On Wednesday evening, at 19:45, Ianis Hagi’s team hopes to take advantage of Celtic’s wrong steps, with a victory on their own field.
St. Johnstone is a mid-level team in Scotland that puts a lot of emphasis on the fixed phases to score on the road. But Rangers is a mature and quality team, with a lot superior to the guests. With Ianis Hagi in the middle and Roofe at the end, Rangers should “chop” the opposing defense from the first half. Last stage I bet on a comfortable success of the band from Glasgow, with St. Mirren, and both predictions were correct.
Against St. Johnstone, coach Steven Gerrard will not be able to rely on the injured Defoe and Katic, but they have been missing for some time and have been successfully replaced so far. Rangers is in 2nd place in Scotland, with 6 points in the first two games (goal difference 4-0), being ahead in goal difference by Hibernian. St. Johnstone has played only one game so far, the draw with Dundee United (1-1). The guests have the courage to think about the successful result in the last trip on Ibrox Park: 0-0, after an authoritatively dominated game of favorites (18 shots, one of which on the goal!). In that match, St. Johnstone fired just two shots at goal.
St. Johnstone is unbeaten in the last 8 championship games, showing that it is a team that is hard to beat when it comes to a good day. But the guests will come to defend themselves on two lines, even if in the last direct duel with Rangers the offensive tactic was more fruitful! St. Johnstone made it 2-2 at home with the Glasgow team, managing to “snatch” a draw in the 80th minute, after May’s goal. Again, it was a smoothly controlled game by the Rangers.
In 9 of the last 10 direct duels, at least three goals have been scored;
In 7 of the last 10 direct duels both teams have scored;
St. Johnstone has lost only one official match in the last 10;
In 10 of Rangers’ last 11 matches he has scored only one team (including friendlies);
Rangers have won 4 of the last 6 matches against St. Johnstone;
PREDICTION: Both teams to score / NO @ 1,53
