St Johnstone hold out for draw at Ibrox

Rangers were held to a frustrating goalless draw by a stubborn St Johnstone at Ibrox yesterday that cuts their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to ten points.

Steve Lomas took charge of the Saints for the first time and his well-organised side snuffed out any hints of danger from the home side in the opening 45 minutes.

Both sides had chances in a more open second half with St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza guilty of blowing a great opportunity when one-on-one with Gers keeper Allan McGregor as the Perth side had to be content with a point.

Rivals Celtic cut the gap at the top as an Anthony Stokes’s second-half double helped the Hoops to a 2-0 away win to bottom side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who had Greg Tansey sent off in the first-half.

Neil Lennon’s side could reduce the lead even further on Wednesday when they play their game in hand against Dunfermline Athletic.

At the Caledonian Stadium, Inverness had looked comfortable until they were reduced to ten men in the 37th minute when Tansey was shown a straight red for leading with his elbow in an aerial challenge on Georgios Samaras.

Despite their numerical advantage, it took Celtic until the hour mark to open the scoring when Stokes stabbed home from close range to finish off an impressive passing move.

Stokes got his second 11 minutes later when James Forrest’s blocked shot broke to him in the box and he drilled a low shot across Ryan Esson and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Elsewhere, Motherwell remain third following a 2-1 away win over Aberdeen, Dundee United defeated Hearts 1-0, St Mirren won 2-1 against Dunfermline and Hibernian and Kilmarnock settled for a 1-1 draw.

Premier League
Aberdeen 1 - Motherwell 2
Dundee United 1 - Hearts 0
Hibernian 1 - Kilmarnock 1
Inverness CT 0 - Celtic2
Rangers 0 - St Johnstone 0
St Mirren 2 - Dunfermline 1