St Johnstone .. 0

Rangers ......... 7

As a dress rehearsal for the League Cup final on November 29, this was really a total disaster for St Johnstone, whose self-inflicted errors allowed Rangers to strike a huge psychological blow.

Within 31 minutes, frailties in the Perth defence allowed the Ibrox side to take a three-goal advantage which they never seemed likely to surrender at McDiarmid Park, especially after the harsh dismissal of Paul Kane, who conceded the penalty for the third goal killed off any faint hope of mounting a comeback.

This impressive victory extended Rangers' lead in the Scottish Premier League to four points over Kilmarnock and more relevantly seven over Celtic.

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat made three changes, with Antti Niemi replacing the injured Lionel Charbonnier in goal, Tony Vidmar taking over from Sergio Porrini, and Ian Ferguson preferred to his namesake, Barry.

If their exertions against Bayer Leverkusen in reaching the last 16 of the UEFA Cup had taken a toll, then these sinning Saints never had the guile to find out.

Never at any stage did they resemble a side currently occupying fourth place in the league.

When their most experienced defender, Alan Kernaghan, almost headed into his own goal in attempting to clear a cross from Andrei Kanchelskis, it was a clear warning of what was to follow. It went unheeded and inevitably a heavy price was paid for it is impossible to predict what such a defeat will do to their morale.

After 10 minutes, keeper Alan Main was forced to concede a corner in dealing with a typically fierce drive from Jorg Albertz. From Giovanni van Bronckhorst's kick, the ball bounced off Vidmar's chest and fell to Rod Wallace, who with time and space to spare, claimed his thirteenth goal of the season.

The only respite came when a clumsy challenge by Lorenzo Amoruso on Darren Dods brought unsuccessful appeals for a penalty. It was but a brief hiatus in the increasing dominance of Rangers, and if Jonatan Johansson had been quicker to react to an intelligent through pass from Dutchman van Bronckhorst, the game's outstanding performer, they would have gone further ahead.

Within two minutes, the outcome was decided. Just before half an hour had gone, Arthur Numan and Wallace combined on the left to create an opening for van Bronckhorst. His shot was directed straight at Main, but the keeper spilled the ball and Johansson was unmarked in steering it in from close-range.

Before St Johnstone had time to recover, they fell further behind. Paul Kane had little option but to bring down van Bronckhorst as he powered into the box to concede a penalty, which was converted by Albertz.

However, Kane was entitled to feel aggrieved at being ordered off. Any remaining vestige of reducing the deficit disappeared with the veteran down the tunnel and a rout followed.

Advocaat had the luxury of shuffling his pack against such feeble rivals. Scott Wilson took over from Colin Hendry, Charlie Miller was sent on for Numan, but it was the switch of Stephane Guivarc'h for Johansson which proved the most significant.

After Kanchelskis had rattled in a fourth goal from an astute pass from Albertz, the French striker provided ample evidence that he is more than capable of justifying his #3.5m transfer fee from Newcastle United.

With his first touch Guivarc'h dragged the ball wide of his marker then attempted to lob Main. His attempt was deflected ever so slightly off defender John McQuillan and gave the keeper no chance.

It was a stunning start to his career in Scotland, and when the striker added a second nine minutes later, he was left in no doubt that he had made the right decision in ending his spell in the Premiership to travel north.

Van Bronckhorst tarnished what had been an outstanding night, diving theatrically after a challenge by John O'Neil to earn another penalty which was nonchalantly converted by Albertz to end the agony.

The outcome underlined the growing gulf between Rangers and the rest of Scottish football.

Despite an encouraging start to the season, St Johnstone were no match for a team on which #33m has been invested by their Dutch manager to compete at the highest levels. Even if the Perth side had completed the game with a full complement, it would still have been no contest.

''I am very pleased with the result especially after our European tie last Thursday,'' said Advocaat. ''I watched the tie with Bayer Leverkusen again and I am even more impressed to get such a result.

''That was an excellent performance and we showed even after such a game that we were fresh.

''We had some excellent moments tonight and deserved to win. We showed our commitment right from the start. We did not want to make the same mistake as we did against Motherwell.

''The League Cup final will be an entirely different game.''

Wallace admitted that the arrival of Guivarc'h would intensify competition for places. ''There is competition throughout the squad and everyone now must do his best and then the rest is up to the manager,'' he main-tained.

Next league games: St Johnstone - Celtic (h). Rangers - Aberdeen (h).

Quote

''We are more than happy with this result. It was one of our best performances and will provide a psychological boost for the final.

''It was great coming after the Bayer tie and hopefully we will go from strength to strength.''

- Rod Wallace