Football : Rozental short and sweet

Rangers 2 Bo Anderson 10, Rozental 31 St Johnstone 0 Attend ance: 44,989

It was a short day at the office for Sebastian Rozental, but then he and his Rangers team-mates had already made short work of St Johnstone.

The new Chilean pounds 3m signing ensured the holders' passage into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup after he and fellow goal scorer Erik Bo Andersen left the First Division side with a second- half mountain to climb.

Rozental's reward was a rest in the dressing room for the remainder of the game. Saints, however, had to toil for 90 minutes, but it was all so futile.

The fear, given Rangers' domination of the Scottish game in the last decade under David Murray's patronage, is that the injection four days ago of pounds 40m from multi-millionaire Joseph Lewis would remove any shred of competition for good. Manager Walter Smith could even afford to give the Dane Brian Laudrup time off.

Smith's opposite number, Paul Sturrock, a former team-mate of his at Dundee United, has crafted St Johnstone into a clever and skilful side who look set to return to the Premier league next season. Two of their players, Danny Griffin and George O'Boyle played for Northern Ireland in Italy last Wednesday.

Bo Andersen put Rangers ahead after only 10 minutes. A short free-kick allowed Paul Gascoigne to set up Jorge Albertz for one of his thunderous shots, and although Saints defender Jim Weir blocked it with his body, Bo Andersen poked the ball home from four yards.

Rozental looked as if he was finding the football as much an adjustment as the climate but he cleverly won a free-kick in the 24th minute which saw Paul Gascogine's effort deflected over the bar.

Six minutes later, Rozental scored his first goal for Rangers. After Gascoigne had supplied the pass, he ran 30 yards at a retreating defence before guiding his shot past St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Main.

The other side of Gascoigne's Jekell and Hyde nature surfaced just before half-time when he committed his second dangerous tackle, yet received no booking.

Gordon Durie, making his first appearance in four months after injury, took over from Rozental in the second half as St Johnstone began in determined mood.

There was little reward and perhaps that frustration prompted defender John McQuillan to retaliate and become the first booking after David Robertson fouled him in the 58th minute.

St Johnstone brought on Ian Ferguson after 62 minutes, replace the weary Roddy Grant, and the substitute almost reaped an instant reward when he struck a post with a header from John O'Neill's free kick with Andy Goram beaten.