Four-star Rangers reduce gap on Celtic

Rangers reduced the gap at the top of the Premier League yesterday with a 4-0 win over St Johnstone as Celtic’s shock 2-0 defeat to Motherwell ended their 17-match unbeaten run.

Nikica Jelavic’s fiercely drilled shot gave Rangers the lead in the fifth minute and, after missing a host of chances with his feet, Kyle Lafferty headed home a second just before the break.

St Johnstone enjoyed the bulk of possession in the second half but it was Rangers who added to their score when Sasa Papac scored a rare goal in the 81st minute and Jelavic boosted their goal difference with a strike in injury time.

At Fir Park, Celtic failed to build on last weekend’s 3-0 Old Firm derby win when goals from John Sutton at the start of either half earned Motherwell all three points as the Hoops lost for the first time since November.

Motherwell got off to a perfect start when Sutton took advantage of a mistake from Charlie Mulgrew to round Fraser Forster and slot home in the second minute.

Minutes after the break Shaun Hutchinson rattled the crossbar with a powerful header before the referee pointed to the spot when Keith Lasley was tripped by Emilio Izaguirre and Sutton stepped up to fire the penalty into the top ­corner.

The results mean the league leaders have a five-point lead over Rangers, who have two games in hand, as the sides prepare to meet in Wednesday’s Scottish Cup fifth round replay at Celtic Park.