Alfredo Morelos, it must be! No, the Colombian striker's hooked shot from inside the box comes off Eros Grezda and drifts inches wide of the post, with Saints keeper Zander Clark a stranded onlooker.

Our collective wait for the opening goal continues...

As if saying to himself: "I've had enough of this!", Ross McCrorie bursts forward before fizzing a shot from 25 yards whistling narrowly over the bar.

"A really good effort," purrs BBC Sportsound pundit Billy Dodds.

The hosts, emboldened by those chances for Murray Davidson and Liam Craig, are beginning to grow in confidence.

Rangers appear at their most menacing when James Tavernier is whipping in deliveries from the right flank.

Kyle: This game has the feel of a Sunday morning match, even if it's in the afternoon now. Hopefully it can only get better as it's been a poor start.

Allan Preston
BBC Scotland summariser

St Johnstone should be in front. A corner is headed on inside the box and Liam Craig, at the back post with the goal gaping, heads wide!

A festive howler from the St Johnstone midfielder and it remains goalless in Perth.

Referee Nick Walsh has a word with Rangers defender James Tavernier, but there's no booking, after he takes out David Wotherspoon.

Boos from the home supporters before we're back under way.

That's the best move of the match. Matty Kennedy holds up play - and two Rangers defenders, brilliantly - before playing the ball into the path of Murray Davidson.

The midfielder tries to dink a wee pitching wedge of a shot over the bunker and goalkeeper Allan McGregor, but there's just too much on it as it drifts narrowly wide.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone threaten through Matty Kennedy but Connor Goldson is able to mop up the danger for Rangers and it remains goalless as we approach the 20-minute mark.

Lassana Coulibaly dinks a clever ball into the feet of Alfredo Morelos but the Colombian is pick-pocketed by an alert St Johnstone defence and the hosts continue to frustrate Rangers' attacking intent.

"Defending's an art as well," says BBC Sportsound pundit Allan Preston.

This might develop into a familiar pattern at McDiarmid Park. Rangers, enjoying the lionshare of possession, engineer a bit of space for Lassana Coulibaly, but the St Johnstone defence snuff out the danger.

Patient build up from Rangers as they dink the ball about down the right wing, attempting to coax St Johnstone out from their defensive shape.

James Tavernier's deliveries are beginning to cause the hosts problems.

The hosts are warming to the task in Perth and test the Rangers rearguard with a couple of crosses, repelled eventually by the visitors.

Liam Craig is then penalised for a sliding challenge on Alfredo Morelos.

"It's a shame but you just can't tackle like that any more," says BBC Sportsound pundit Billy Dodds.

"How do you go about slide tackling now? You have to put your studs up sometime..."

Lassana Coulibaly is struggling here. The Rangers midfielder suffered a knock after a challenge by Scott Tanser and is receiving treatment.

Kyle: Hope Rangers win as a win for Rangers would make the title race even more fascinating, especially with Aberdeen vs Celtic and Rangers vs Celtic. Think Rangers will edge it 2-1 but they have to improve on their away form which has been poor so far.

What was that we were saying? Suddenly, Rangers come alive through James Tavernier as the right back whips in a beautiful cross that's begging to be fired home... but Andy Halliday sclaffs an effort wide.

Looks like that came off the Rangers midfielder's heel. A cleaner connection would've seen the visitors take an early lead.

Fairly scrappy fare in the opening exchanges in Perth with neither side able to establish rhythm to their passing.

Billy Dodds
BBC Sportsound pundit at McDiarmid park