Rangers ended an eventful season with a comfortable victory over St Johnstone.

With news of Charles Green agreeing a deal to buy the Ibrox club breaking hours before kick-off, Lee McCulloch's superb strike put the visitors ahead.

Sone Aluko fired Rangers' second 11 minutes after the break and tapped home the third from Alejandro Bedoya's pass.

Aluko completed his hat-trick with a powerful shot and Saints now require Hearts to win the Scottish Cup in order to qualify for the Europa League.

Steve Lomas's side finish sixth - two points behind Hearts, who take on Hibernian in next weekend's Hampden showpiece.

The hosts were prominent early on and Cillian Sheridan's header from Liam Craig's corner was blocked on the line by goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

At the other end, McCulloch's nodded effort called Saints keeper Alan Mannus into action.

Bedoya then blazed over the St Johnstone bar after doing well to work the space for a shot.

Sandy Jardine, Charles Green

Prospective Rangers owner Green (right) watched the match with club ambassador Sandy Jardine

But the visitors were in front by the 23rd minute as Ross Perry's pass was flicked on by Maurice Edu to McCulloch on the run and the stand-in captain swept the ball past Mannus on the half-volley.

McCulloch appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty either side of half-time, the veteran claiming a foul and then a handball against Fraser Wright.

Francisco Sandaza headed over the Rangers crossbar from point-blank range as Saints threatened at a corner.

Craig did enough to put Kyle Bartley off after the defender threw himself at Aluko's delivery, but it was not long before Rangers found the net again.

Edu put Aluko one-on-one with Mannus and the former Aberdeen forward finished well to the goalkeeper's left.

And Aluko got his second after Steven Whittaker and Bedoya picked apart the St Johnstone defence to set the Nigeria international up for a tap-in.

Sandaza found the net with a close-range effort of his own but the Spaniard's celebrations were cut short by the offside flag.

Lee Wallace's deliveries had caused St Johnstone problems all afternoon and another cross from the full-back led to Aluko's third, the 23-year-old getting the break of the ball and crashing a shot into the top corner.

Aluko took the acclaim of the visiting fans as he left the field to be replaced by debutant Barry McKay, who almost sneaked in for a scoring chance in a late Rangers attack.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (4)

St Johnstone

  • 15 Mannus
  • 02 MacKay
  • 03 Davidson
  • 05 Wright
  • 06 Anderson
  • 04 Morris
  • 07 Millar
  • 10 Craig
  • 20 Adams
  • 11 Sheridan (Keatings - 69' )
  • 21 Sandaza Booked

Substitutes

  • 01 Enckelman
  • 12 Maybury
  • 14 Moon
  • 29 McIntosh
  • 23 Haber
  • 41 Christopher Kane
  • 46 Keatings

Rangers

  • 01 McGregor
  • 04 Broadfoot
  • 12 Wallace
  • 16 Whittaker
  • 22 Bartley
  • 32 Perry
  • 06 McCulloch
  • 07 Edu
  • 19 Aluko (McKay - 77' )
  • 21 Bedoya Booked (Little - 81' )
  • 41 McCabe (Healy - 81' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Alexander
  • 37 Christopher Hegarty
  • 40 Andrew Mitchell
  • 54 Crawford
  • 69 McKay
  • 15 Healy
  • 34 Little
Ref: Madden
Att: 6,459

Match Stats

Shots

6 17

On target

2 11

Corners

3 10

Fouls

12 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +2:08 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +0:18

Callum Davidson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kirk Broadfoot. Ross Perry restarts play with the free kick.

88:44

Corner from left by-line taken by Barry McKay.

87:02

Maurice Edu gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francisco Sandaza. Free kick crossed by Liam Craig, clearance by Steven Whittaker.

81:29

The offside flag is raised against David Healy. Alan Mannus restarts play with the free kick.

80:11 Substitution

Substitution Andrew Little joins the action as a substitute, replacing Alejandro Bedoya.

80:11 Substitution

Substitution Rhys McCabe leaves the field to be replaced by David Healy.

80:04

Rhys McCabe takes a shot.

78:22

Liam Craig crosses the ball.

77:20

The ball is crossed by Lee Wallace, Shot by Alejandro Bedoya from deep inside the penalty area misses wide to the left of the target.

76:10 Substitution

Substitution Barry McKay is brought on as a substitute for Sone Aluko.

72:58

Assist by Lee Wallace.

72:58 Goal scored

Goal - Sone Aluko - St J'stone 0 - 4 Rangers Sone Aluko grabs a goal from inside the box to the top left corner of the goal. St Johnstone 0-4 Rangers.

72:39

The ball is crossed by Lee Wallace.

70:59

Centre by Chris Millar. The assistant referee flags for offside against Francisco Sandaza. Allan McGregor takes the indirect free kick.

68:08 Substitution

Substitution Cillian Sheridan leaves the field to be replaced by James Keatings.

68:00

Effort on goal by Chris Millar from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

66:09

Chris Millar gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Maurice Edu. Rhys McCabe crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Callum Davidson.

64:36

The assistant referee signals for offside against Alejandro Bedoya. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

63:14

Lee McCulloch is caught offside. Alan Mannus takes the indirect free kick.

62:40

The referee blows for offside against Francisco Sandaza. Kirk Broadfoot takes the indirect free kick.

62:21

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Millar on Kirk Broadfoot. Kirk Broadfoot restarts play with the free kick.

61:22

Assist on the goal came from Alejandro Bedoya.

61:22 Goal scored

Goal - Sone Aluko - St J'stone 0 - 3 Rangers Sone Aluko finds the net with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. St Johnstone 0-3 Rangers.

61:19

Alejandro Bedoya sends in a cross,

58:38

Kyle Bartley restarts play with the free kick.

58:38 Booking

Booking Francisco Sandaza is cautioned.

58:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Francisco Sandaza on Rhys McCabe.

55:43

Maurice Edu provided the assist for the goal.

55:43 Goal scored

Goal - Sone Aluko - St J'stone 0 - 2 Rangers Sone Aluko finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 0-2 Rangers.

55:03

Alejandro Bedoya produces a cross.

54:31

Cillian Sheridan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Rhys McCabe. Free kick taken by Ross Perry.

53:20

Sone Aluko crosses the ball, Header from close range by Kyle Bartley clears the bar.

53:14

Maurice Edu crosses the ball, Callum Davidson makes a clearance.

51:46

Corner taken by Liam Craig from the right by-line played to the near post, Francisco Sandaza has a header from inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

51:41

Francisco Sandaza delivers the ball, blocked by Kirk Broadfoot.

50:21

Corner taken by Rhys McCabe from the left by-line played to the near post, David MacKay makes a clearance.

50:11

Alejandro Bedoya takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Anderson.

49:06

Cillian Sheridan is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Kyle Bartley takes the indirect free kick.

48:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle Bartley by Francisco Sandaza. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.

47:11

Callum Davidson takes the free kick.

47:11 Booking

Booking Alejandro Bedoya booked for unsporting behaviour.

47:06

Alejandro Bedoya concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Adams.

46:42

Francisco Sandaza is penalised for a handball. Direct free kick taken by Kirk Broadfoot.

46:23

Unfair challenge on Lee Wallace by Chris Millar results in a free kick. Maurice Edu takes the free kick.

45:36

Effort on goal by Lee McCulloch from long range goes over the crossbar.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:10 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

44:30

Rhys McCabe takes a inswinging corner to the near post, save made by Alan Mannus.

43:57

Free kick awarded for a foul by David MacKay on Alejandro Bedoya. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Rhys McCabe from left wing, clearance by Cillian Sheridan.

43:20

Sone Aluko takes a shot. Save made by Alan Mannus.

42:56

Corner taken by Sone Aluko, Cillian Sheridan makes a clearance.

42:37

Rhys McCabe takes a shot. Clearance made by Jamie Adams.

42:11

Sone Aluko takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Callum Davidson makes a clearance.

42:05

Kyle Bartley crosses the ball, blocked by Jamie Adams.

41:37

Pass corner from left by-line crossed in by Rhys McCabe.

41:33

Sone Aluko delivers the ball, blocked by Frazer Wright.

40:24

Inswinging corner taken by Rhys McCabe.

36:26

Sone Aluko challenges Jamie Adams unfairly and gives away a free kick. Chris Millar takes the free kick.

35:15

A cross is delivered by Lee Wallace, David MacKay gets a block in.

34:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Cillian Sheridan by Maurice Edu. Chris Millar restarts play with the free kick.

33:55

The referee blows for offside against Alejandro Bedoya. Free kick taken by Alan Mannus.

33:34

Sone Aluko takes a shot. Comfortable save by Alan Mannus.

33:15

The ball is delivered by Steven Whittaker, Callum Davidson manages to make a clearance.

32:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Francisco Sandaza by Sone Aluko. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Callum Davidson, Kyle Bartley makes a clearance.

30:49

Maurice Edu concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Millar. The ball is swung over by Liam Craig, Jamie Adams has a headed effort at goal from just inside the penalty area that misses to the right of the goal.

30:02

Effort from a long way out by Maurice Edu goes wide right of the target.

29:45

Centre by Jody Morris, save made by Allan McGregor.

27:10

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Sone Aluko, Kyle Bartley concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Adams. Free kick taken by Alan Mannus.

27:03

Lee Wallace takes a shot. Steven Anderson gets a block in.

26:17

The ball is swung over by Rhys McCabe, comfortable save by Alan Mannus.

25:37

Steven Whittaker produces a cross, clearance made by Chris Millar.

22:53

Maurice Edu provided the assist for the goal.

22:53 Goal scored

Goal - Lee McCulloch - St J'stone 0 - 1 Rangers Lee McCulloch finds the back of the net with a goal from outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. St Johnstone 0-1 Rangers.

20:16

Shot from inside the area by Alejandro Bedoya clears the bar.

19:55

Chris Millar concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee McCulloch. Kirk Broadfoot takes the direct free kick.

18:57

Rhys McCabe challenges Cillian Sheridan unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Liam Craig.

17:41

The ball is sent over by Sone Aluko, save by Alan Mannus.

16:44

Corner taken left-footed by Sone Aluko from the right by-line to the near post, save by Alan Mannus.

16:23

Lee McCulloch takes a shot. Alan Mannus makes a save.

15:49

Unfair challenge on Ross Perry by Cillian Sheridan results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ross Perry.

7:34

Corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig from the left by-line, Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.

12:34

Francisco Sandaza fouled by Kyle Bartley, the ref awards a free kick. Francisco Sandaza produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

10:26

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Liam Craig from the right by-line, Kirk Broadfoot makes a clearance.

9:54

Lee McCulloch takes a shot from 18 yards. Comfortable save by Alan Mannus.

9:27

The ball is swung over by Chris Millar.

7:34

Corner taken by Liam Craig, Cillian Sheridan takes a shot. Save made by Allan McGregor.

6:55

Kirk Broadfoot gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Millar. Free kick crossed by Liam Craig, Kyle Bartley manages to make a clearance.

6:03

Foul by Steven Anderson on Lee McCulloch, free kick awarded. Maurice Edu takes the free kick.

4:28

The ball is sent over by David MacKay.

2:35

Centre by Jody Morris, Effort on goal by Cillian Sheridan from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

1:25

Kirk Broadfoot fouled by Chris Millar, the ref awards a free kick. Kirk Broadfoot takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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