Rangers 0 - 0 St Johnstone Sat 19/11/11

Rangers dropped points at home for the third time this season as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by St Johnstone.

The home side rarely looked threatened at the back but similarly boss Ally McCoist will be disappointed by the lack of opportunities his side created.

Rangers made three changes from their last outing against Dundee United.

Kirk Broadfoot, Alejandro Bedoya and Kyle Lafferty all started at Ibrox, with Sasa Papac, Lee Wallace and Kyle Bartley all sidelined through injury.

Bedoya's inclusion meant all three of Rangers' Americans were on the pitch at the start of a Thanksgiving themed day, with Carlos Bocanegra and Maurice Edu also in the side.

United States skipper Bocanegra was also presented with a commemorative gift by Rangers before kick-off for earning his 100th cap for his country earlier this week.

For new Saints boss Steve Lomas, the visit to Glasgow provided the opportunity to start his new job on a high as he took charge of team affairs for the first time after replacing Derek McInnes at the helm.

Rangers made most of the early running on the left flank with Matt McKay combining well with Jelavic as they sought a way round the back of the Saints' defence.

Jelavic was at the centre of most of the best moments for the Light Blues in the first half, and there would have been concern when he was treated for a bloody nose just after the ten minute mark.

Rangers had the first real chance of the game when Broadfoot whipped a cross into the box for Nikica Jelavic and he connected with a diving header that fell just past the post.

Steven Davis then teed up Jelavic with a cut-back in front of goal but this time the Croatian striker was denied by a timely block from Frazer Wright to keep the scoreline level.

Saints striker Francisco Sandaza should have picked up the first booking of the game for a dreadful late challenge on goalkeeper Allan McGregor but escaped punishment from referee Euan Norris.

Rangers looked the more likely of the two teams to find the back of the net and pushed forward in search of the opener with half-time approaching.

Steven Whittaker burst down the right flank before trying to pick out Lafferty but goalkeeper Peter Enckelman was able to gather at the near post before the forward could connect.

The Ibrox support clearly felt a number of calls went against them and things on and off the pitch were becoming increasingly heated as half time approached.

St Johnstone started the second half well and one-time Rangers target Murray Davidson saw his effort go past the upright a couple of minutes after the restart.

Davidson was threatening again when he threw himself in front of a Chris Millar cut-back only to see his header touched just over the crossbar by a full-stretch McGregor.

Rangers had the chance to pile on the pressure when Lafferty won a free-kick 25 yards out. He squeezed a low effort through the Saints defence before Bedoya tried to force over the line but Enckelman managed to smother.

Rangers had another chance when Bedoya met Broadfoot's cross with a firm header but Enckelman was again up to the task and blocked well.

McKay was withdrawn and with the introduction of John Fleck there was a change in shape. The young midfielder did well when he was found with space, but Rangers managed to do that all too infrequently.

Time was fast running out to find the winner and the home side squandered another opportunity when substitute John Fleck's corner was nodded over by Bocanegra.

Kane Hemmings was then introduced for Bedoya as Rangers looked for another way through but the young forward got little in the way of chances on a frustrating afternoon for the home side.

In the end, neither side could find the cutting edge to claim maximum points, although Lomas would no doubt be the happier of the two managers with a decent start to his tenure at the Perth club.

Teams

RANGERS: McGregor; Whitttaker, Goian Bocanegra, Broadfoot; Bedoya (Hemmings 76), Edu, Davis, McKay (Fleck 64); Jelavic, Lafferty,

Subs:  Alexander, Perry, Ortiz, Kerkar, McCulloch,

St Johnstone: Encke,man; MacKay, Wright, Anderson, Davidson; Millar, Moon, Morris (Finnigan 76), Davidson, Craig; Sandaza (Haber 79),

Subs: Mannus, Maybury, Durnan, May, McIntosh,

Ref: E Norris

Man-of-the-match: Bocanegra

Attendance: 45,279