Rangers dropped points for the fourth time in seven Scottish Premiership games - and are now 12 adrift of Celtic - after they were held by St Johnstone.

Callum Hendry put the hosts in front, before substitute Florian Kamberi turned the game for Rangers, volleying in before setting up Joe Aribo to net.

But when Rangers failed to deal with a corner, Stevie May rifled in to deny Steven Gerrard's side victory in Perth for the first time in a decade, on the back of losses to Hearts and Kilmarnock and a draw with Aberdeen.

The draw did temporarily nudge them to within nine points of Celtic with a game in hand, but their city rivals extended their advantage by coming from behind to beat Kilmarnock in a later kick-off.

Tommy Wright's side, meanwhile, have lost just once in their last seven league games and stay seventh, five points off the top six.

Stuttering Rangers halted again

All the hallmarks of Rangers' 2020 domestic stutters were on display in Perth; hesitancy from centre-backs Connor Goldson and Nikola Katic both in and out of possession, and a plodding pace to the attack.

The two issues are of course linked, given how Rangers like to build from the back, but Alfredo Morelos in particular has struggled to reach the same levels having only scored once since Boxing Day.

The hope was that Thursday's rousing Europa League comeback win over Braga would spark things into life. But when Hendry outmuscled Katic, forcing the Croat to slice his clearance and tee him up to slot the ball past Allan McGregor, things looked far more like the first half against the Portuguese side.

However, the introduction of Kamberi at half-time changed things. He provided a different option, and came short to set up a good chance for Scott Arfield just a few minutes before beautifully volleying in the equaliser from James Tavernier's early cross, for his first Rangers goal.

The on-loan Hibs forward gave St Johnstone something different to think about by running across defenders who had comfortably held Rangers at arm's length throughout the first half.

Kamberi was sharp, first moving off the shoulder to receive Ryan Kent's pass and fire at Zander Clark before his brilliant dummy deceived Jason Kerr and allowed him to surge to the bye-line and tee up Aribo to slot Rangers in front.

He was at it again on 74 minutes, lobbing a pass over the St Johnstone defence for Morelos, who could not finish.

But after the uplift that turned the game in their favour, Rangers dropped the tempo again and another defensive howler cost them.

St Johnstone manager Wright deserves credit for his brave approach, which recognised Rangers' recent frailties, and although they faded as an attacking force in the second half they dug in and got their just rewards.

May worked tirelessly as usual, hassling and harrying as well as beating Goldson to flick the ball on in the build-up to Hendry's goal.

The front two made sure there were no easy passes for Rangers' hesitant centre-half pairing, and Jamie McCart missed a good chance for a second St Johnstone goal before the break.

And when Katic sclaffed his clearance from a corner, May was lurking to touch and finish with 11 minutes left and ultimately earn St Johnstone a point.

Having been as leaky as a sieve and seemingly on course for a relegation scrap earlier in the season, only Celtic have beaten Wright's side in their last seven. For that, the Northern Irishman should take a bow.

Gerrard, meanwhile, faces the stiffest test of his managerial career in trying to stop Rangers making the same mistakes.

With the league title seemingly slipping out of reach, the second-leg against Braga and Saturday's Scottish Cup tie away to Hearts take on huge significance in their season.

Man of the match - Jamie McCart

BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at McDiarmid Park

In what was a fascinating match to watch, there are candidates from both sides. For the visitors, Kamberi showed he has a real talent for finding the net and may find himself in the XI in Braga in midweek.

St Johnstone, to a man, were immense, with both goalscorers May and Hendry putting in terrific displays. But it was the defensive unit who stood firm when Rangers threw everything at them late on. Clark made some wonderful saves but centre-backs McCart and Kerr would not fold, with McCart just edging his team-mate for the award.

'I'm not shocked & surprised' - reaction

'Someone else would have scored it' - May leveller came after sub confusion

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "The players gave everything. They defended when they had to and, when you do that and show moments of quality, you can get a result against anybody.

"The squad, on paper, has the potential to be the best squad I've had and now they're starting to show a good run of form. Two defeats in 13 epitomises what they've done. I'm really pleased with them."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "We weren't good in the first-half. Defensively, I felt nervous. But I'm not shocked and surprised at the outcome because it's happened too many times of late.

"I'm going to have to try and find solutions. I'm going to have to work even harder than we do as a staff to find solutions and get back to the basics of defending. I need [Filip] Helander back fit sharpish."