FORMER Rangers player Jason Holt threw Phillipe Clement a lifeline as the Ibrox club struggled to remain 11 points adrift of Celtic.
The Govan team’s ex-defender, who spent five years at the club after signing from Hearts in 2015, netted the only goal of the game at McDiarmid Park this afternoon to gift the Ibrox club a 1-0 win over St Johnstone in a dour, towsy encounter.
It was a scoreless stalemate until the 63rd minute when Holt blundered to make the difference between the teams who both toiled to carve openings.
The turning point arrived when Iannis Haghi knocked over a ball from the left and goalkeeper Josh Rae lost the flight of the cross. With James Tavernier coming in at the back post, Holt frantically stuck out a leg and deflected an effort into his own net from practically under the crossbar.
It was fitting that such a scrappy goal should settle such a confrontation that rarely got above the mundane with both sides canecelling each other out.
Brendan Rodgers’ champions eased to a 5-0 triumph over Ross County yesterday while Aberdeen face Hearts at Tynecastle later this afternoon.
The Hoops are currently five points ahead of the Dons.
