after being benched against Dundee, tapping home from Naderi’s lay off. Should have grabbed a second after another clever bit of link-up with the new Czech international but foiled by Steward’s brave stop but got there in the second half as he notched his fourth goal in the last five games with another close-range finish at the back post.

Subs

TUUR ROMMENS - Made his comeback after 11 weeks out as he replaced Dan Neil on 69 minutes. 4

DJEIDI GASSAMA - Took Naderi’s place with 21 minutes left and grabbed a late assist as he teed up Chuckwuani. 3

BEN GODFREY - Solid showing as he replaced Sterling with 10 minutes left. 2

BOJAN MIOVSKI - Thrown on for Minsu on 80 minutes but no chance to score. 2

TOCHI CHUKWUANI - Given the final eight minutes as he was swapped on for Kelsy. Rolled home No4. 4