This Sunday’s Scottish Premiership game sees St Johnstone make the trip to face Rangers at Ibrox Stadium. This result could have serious implications for league going forward seeing as hosts Rangers are in a desperate need to catch up to both Aberdeen and Celtic.
Both of these sides have started this season well the polar opposite of each other. Rangers are sat in third place whereas St Johnstone are in 10th, relegation qualification contention. This match could determine where these teams will be playing next year as if St Johnstone continue this form, they could end up back in the Scottish Championship after a four year stint in the topflight.
Rangers have had two men that they can rely on for finding the back of the net. Striker Cyriel Dessers, left winger Rabbi Matondo and centre attacking midfielder Tom Lawrence all have four goal contributions in those opening six games. Unfortunately, Matondo is out injured until around late December, so no appearance for him in this one.
Predicted Line-Up: Jack Butland; Jefté, Robin Pröpper, John Souttar, James Tavernier (c); Nicolas Raskin, Connor Barron; Ross McCausland, Tom Lawrence, Vaclav Cerny; Cyriel Dessers
After constantly finishing behind Celtic in the league, Rangers have not seen any change to that observation as of right now, in fact they are worse. They currently sit in third behind Celtic and Aberdeen as neither of those sides have yet to lose. Four wins, a loss and a draw from the opening six games, meaning they are sitting on 13 points, something that Philippe Clement and his men will need to work on. The reason they are in third is because they were denied three points by Celtic when Rangers lost in the Old Firm and Hearts held them to a goalless stalemate in the first game of this season.
The Gers have heavily relied on winger Rabbi Matondo, who in the four games he has featured in, has scored contributed to two goals and assists. Rangers will be rueing the fact that he will be unavailable to play in this one, but they still have Dessers and Lawrence who have outputted the same amount if contributions and are available for selections in this clash against St Johnstone.
Predicted Line-Up: Ross Sinclair; Kyle Cameron (c), Jack Sanders, Lewis Neilson; André Raymond, Matt Smith, Sven Sprangler, Graham Carey, Drey Wright; Nicky Clark, Makenzie Kirk
Now into their 16th year in the topflight of Scottish football after a slip in the Scottish Championship, it looks like St Johnstone could be heading back down when we reach the end of the season. Seven games in and they are showing major signs as to why they look likely to go back down. Sat in the relegation qualification part of the standings in 10th, St Johnstone have really struggled in the opening months of the 2024/25 season. They have achieved one win, five losses and one draw, leaving them on just four points.
The Saints have not struggled to find goals despite their league position implying that they might. There are three St Johnstone players that have found the back of the net twice already this season and then only one that has scored once. Their eight goals is what is keeping them from being a lot lower in the league. Adama Sidibeh, Nicky Clark, Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka all on two goals from seven games.
There have been 67 matches where these two teams have faced each other throughout history.
With Rangers being one of the best teams in Scottish football, it is to no avail that they hold the advantage over St Johnstone in this one. They have 50 wins to their name with their opponents only beating them nine times. There have been only 8 times where these two clubs could not find a winner making Rangers’ win ratio in this fixture 74.6%.
Over the last five meeting and Hearts still have the advantage. They’ve won all five of their last meetings, including last season’s Scottish League Cup Final.
17th August 2024 – Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone – Scottish League Cup Final
18th February 2024 – St Johnstone 0-3 Rangers – Scottish Premiership
20th December 2023 – Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone – Scottish Premiership
16th September 2023 – St Johnstone 0-2 Rangers – Scottish Premiership
28th January 2023 – Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone – Scottish Premiership
Rangers have been good scoring form in the opening six games of the season, getting 10 goals with Cyriel Dessers and Tom Lawrence both having scored three goals each. Rangers can brush off their mid week defeat with a great display in this one and therefore their striker will likely make the most difference and get Rangers all three points.
For that reason, our betting experts have gone with Rangers To Win + Cyriel Dessers To Score Anytime as our best value tip for this game.
Odds of 97/100 mean that a £10 bet has the potential to return up to £19.70 in this match.
(odds subject to change)
Rangers 3-0 St Johnstone
We can see Rangers grabbing all three points and get them even closer to Aberdeen and Celtic who still have their perfect streak of winners. Obviously, we think that Cyriel Dessers will place his name onto the scoresheet. Him and a few more from other Rangers players should be more than enough to secure the win.
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