THIS was just one of those nights. For Rangers and Steven Gerrard, for St Johnstone and Zander Clark, it was an occasion that will be remembered for very different reasons.

As Rangers paid the penalty, Callum Davidson’s side celebrated. It is they who now have a double in their sights this season after the Premiership champions saw another cup campaign come to a premature end.

James Tavernier thought it had won it in extra time but Chris Kane levelled with the final flick of two hours of football. Just a few kicks later, St Johnstone were victorious as they marched on to Hampden courtesy of a famous shoot-out victory.

 

 

This season will always hold a special place in the hearts and minds of Rangers supporters given the significance of their 55th league flag but the two cup defeats – firstly to St Mirren and now against St Johnstone - will sting and leave a lingering mark.

Gerrard has now failed in six attempts at knock-out competitions in Scotland. It is a wretched record and the range of emotions – everything from anger to frustration – will linger even beyond the day that the Premiership title is lifted next month.

St Johnstone arrived at Ibrox having earned a dramatic point in their league meeting in midweek. That one was a phoney war, but this one was a fairytale story.

This was always going to be the more significant of the occasions, but it didn’t quite live up to the billing. It was a competitive enough affair, yet hardly one to really stir the senses until a dramatic finale.

Those of a Rangers persuasion were entitled to expect far better from their side. As expected, there was a more familiar look about the line-up that Gerrard selected but the return of his big names didn’t exactly have the desired impact.

Rangers should, though, have taken the lead inside ten minutes. Ryan Kent nipped the ball away from Scott Tanser on the halfway line and sent Alfredo Morelos towards goal.

 

 

The supporting run came from Glen Kamara – not quite the man Rangers would have wanted in that position – and a tame effort was saved by Clark. His night was only just beginning.

A couple of half chances didn’t really bother the keeper either. A header from Ianis Hagi was harmless, while a better one from Morelos was routinely saved and the Colombian couldn’t convert when Filip Helander flicked a corner towards the back post.

The striker was needlessly and harshly booked by referee Alan Muir for his part in the briefest and most innocuous of scuffles later in the half. Jason Kerr also picked up a yellow card but the whole incident was something out of nothing and there was no need for Muir to go to his pocket on an erratic evening.

 

 

When he did so just before the break, David Wotherspoon was fortunate to only see yellow as he lunged into a challenge with Hagi.

The loss of Wotherspoon would have been a blow that the Saints may have found it too difficult to come back from. As it was, they had more than a fair chance of a semi-final spot as the sun dipped below the Govan skyline.

A terrific volley from Tanser – the defender connecting sweetly with a Liam Craig corner and forcing Allan McGregor into a smart stop – was the closest they had come to scoring.

 

 

Rangers would start the second half with more purpose about their play and it was they who created the chances as St Johnstone hung on and looked to withstand the pressure.

Morelos had been peripheral earlier in the evening but he was growing in influence and Clark would deny him with a near post save after a pass from Kamara. The keeper was then left rooted to the spot as a Morelos header came back off the post.

 

 

Another superb save from Clark denied Scott Wright as he added to a fine collection. Another half hour beckoned, and so did Clark’s best moments.

The first half of extra time resembled the opening 45 minutes in terms of being a non-event. There was plenty at stake, but it didn’t feel like it here as both sides laboured, but McGregor produced a big save early in the second period as he denied O’Halloran with his legs.

It should have been another defining McGregor moment but his opposite number was having one of those nights and Clark had the final say.

 

 

Tavernier thought he had won it for Rangers as he rose above Liam Gordon and glanced a lovely header beyond Clark from an Aribo cross. That should have been it.

But Clark had another part to play. He was unmarked as he got his head to a corner and directed it towards goal. The final touch came off Kane and Rangers only had time to introduce Jermain Defoe for the shoot-out before the final whistle was blown.

It would ultimately matter little. Defoe slotted home after Borna Barisic had converted but Clark was the hero for St Johnstone as his first save from Tavernier and then another from Kemar Roofe gave the visitors the chance to win it.

 

 

Craig, Callum Booth and Jason Kerr had scored and Ali McCann would beat McGregor with a clinical strike before Davidson’s players rushed to congratulate their keeper.

It was no more than Clark deserved. A super season for the Saints may yet become a sensational one as Hampden awaits once again.