MARK WARBURTON suffered his first defeat as Rangers boss as St Johnstone clinched a 3-1 victory at Ibrox tonight.
The Gers won their first eleven games of the new campaign but came unstuck on home soil as they were eliminated from the League Cup.
St Johnstone scored twice in the first half through Murray Davidson and Simon Lappin and extended their lead just after the break through Michael O’Halloran.
Right-back James Tavernier reduced the deficit on the hour mark but that was as good as it got for Warburton’s side as the Saints booked their place in Monday’s fourth round draw.
Rangers’ attentions will now return to Championship duty when they face Morton this weekend aiming to extend their seven game winning streak in the second tier.
Boss Warburton made three changes to his side following the league win at Dumbarton on Saturday as Rob Kiernan, Jason Holt and Nathan Oduwa returned to the starting line-up.
The Light Blues started brightly and after Lappin had brought out a good save from Wes Foderingham, Tavernier and Martyn Waghorn tried their luck from the edge of the box.
Just seconds later, the visitors stunned Ibrox as they took the lead, Davidson converting at the near post after Steven MacLean flicked on an O’Halloran cross.
It almost, and should, have got worse for Warburton’s side as MacLean somehow spooned his effort over the bar at the back post, again after good work from O’Halloran.
After Kenny Miller forced a save from Alan Mannus, St Johnstone doubled their lead as Lappin fired home from 20 yards after collecting a David Wotherspoon corner.
Warburton faced his biggest team-talk as Gers boss as he looked to inspire his side but St Johnstone extended their advantage just seconds after the restart.
It was O’Halloran that celebrated this time, the Saints star getting a deserved goal as he outpaced Danny Wilson and Rob Kiernan and stabbed the ball beyond Foderingham.
Rangers were now facing a huge uphill task to save their League Cup dreams and after Oduwa hit the bar at the end of a jinking run, Tavernier gave Ibrox hope on the hour mark as he burst into the box and blasted the ball into the roof of the net.
Dean Shiels and Nicky Law were both introduced as Rangers looked to find a second goal to make the Saints sweat.
But they were left frustrated as their pressure came to nothing and Warburton tasted defeat for the first time as Light Blues boss.
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