Derek McInnes hails Rangers ‘brilliance’ in St Johnstone thumping as he salutes stars for meeting his high bar

Rangers produced a statement performance at Ibrox on Saturday, and Derek McInnes was quick to praise the quality his side showed. A 4-0 win over St Johnstone was exactly the sort of afternoon the manager has been demanding since taking charge, and his players met his high standards from the first whistle to the last.

The breakthrough came in the 29th minute, when Kevin Kelsy opened the scoring and settled a Rangers side that had been on top from the start. The home team stayed patient and controlled the game, and the second half brought the reward for that discipline. Ryan Naderi doubled the lead on 61 minutes, and Kelsy added his second five minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. St Johnstone’s afternoon got worse when they were reduced to ten men in the 74th minute, and substitute Tochi Chukwuani rounded off the scoring late on.

Several individual displays stood out in miserable, rain-soaked conditions. Minsu Kim was a constant menace down the flank, and he came within inches of a goal when he struck the post. Badredine Bouanani justified his place in the starting eleven, while Naderi’s goal capped a lively display. It was the kind of collective effort that showed McInnes’s messages are landing in the dressing room.

There was also a defensive side to this win. Ivor Pandur’s clean sheet showed that Rangers can be ruthless at one end while staying solid at the other. That balance will matter a great deal as the pressure builds on the title race, with Celtic still setting a demanding pace.

For a manager who has spoken so often about standards, this was a day to enjoy. Rangers were sharp and clinical, and they looked like a team that is beginning to understand what McInnes wants from them. If they can reproduce this level week after week, the rest of the league will have a serious problem on its hands.