It was not exactly the nightmare revisited but St Johnstone, as expected, had to endure further pain at the hands of Rangers at Celtic Park yesterday.

Much more spirited and coherent than they had been in the 7-0 hiding they took from the same opponents only three weeks earlier, the team from Perth lacked only the little wedge of luck that might at least have taken the match into extra-time. As it was Jorg Albertz did just enough to rouse himself from the lethargy that had gripped him for most of the match to sneak Rangers a winner in the 37th minute.

Rangers' first goal came from Stephane Guivarc'h. Andrei Kanchelskis delivered a knee-high cross to the Frenchman, and his volley flew past Alan Main.

That was an impressive finish but nothing like as spectacular as the one produced by Nick Dasovic for St Johnstone only two minutes later. Paul Kane's free-kick from the right was headed down by Alan Kernaghan to Dasovic, just outside the penalty area. The Canadian international chested the ball forward, took two strides and hit a ferocious left-foot volley high to the left of Antti Niemi.

St Johnstone shook off the demons momentarily only for Albertz to damn the Perth side once and for all. Barry Ferguson slipped the ball towards the German in midfield but he allowed it to run through his legs to Guivarc'h, who waited until the German had moved forward before releasing the return ball which Albertz swept past Main.

Rangers: Niemi, Porrini, Amoruso, Hendry, Numan, B. Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Guivarc'h (Durie 89), Wallace, Albertz (I. Ferguson 65). Subs Not Used: Vidmar. Goals: Guivarc'h 6, Albertz 37.

St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Dasovic, Kernaghan, Scott, O'Neil, O'Boyle (Lowndes 74), Kane, Bollan, Dods, Simao (Grant 84). Subs Not Used: Preston. Booked: Dasovic. Goals: Dasovic 8.

Referee: H Dallas (Motherwell).