Ianis Hagi’s second half piece of magic was the difference between the two sides, with Allan McGregor making a fine stop to preserve the clean sheet and the points.

Boss Gerrard named two changes to his side for this one - Kemar Roofe and Ianis Hagi came in for Alfredo Morelos and Glen Kamara.

That meant Allan McGregor was in goal, with James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Filip Helander and Borna Barisic in front of him.

Steven Davis, Ryan Jack and Joe Aribo were in midfield, with Ryan Kent and Ianis Hagi supporting Kemar Roofe in attack.

New signing Scott Wright, after completing his move from Aberdeen late on Monday, made the bench.

Gers began the game on the front foot, and after a lot of probing play, largely involving Aribo, it was the Nigerian internationalist who created the first chance of the match.

He superbly brought down a super Goldson ball from defence inside the box, and laid it off for Kent. Kent jinked inside his man to shoot, but from 15-yards out he fired just wide.

Minutes later, Hagi delivered an outstanding ball into the area which Tavernier only just missed out on nodding home.

At the other end, McGregor made a fine, front-post save with his foot to deny Craig Bryson, while Roofe fired over for Gers on the end of a ball from more outstanding Aribo work.

Tavernier then delivered a super free-kick ball to the front post which Goldson turned around the post, while Roof headed a Barisic ball into the area just wide.

The scores remained level at the break, and the second half began with Gers again well on top. Hagi tested Clark on the spin, with Aribo yet again the provider.

Their front-foot play was sure to lead to a goal, and on 52 minutes, it arrived and it was a thing of beauty from Ianis Hagi.

Picking up from Ryan Jack out on the right, he did superbly to drive across the edge of the box, evading a number of challenges.

As he entered the ‘D’, Hagi brilliantly wrapped his left foot around the ball to unleash a super drive into the bottom-right corner, just out of reach of goalkeeper Zander Clark.

It was no more than Gers deserved given the chances they had created and the balance of play, but the spark of genius from Hagi certainly lit up what was an increasingly wet, windy and cold night in the Southside.

St Johnstone threatened a leveller on 71 minutes, with Bryson breaking into the area, but denying him again with a stunning save was McGregor, who got down low to his left to deny the midfielder.

As the heavy rain turned to heavy snow in the final minutes, Gers kept a superb defensive shape to get themselves over the line for another three Scottish Premiership points.

It’s on now to Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park on Sunday lunchtime.

RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Helander, Barisic, Davis, Jack, Aribo, Kent, Hagi (Kamara, 81), Roofe (Itten, 66)

SUBS: McLaughlin, Bassey, Wright, Zungu, Patterson, Stewart, Balogun.

ST JOHNSTONE: Clark, Brown (Rooney, 66), Kerr, Gordon, McCart, Tanser, Conway (Melamed, 82), Bryson, Davidson (Craig, 36), McCann, May (Kane, 66)

SUBS: Parish, Booth, O’Halloran, Gilmour.