RANGERS PLAYED through a strangely subdued atmosphere of underlying discontent to beat William Hill Premiership bottom side St Johnstone 3-1 at Ibrox.
New Light Blues chief executive Patrick Stewart had given boss Philippe Clement the board’s backing on Saturday after pressure on the Belgian intensified following the 1-1 draw against Dundee on Thursday night, which further shredded their title hopes.
The Rangers Supporters Association called for Clement’s sacking while the Union Bears, Rangers’ ultras-style fan group, initiated a walkout in the 55th minute which, paradoxically, was loudly booed by many of remaining Gers support, who watched three goals in nine minutes in the first half from Hamza Igamane, Vaclav Cerny and Mohamed Diomande.
Saints defender Jack Sanders reduced the deficit in the 54th minute as the home side’s performance dropped off amid long spells of silence from the stands.
The Govan side moved to 15 points behind leaders Celtic but the title will almost certainly remain at Parkhead.
Clement’s troubles have not been helped by injuries to several key players and again there was a makeshift look to his side.
Midfielder and stand-in captain Nicolas Raskin returned from suspension and Brazilian striker Danilo was also reinstated, while 20-year-old defender Clinton Nsiala started his first game at Ibrox.
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari was looking for a first win in nine games and he made five changes.
Andy Fisher, the 26-year-old goalkeeper signed on loan from Swansea City, made his debut with defender Aaron Essel, midfielders Fran Franczak and Max Kucheriavyi, and attacker Mackenzie Kirk, returning.
The hum of conversations came from the Gers faithful amid silence from the usually boisterous Union Bears, who displayed anti-board banners and sang ‘sack the board’, albeit the rest of the stadium did not join in, to any great extent.
Moments later, in the 16th minute, Diomande took a pass from Cerny and cut the ball back for Igamane to slam the ball into the Saints net from 12 yards for his 12th goal of the season.
The stadium quickly fell back to almost total silence but came to life again when Cerny raced on to a Danilo through ball and poked the ball past Fisher for his 12th since signing on loan from Wolfsburg.
When Sanders inexplicably headed a Cerny cross into the air, it fell perfectly for Diomande to head past Fisher and at last some songs came tumbling down from the stands, if only momentarily.
Cerny should have scored early in the second half but a weak shot was easily held by Fisher before the out-of-sorts visitors pulled a goal back.
Sanders headed in a Kucheriavyi corner just before the Union Bears departed – the time was symbolic of the club’s 55th and last title win in 2021 – to boos from fellow supporters.
Fisher made a fine save from Gers defender Oscar Cortes’ powerful drive but the Perth men carried as much threat in their sporadic attacks, former Ireland U21 international Graham Carey testing Gers keeper Liam Kelly with a drive to his near post.
The final whistle brought some applause. but these are uncertain times at Ibrox.
Elsewhere, Irish international Jamie McGrath made a substitute appearance as Aberdeen halted a run of five consecutive defeats. Goalkeeper Ross Doohan made a stoppage-time penalty save from Jorge Grant to ensure a 0-0 draw at home to Hearts.
The Dons’ winless run was extended to 11 matches since November, but they will have been relieved to have escaped with a point after the Jambos’ two January signings Elton Kabangu and Jamie McCart both threatened with second-half headers before the last-gasp spot-kick drama when Sivert Heltne Nilsen was penalised for a foul on Hearts sub Kenneth Vargas.
Hearts are now unbeaten in four but remain second-bottom of the William Hill Premiership, albeit within a point of both Ross County and Kilmarnock, and five of the top six.
Great news. Now Robbie can move back to Connacht to partner up with Bundee again!
I wonder with this signing are Leinster going to free up Frawley to get some game time at fly half next season?
Classy player and it will be a great signing with Frawley now in the wider Irish squad.
But Leinster need players who will start in the big K/O games becuase that’s where the current crop are just falling short.
Our pack is incredible but lacking serious niggle. I’d like to see Leinster sign a forward who’s mean or enjoys winning ugly.
@Billy Keenan: I’m thinking that’s what Jenkins had been signed for – although he hasn’t exactly been overwhelming for Munster
@Kevin Ryan: He’s been injured most of the season so it’s hard to judge his real worth. Certainly has the physique. With a full preseason & 100% fitness we may see his true worth.
@TL55: What have you made of Jenkins in the games he has actually been fit for? General feeling I am getting from Munster fans is that he’s been pretty poor in those sporadic appearances?
Even as a Leinster fan, this is kinda baffling. But I trust the coaches know what they’re doing.
Leinster sign another Kiwi, that’s makes it 3 kiwis, 1 Samoan and 1 Saffer signed up for next season.
@Patrick O Connell: 3 Kiwis’? Two are Irish eligible. Significantly less players from outside the province than Munster, Connacht and Ulster..
@Patrick O Connell: so I’m assuming your counting JGP and Lowe as Kiwis when they are Irish internationals. The other Kiwi is Ngatai who will be used as cover when Henshaw and Ringrose will be at the World Cup. The Samoan is Ala’latoa covering for Porter and Furlong and the Saffa is Jason Jenkins who will offer second row cover for James Ryan/Ryan Baird and compensate for the loss of Toner and Dunne. Just though I’d break that down for ya.
@Simon Kerins: Munster only have 2 non Irish qualified players signed for next season, not too sure about Ulster and Connacht.
@David Lawlor: Lowe and JGP are kiwis. It was the same last season when Munster signed Jenkins, there was uproar on here by rival fans that Munster signed another Saffer even though he was replacing CJ..
@Patrick O Connell: your ability to count must really be a source of pride for you parents. Imagine in a year or two when you can multiple they will be so happy. .
@Patrick O Connell: good man Patrick hope ye have a great season again next year
@Patrick O Connell: CJ is an 8. Jenkins is a lock. He wasn’t a replacement for him. He was signed before Synman got injured as well. Other fans took issue with Munster being able to sign 4 foreign qualified players rather than the 3 that was supposed to be the limit. Especially having two players in one position blocking a pathway for an Irish qualified player to get game time. People took issue with it not because they are bitter about munster but because they want what’s best for the national team.
@Patrick O Connell: Michael Alaalatoa was born in Sydney, Australia. At least get your facts right haha
@Patrick O Connell: now name all the foreigners in the Munster squad.
@Patrick O Connell: No, they’re Irish. Otherwise capping them was a massive mistake. The only reason their signings would have been allowed is because they were able to be naturalised within three years. When Munster brought DeAllende and Snyman they were not qualified and creaming massive wages too as WC winners. Its one thing to bring these guys in and another altogether to get value from them. Your argument is weak to say the least.
@Harry O’Callaghan: well Harry, he plays for Somoa, he was born in Sydney.
@Patrick Waldron Healy: Jenkins, RG, and DDA, who is the fourth foreign player???
@Chris Mc: have ye more than 3 kiwis, 1 Somoan and 1 Saffer in the squad for next season???
@Chris Mc: Uses his fingers and toes. Any number over 20 and he’s lost.
@Patrick O Connell: you called him a somoan because he plays from somoa but he’s born in Australia, yet you call Lowe and Gibson Park kiwis but they play for Ireland. Maybe get an adult to explain to you where your logic is flawed.
@Chris Mc: he qualified via his parents to play for Somoa and considers himself Somoan. JGP and Lowe have no Irish connection and only qualified on residency rules. There is a huge difference there
@Patrick O Connell: but he was born and raised in Australia haha
@Patrick O Connell: RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Jason Jenkins, Damian De Allende, Declan Moore, Mike Haley, Chris Cloete, Matt Gallagher, Kenyan knox, Roman Salanoa all look pretty foreigner to me. Tadhg Beirne, Joey Carbery, Andrew Conway, Rowan Osborne all from Leinster. Chris Farrell Ulster.
@Harry O’Callaghan: Add Jeremy Loughman to that list also haha
@all: Gents don’t waste your time even reading what the original poster has to say. Just another in a long line of boring, ill informed and bewildering comments. I genuinely don’t think he even watches any rugby.
@Carmine Lorenzo: so you disagree with me. How many kiwis, staffers and Somoan/Australian players in your squad for next season???
@Patric O Connell: same no as Leinster in 22/23 and there’s three players alone from Kildare playing for Munster and several more from outside the province 12 or 13 this season (Carberry happens to be Kiwi born also) only Gallagher and Cloete leaving it reduces the number of overseas players. I don’t understand why you make that comment when Leinster by virtue of their large playing population are huge contributors to other provinces. I’m from Munster but the constant chippy commentary from people on this forum is not the most constructive.
@Patrick O Connell: At least James Lowe & Gibson-Park are contributing to the Irish squad hugely. The same can’t be said for Snyman, Kleyn, Kenkins, Cloete, De Allende, Haley, Gallagher, Moore, Knox & Salanoa. And neither will Fekitoa & Frisch next season.
@Patrick O Connell: Samoan* Learn how to spell would be your first step.
@Patrick O Connell: Chris Cloete
@Carmine Lorenzo: says the man with the fake name
@Patrick Waldron Healy: Chris Clote is Irish qualified so as the rest of the posters say he is not classified as a foreigner.
@Harry O’Callaghan: I don’t know why ye are all getting excited, Leinster have 3 Kiwis, 1 Saffer and a Somoan, Munster have3 saffers 1 USA and 1 kiwi, not sure about the other provinces. This season proved irish provinces need imports to compete, Leinster included.
@Patrick O Connell: Munster need less imports and more homegrown players.
Delighted with the news. A new experienced perspective is a huge bonus for Leinster
That’s a really astute signing. Would love another loosehead now.
Frawley will be delighted.
Centre is a position we are light after henshaw and ringrose. My only concern is these type of signings don’t always work out for leinster.
@Chris Mc: agree totally , it seems good on paper , he’s a fantastic athlete and hope he makes a name for himself here . Ben teo the most recent oversees centre to be made look pretty average. I’m sure Leo etc know what they’re doing , maybe there will be another signing up front soon .
@Michael Uzice: Zane K, tuquiri, tomane to name a few
@Michael Uzice: Ben te’o was good for when he played for Leinster. He played 51 times and scored 6 tries. Not bad for someone who only played for 2 years.
Oli jager would be a great signing!
Get him back to Ireland
don’t get this i won’t lie. With both byrnes renewing there contracts i can’t see Frawley playing 10 due to having 4 senior out halves then that’s a lot of minutes to juggle. However this is going to block an irish player in frawley no? Like he will get caps on this tour and then not bench Europe next year? Seems odd to me can’t lie. Like he’s a quality player sure but doesn’t actually help leinsters starting team at all
@Dara: frawley while delighted for him to be in the Irish set up will go back to preseason at leinster with Ross Byrne working all summer with the leinster coaches and this lad along with osbourne playing 12 and 13 and frawley could be squeezed out.
Saying that farrell might but him in at 10. As joey and Harry are not at the races or maybe should be at the races. It’s either going to be a make or break summer for him.
Seems like another odd centre signing. Does this mean they have given up on the Harry Byrne experiment at Centre. Ngatai won’t even start in big games and his lack of positional flexibility means he probably won’t make the 23 either.
Another all black time to change the club colours
Well do leinster. Not sure he is better then what ye already have
Scored 2 tries in the challenge cup final against toulon. If he is a all black international he must be a great player. Look forward to seeing his experience with the team