A goal in each half gave St Johnstone a deserved 2-0 victory over a lacklustre Rangers side who stay top of the Bell's Scottish League Premier Division on goal difference.

Saints had waited 26 years for a win over the Ibrox side and celebrated in style at the end.

The victory meant Saints have beaten both the Old Firm at home this season after their 1-0 victory over Celtic on December 27.

Saints survived a late spell of Rangers pressure but weathered the storm and secured a comprehensive victory.

Saints served notice after 20 minutes that they would not lie down as John O'Neil sent the ball to the far post and Alan Kernaghan's volley was not far off-target.

John O'Neil almost got on the scoresheet after 28 minutes when he twice beat full-back Tony Vidmar but then blasted the ball wide.

Rangers' best effort in the opening half-hour was a chip from Gordon Durie which goalkeeper Alan Main held well.

Saints took the lead after 36 minutes having forced a string of corners. Kernaghan managed to hold off Vidmar and the ball broke to O'Neil, who rifled it into the corner of the net.

Rangers almost equalised just before half-time when Brian Laudrup produced a rare moment of brilliance, flicking the ball to Jorg Albertz only for Main to block the German's fierce close-range drive.

The Perth side should have scored a second goal after 49 minutes following some brilliant build-up work. Paul Kane sent a defence-splitting pass to John McQuillan, whose inch-perfect cross was met by George O'Boyle but he fired the ball wide of Andy Goram's left-hand post.

Defender Sergio Porrini's left-foot effort was then turned round the post by Main for a corner.

Rangers sent on substitutes Paul Gascoigne and Finn Jonaten Johansson to try and inject some much-needed life into their lacklustre attack but Saints went further ahead after 69 minutes.

Kernaghan collected the ball on the right and his low, hard drive into the crowded goalmouth found O'Boyle, who crashed the ball into the net from close range.

Richard Gough saw three excellent headers go wide as Rangers tried desperately to get back into the match, but too many of their players had an off-day and Saints left the field to chants of "easy, easy" from their delighted fans.

Teams:

St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Davidson (Jenkinson 28), Dasovic, Weir, Kernaghan, Scott, O'Neil, Kane, O'Boyle (Grant 87), Preston.

Subs Not Used: McCluskey.

Goals: O'Neil 36, O'Boyle 69.

Rangers: Goram, McCall, Vidmar, Gough, Porrini, Bjorklund, Gattuso (Moore 73), Ferguson (Gascoigne 56), Durie, Albertz (Johannson 56), Laudrup.

Att: 10,436

Ref: J McCluskey (Stewarton).