Rangers got back to winning ways to keep the pressure on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership thanks to Glen Kamara's early goal at McDiarmid Park.
But it was far from a vintage performance from the champions against relegation-threatened St Johnstone in Perth as they made life more difficult for themselves than it had to be.
Kamara's goal after just three minutes was the ideal start as they looked to bounce back from tossing away a two-goal lead at home to Motherwell on Sunday.
However, the Light Blues didn't kick on from that and it was nervy at times with just one goal to show for it – but they held out for a much-needed three points.
Following some criticism for playing John Lundstram in the heart of defence against Motherwell, the Englishman moved back into his natural midfield position with Leon Balogun returning to take his place in the rearguard.
Given the pressure they were under to get a win, the visitors would have been looking for an early goal to settle any nerves - and they got off to the perfect start.
Connor Goldson fed Alfredo Morelos who played a lovely ball through to Kamara and the Finn supplied the composed finish for a dream opening.
It was the last thing the home side, fighting for their lives at the bottom, wanted yet Jamie McCart could have done so much better when a cleared corner fell to him but the defender got it all wrong with his shot wide.
Morelos was then denied a second when the Colombian smacked the base of the post after Scott Arfield set him up.
Conceding their two-goal lead against the Steelmen on Sunday would have been in the back of Gers’ minds and Saints edged back into the game as the first half wore on.
And under-fire Allan McGregor had to be smart to get down and save a Jacob Butterfield effort before Scott Arfield and Ryan Kent both fired over at the other end before the break.
It wasn’t the best half of football from Rangers but they wouldn’t have been complaining and after the restart Joe Aribo was unlucky with a shot saved by Elliot Parish.
Parish then appeared to get a fingertip to Arfield’s effort after good play by Aribo but no corner was given much to the midfielder’s bemusement.
Goldson did have the ball in the net from James Tavernier’s floated free kick but it was flagged offside and, unlike against Motherwell at the weekend, there could be no argument.
There was a heart-stopping moment at the other end when Tavernier and McGregor were involved in a mix up that almost allowed Ali Crawford to nip in and steal a long upfield ball but they recovered to clear.
And, despite a nervy final few minutes, the visitors managed to see out an important win.
3 talking points
Kam in front of goal
Rangers haven’t been clinical enough in front of goal in recent weeks, scoring just three goals from 58 attempts before their trip to Perth.
So what odds on Glen Kamara netting the opener? The Finnish midfielder is guilty of not providing enough of a scoring threat from the middle of the park.
It’s one area of his game where there is room for improvement with just two goals to his name last season - one of which was also against St Johnstone - and he has at least bettered that with this his third of the campaign.
Given more natural finishers have spurned gilt-edged chances in the last two games against Dundee United and Motherwell, it was a surprise to see Kamara popping up in the opposition box to keep his composure to score.
Others weren't so cool in the box with Scott Arfield in particular wasting a couple of good opportunities.
Why no changes?
Rangers got off the perfect start but they didn't really kick on from that dream opening.
St Johnstone came back into the game and the Ibrox legions must have been fearing that they would again surrender a lead.
It was nervy going into the latter stages while they only had a single goal lead.
And the big question is why Giovanni van Bronckhorst didn't make changes.
As the clock ticked down it was clear they needed fresh legs but the Dutchman resisted.
Pressure on in Perth
St Johnstone won’t be relegated based on results against the Old Firm where anything is a bonus against the big two.
But their dreadful form this season has put the pressure on to pick up points even against Rangers and Celtic with games running out.
So it’s another fixture ticked off with nothing to show for it and it’s worrying times for Callum Davidson and his men.
They are now nine points from safety after Ross County’s win at Motherwell and a play-off looks to be the best they can hope for in the battle against the drop.
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