LIVE UPDATES - SAINTS V RANGERS

FULL TIME: That's game over at McDiarmid and despite a very good first half effort, the tale was once again a lack of goals keeping Saints out of contention. Rangers stepped up a gear later in the second and could have scored a couple of more near the end.

Full match report to follow later.

90 mins: We're into stoppage time and Rangers are looking pretty comfortable.

89 mins: Edu tries to take on the Saints defence by himself and does get a shot away, but there's not enough power behind it.

88 mins: Looked like a penalty shout with Naismith going down, then it seemed there might be a punshed dive, but finally the referee gives a goal kick!

86 mins: Chance after chance for the visitors now - Jelavic nearly breaks the crossbar after evading two challenges in the box, then Naismith gets a header in that trickles half a yard past.

85 mins: Edu with a decent header that Enckelman had to dive well to keep out - Rangers have got their tails up with five minutes left on the clock.

83 mins: Steven Naismith rolls away to celebrate - and it's another gifted chance, but very well finished by the little striker. He got two free headers to nod the ball in his path, before unleashing a fine shot at a tight angle under Enckelman at the near post.

83 mins: GOAL - ST JOHNSTONE 0-2 RANGERS

82 mins: Maybury launches it over the top, Invincibile chasing it but Weir belies his age with a sprint to get there first.

81 mins: And that was Robertson's last action as he's replaced by May.

79 mins: Robertson with a good cross from the right, McDonald gifted a free header that McGregor gratefully grasped. Saints looking like a decent threat just now.

78 mins: Saints looking to make a final change with Stevie May warming up, but Rangers are firmly on the attack - and the game's livening up with the clock ticking away.

76 mins: And there it is, scorer Lafferty off for Fleck, with Ness replacing Wylde with about 14 minutes on the clock.

75 mins: Rangers burst out from the Saints corner with a good chance for Lafferty, but his control is woeful. Looking like he'll be subbed in a minute though.

74 mins: That's the best chance of the night for Saints so far - Wylde lost the flight of the ball and gifted Davidson a shot from 2 or 3 yards at a tight angle - McGregor with a fantastic point-blank save to rescue the situation.

70 mins: Mackay living a bit dangerously with a terribly sliced clearance, but once again there's no real danger.

67 mins: Craig moves to left back, so it's Novikovas on the left side and Peaso up front for the last 25 mins or so.

66 mins: It's a double sub for Saints - Moon and Grainger making way for MacDonald and Novikovas.

64 mins: Danger for Saints with a quick-fire break into their penalty box, but Davis overcooks the pass and earns the home side a goal kick.

61 mins: Saints are still chipping away at their task, Robertson winning a corner which Grainger will swing in from the south-west corner of the pitch.

59 mins: Good ball through the Rangers defence for Invincibile but Papac sprints to cover and clear.

58 mins: Lafferty with a downwards header at Enckelman, but no real problem.

55 mins: Davidson and Moon create a lovely chance from the right - Moon's cross-cum-shot threads through the Rangers defence and it takes a great save from McGregor to prevent any danger - a strange offside decision ends the passage of play.

53 mins: good break for Rangers with Jelavic fed through by Lafferty, but his shot is poor.

52 mins: Mackay batters Jelavic with a clumsy challenge, and after an advantage from the referee, he's pulled back for an uncontested booking.

51 mins: Craig tries a looping cross from the left; it's intended for Invincibile but McGregor gets there first. His kick's straight over the top to Enckelman, and sums up the state of play.

49 mins: Good run from Wylde on the left, shepherded by Maybury on the left to force a corner. Davis delivers with Weir the target, but Saints mop up well.

48 mins: Lafferty is nipping at the referee again; he's treading a fine line after his first-half booking.

SECOND HALF and Saints are shooting towards the Ormond end after doing so well in the first spell without much of a return to show for it.

HALF TIME: and it's Rangers a goal in front thanks to one real clanger in defence, but with the bulk of the possession and Rangers not looking on top form, there's still hope for the second period.

42 mins: Good chance for Rangers again - Wylde with a decent delivery, Weir heading it goalbound, but it's just a little bit outside the post.

40 mins: booking for the scorer Lafferty after a 50-50 challenge against Grainger which was adjudged in the Saints player's favour. The Irishman wasn't happy but his protests fell foul of Allan.

38 mins: Some nice passing from Saints around the front of the Rangers box, but there's nothing on the end of it so far - and within seconds the ball's back with Enckelman.

37 mins: Good inswinger from Grainger but it's well cleared by the Rangers defence. Back upfield to Mackay who swings in another cross from the right, but there are no takers. Saints putting on more pressure as the first half ticks away.

36 mins: Davidson with a shot from 25 yards which was going well wide - McGregor didn't think so though, and gives away a corner.

33 mins: Saints still living dangerously at times with another dodgy passback. Naismith charges upfield, but Duberry catches him just in time. Bit of an inquest amongst the back four just now.

32 mins: Jelavic tries his luck but the Saints defence clears back to Foster. It's straight back upfield with Davis, Enckelman spills the ball in a challenge - but wins the ball at the second attempt.

31 mins: Lafferty is in there again - challenging Mackay on the right after a long punt, with Jelavic acting as decoy runner - Rangers win a corner to be taken by Wylde.

29 mins: Duberry caught napping and nearly creates another half chance for the visitors, but manages to find an understanding with Enckelman at the last minute, danger averted.

26 mins: for all the possession Saints have had, it's pretty slow going in this teatime kickoff. Bit of hilarity from the stands though as referee Allan takes a tumble near the centre circle. Think he blamed the pitch...

24 mins: The pattern continues with Saints in most of the possession - Rangers don't look too worried at the moment though. Robertson is caught offside after a long pass.

21 mins: Grainger looks heartbroken - one wee mistake finds the team a goal down when they were looking totally comfortable. You can't give the Old Firm such chances though.

19 mins: Totally against the run of play and it's Kyle Lafferty with the opener for the visitors. Under little pressure Grainger nods a header back to Enckelman which is woefully short, the Northern Irishman converting a pretty simple chance to score.

19 mins: GOAL - ST JOHNSTONE 0-1 RANGERS

17 mins: Papac, so often the Saints tormentor, makes headway on the left but Duberry blasts the ball back out of sight into the Rangers end.

16 mins: Invincibile offside, chasing the ball in behind Weir. Saints pinging the ball around midfield trying to press their first-half advantage.

15 mins: Rangers coming back into it a bit more but Enckelman easily gathers up a cross from Edu on the left.

12 mins: Saints camped in the Rangers half but can't quite make a breakthrough just yet. Rangers look content to get some possession, only 40% to show for the game so far.

11 mins: Shout for a penalty on Grainger as he strode into the box past Foster after Craig's header back in - but Crawford Allan wasn't interested.

10 mins: There's not a huge amount of action but Saints are passing the ball around pretty well. First corner of the match falls to Saints with skipper Mackay lining up the set piece.

7 mins: Millar on the charge down the right hand side with assistance from Davidson, but the Rangers defence crowd them out. Back to Duberry who launches a pass right over the top and straight to McGregor.

5 mins: Lafferty and Duberry have their first joust of the night, the Saints man coming off best - Lafferty penalised for a push.

3 mins: Robertson has another good dig, this time at Davie Weir - but the Rangers skipper gets away with a bit of shirt tugging.

1 min: Robertson makes his presence felt in a challenge with Whittaker but the referee punishes the challenge.

It's just on a year since Rnagers last visited McDiarmid, where they escaped with a narrow 4-1 defeat.

With that still in the memory of Saints fans, and a last-gasp defeat by Dundee United inflicted at Ibrox on Saturday, the stakes are high for the vistors.

For the home side though, Jordan Robertson makes his first home start, Kevin Moon returns to the starting eleven and it looks like an attacking line-up with nothing really to lose.

ST JOHNSTONE: Enckelman, Maybury, MacKay, Duberry, Grainger, Millar, Moon, Davidson, Craig, Invincibile, Robertson. Subs: Smith, Novikovas, Taylor, Anderson, MacDonald, May, Caddis

RANGERS: McGregor, Foster, Weir, Whittaker, Papac, Naismith, Davis, Edu, Wylde, Jelavic, Lafferty. Subs: Alexander, Fleck, Diouf, Kerkar, Ness, Hutton, Cole.