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Rangers take on St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership First Phase on Saturday. The two sides are in opposite halves of the standings, with the hosts five points off leaders Celtic.
Philippe Clement's Rangers are coming off a 4-1 home defeat to Olympique Lyonnais in midweek in the UEFA Europa League. Malick Fofana's 10th-minute opener was canceled out by Tom Lawrence four minutes later, but Lyon scored three unanswered goals, with Fofana and Alexandre Lacazette bagging braces.
The Gers' last league game was a 1-0 home win over Hibernian. They are third in the points table, trailing unaway leaders Celtic, who have won six games without conceding.
Meanwhile, Simo Valakari's St. Johnstone are fresh off a 6-0 walloping at Celtic last weekend, with Brendan Rodgers' league leaders scoring three times without reply either side of the break. The Saints are 10th in the points table, with four points from seven games, having won just once this season.
On that note, here's a look at the head-to-head stats and key numbers, match prediction, and betting tips for the Rangers-St. Johnstone Scottish Championship game at the Ibrox.
Rangers vs St. Johnstone head-to-head stats and key numbers
- Rangers have won nine of their last 10 meetings with St. Johnstone - including the last six, scoring 20 times and conceding twice, keeping nine clean sheets.
- The Gers have won their last six home league games against the visitors without conceding.
- Rangers have won four of their last five home games across competitions, losing one.
- St. Johnstone have one win and a loss in their last five road outings across competitions.
- Form guide (last five games across competitions, most recent result first): Rangers: L-W-W-W-W; St. Johnstone: L-D-L-L-L
Rangers vs St. Johnstone match prediction
Rangers are clearly the more in-form side, with their European defeat in midweek snapping a four-game winning streak. St. Johnstone, meanwhile, haven't won in six games across competitions, losing five.
Moreover, the Gers have a dominant recent record against the visitors, conceding just once in their last 10 meetings. Expect more of the same dominance from Clement's side as they seek to stay in touch with leaders Celtic.
Prediction: Rangers 2-0 St. Johnstone
Rangers vs St. Johnstone betting tips
Tip-1: Rangers to win
Tip-2: Rangers to keep a clean sheet: Yes (The Gers haven't conceded in six of their last eight games across competitions.)
Tip-3: Over 1.5 goals: Yes (Rangers have averaged two goals per game in their last 10 clashes with St. Johnstone.)
