In a clash between two Scottish Premiership sides, St Johnstone host Rangers at McDiarmid Park in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday evening.

It is the first match in the competition for both teams, who last met at this ground in November, when the hosts emerged as shock 2-1 winners.

Match preview

St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson on August 13, 2022 © Reuters

While it was a fantastic win for St Johnstone in the last meeting, their form has gone seriously downhill since then, and they have now lost their last five games in the Scottish Premiership.

It is not just the defeats that will be frustrating for manager Callum Davidson, but the manner of them, shipping 14 goals in that timeframe, meaning that they now have the third-worst defensive record in the division.

Despite their poor form, the Saints still have every chance of finishing in the Championship group, given that they are just three points shy of sixth-placed St Mirren, but form will have to start picking up very soon.

A match in the Scottish Cup is likely to serve as a welcome distraction for the club from Paisley, and it is a competition that they have very recent success in, lifting the trophy in 2021, after beating Hibernian 1-0 at Hampden in the final.

It was a resolute defensive performance from St Mirren that day, but they will need to improve on their most recent showing if they want to go deep into the Scottish Cup again, losing 4-2 at home to Livingston last time out.

Rangers have fared very well since Michael Beale was appointed to the post of manager at the beginning of December, winning seven and drawing one of their last eight games in all competitions.

The new manager has got the Gers competing on all fronts, recently setting up a Scottish League Cup final match with Celtic in February by defeating Aberdeen 2-1 at Hampden courtesy of goals from Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe.

Despite Beale's impressive start, the Teddy Bears still trail Celtic by nine points in the league table, a large but not insurmountable gap, but they will be disappointed to have conceded a late goal in the recent Old Firm match at Ibrox, drawing 2-2 after appearing to be on course for a victory.

Last time out, the Gers made hard work of an away trip to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership, conceding a late goal against ten men, but they held on for a 3-2 victory, with Alfredo Morelos bagging a brace.

St Johnstone form (all competitions):

Rangers form (all competitions):

Team News

St Johnstone's Jason Kerr celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on August 5, 2021 © Reuters

St Johnstone have a couple of notable absentees in midfield, with Melker Hallberg and Murray Davison still on the treatment table, so Graham Carey and Ryan McGowan are expected to keep their places in the centre.

Stevie May is the Saints' top scorer in the league this season, netting on four occasions, and he could be joined in attack by a returning Jamie Murphy, with the striker scoring after coming off the bench last time out.

As for Rangers, Beale has no new injury concerns to worry about, but he may choose to freshen his side up and give a few different options a run out in the cup.

Adam Devine could start at left-back, with the 18-year-old getting the nod over Borna Barisic, while Jack may be chosen to partner John Lundstram in the centre of the park.

Elsewhere, Malik Tillman may be the choice in attacking midfield, playing just behind striker Roofe, who is in line to make his first start of the season after recently recovering from injury.

St Johnstone possible starting lineup:
Matthews; Mitchell, Gordon, Considine; Wright, Carey, McGowan, Montgomery, Wotherspoon; Murphy, May

Rangers possible starting lineup:
McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Devine; Jack, Lundstram, Sakala, Tillman, Kent; Roofe

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We say: St Johnstone 0-2 Rangers

Rangers will be eager to put right the shock defeat that they suffered in their last match at McDiarmid Park, and we think that they will emerge as comfortable winners.

Beale is still undefeated as boss, with his side performing much better since his appointment, and we cannot see that run coming to an end against an out-of-sorts St Mirren side.

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