St Johnstone may not have ended their decade-long wait for a home win over Rangers but they will take this result, thank you very much.
Saints, who have now gone six games without losing, fought ferociously for this precious point and deserved the draw earned by Stevie May’s strike with 10 minutes remaining.
Callum Hendry had blasted Tommy Wright’s team into the lead after just eight minutes when he capitalised on some awful defending from Nikola Katic.
However, the Ibrox men levelled things up five minutes into the second period thanks to a fine strike from half-time substitute Florian Kamberi.
Kamberi then produced a brilliant assist for Joe Aribo to edge Steven Gerrard’s side 2-1 ahead on 71 minutes.
However, Saints weren’t finished and May, so often the hero, drove the ball home from inside a packed box on 80 minutes to secure a very welcome 2-2 draw.
The hosts had made three changes to the side that started their previous game at Ross County. Out went Liam Gordon, Scott Tanser and Chris Kane, with Anthony Ralston, Callum Booth and Hendry getting the nod.
The visitors also made three changes, with Gerrard freshening up the team after that memorable 3-2 Europa League home win over Braga. Out went Borna Barisic, Glen Kamara and Steven Davis, with Andy Halliday, Ryan Jack and Joe Aribo drafted in.
Rangers had a decent chance on two minutes when a James Tavernier freekick reached Katic inside the Saints box but the defender could only fire into the side-netting.
Saints took their turn to threaten just a couple of minutes later when Hendry showed some excellent footwork to spin and shoot low into the arms of keeper Allan McGregor.
Hendry, however, wasn’t to be denied and put the Perth men ahead with eight minutes on the clock.
He showed some terrific composure to capitalise when Ibrox defender Katic fluffed an attempted clearance. David Wotherspoon had headed the ball back upfield and May helped it on.
Katic may have made a mess of it but Hendry still had to keep his nerve and he did just that, running on and then sliding a low shot under McGregor to make it 1-0.
Up at the other end, home goalie Zander Clark did well to push away Ryan Kent’s low strike as the Glasgow side tried to hit back.
Clark then had to be alert to save at his near post when the ball deflected off Saints defender Jamie McCart on 22 minutes.
McCart had an opportunity at the other end of the park when Hendry nodded the ball down to him but he blasted his half-volley over from 12 yards.
Some terrific play from Oribo on 29 minutes saw him skip towards the St Johnstone box before playing in Scott Arfield, who was tackled superbly by Jason Kerr.
Wotherpoon had a half-chance for the home team just two minutes later but snatched at the ball and it flew high and wide.
The visitors almost levelled on 40 minutes when it needed McCart to boot a low strike from Tavernier off the line after Clark got a touch on the ball with his knee.
All the pressure was on Rangers as the sides came out for the second half and they now had sub Kamberi in their side to help them.
Two minutes after the restart Arfield burst into the box but blasted over before Saints had a break of their own when Drey Wright cut inside only for his progress to be blocked.
The visitors quickly raced up to the other end of the pitch and levelled on 50 minutes thanks to Kamberi’s cracker.
It looked an impossible task for the on-loan Hibs player to hit the ball as it bounced chest high but he somehow karate-kicked his shot into the net to leave Clark with no chance.
There was a quick opportunity for Rangers to grab another when Kent’s cross to the back post was sclaffed by Tavernier before a Morelos drive was held by Clark.
St Johnstone made a switch on 65 minutes, bringing on Kane for Hendry, and they created a good chance two minutes later when Ralston’s shot was well saved by keeper McGregor.
Rangers then edged ahead and it was another piece of brilliance by Kamberi that opened the door.
He had already made a huge impact on the game when he embarrassed Kerr down near the touchline, absolutely skinning the Saints player with a dummy and leaving him sitting on his backside. Kamberi then cut in with the ball before clipping the ball over for Aribo to poke a shot past Clark from close range.
Rangers brought on Davis for Morelos and Greg Stewart for Ianis Hagi but rather than shore themselves up they found themselves pegged back on 80 minutes.
It was May who was the scorer after finding space and time in which to slam a low strike just inside the near post from 10 yards after Wotherspoon’s corner reached him.
Kamberi had the ball in the net again in stoppage-time but referee Willie Collum had already blown the whistle for a handball.
Attendance: 8,286.
St Johnstone: Clark, McCart, Wright, Wotherspoon, May (Craig 86), Kerr, Butcher, McCann, Ralston, Hendry (Kane 65), Booth. Subs not used: Parish, Tanser, Swanson, O’Halloran, Gordon.
Rangers: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Hagi (Stewart 78), Jack, Kent, Halliday (Kamberi 46), Aribo, Katic, Morelos (Davis 76), Arfield. Subs not used: Foderingham, Edmundson, Ojo, Barker.
Referee: Willie Collum.
