Out-of-sorts Rangers failed to meet the form guide's expectations at Ibrox, but the rulebook came to their rescue to avert the prospect of an opening day shock against St Johnstone.

Billy Dodds, as against Lithuanians Zalgiris Kaunas in midweek, emerged the Rangers hero with two second-half goals within a minute to overturn the visitors' surprise lead.

Yet his disputed first goal, on 56 minutes, stemmed from the Scottish Premier League's new ruling that players must leave the field for treatment and cannot return without permission.

That fate befell Nick Dasovic who after being fouled by Andrei Kanchelskis was unable to track a Barry Ferguson run which set up Dodds for the first of his two match-winning strikes.

Those neatly-taken goals took Dodds' season tally to four after his injury-time brace in Wednesday's Champions League second qualifying round tie and again offered his side a reprieve.

Rangers had gone behind after just 15 minutes to an Alan Kernaghan effort and thereafter had looked short of invention against a St Johnstone side who refused to be overawed.

Overwhelming favourites to repeat their domestic dominance of last term, Rangers have been slow to impose themselves on the new campaign and were matched for long periods by Sandy Clark's men.

Lorenzo Amoruso made what for him at least was an emotional return to the Rangers ranks alongside the man expected to replace him as first choice centre-half at Ibrox.

The Italian, who rejected a summer switch to Sunderland, was clearly pumped up before kick-off as injury to Craig Moore allowed him to line-up next to £4.5million Dutchman Bert Konterman.

Rangers chairman David Murray and manager Dick Advocaat combined forces before the action got under way to unfurl the title flag, almost an annual ritual for the Glasgow club.

Their defence of their 11th Championship in the past 12 years got off to an uncertain start however with a snatched Jorg Albertz shot just wide of the mark their only early threat.

After 15 minutes, Rangers found themselves behind and their static defence found wanting as Saints were allowed to score almost in slow motion following a Paul Kane free-kick.

Nick Dasovic retrieved a ball which looked to be going out on the right, pulling it back for a Graeme Jones overhead kick which looped kindly for Kernaghan to score with a close-range volley.

Rangers were stunned into an instant response and might have levelled within six minutes when the recalled Andrei Kanchelskis drove a shot against the legs of Saints keeper Alan Main.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst, fresh from Euro 2000, beat off two challenges to play in Rod Wallace on 25 minutes but the striker's shot was wide of the post as well as Main's outstretched arm.

Wallace, whose place must be under threat given the number of forwards being linked with the Ibrox outfit, was again guilty of a bad miss on the half-hour mark.

A clever Kanchelskis chip gave him a clear sight of goal, but he failed to make enough of a connection on a diving header allowing fit-again Main an easy save.

A Kernaghan foul on Wallace saw Rangers awarded a 37th minute free-kick taken by Albertz but the diving Main was equal to a whipped effort across the face of goal.

Saints, who offered debuts to Mohammed Sylla and Tommy Lovenkrands, were on the backfoot, but still held their lead to half-time in relative comfort.

Rangers withdrew Tony Vidmar, a defender, for winger Neil McCann at the break to show their attacking intent - van Bronckhorst moving to left-back in a revised formation.

The home side's frustration soon showed after the restart, Ricksen booked for fouling Lovenkrands and Kanchelskis yellow-carded moments later for a crashing into Dasovic.

Indirectly it was a challenge which was to pave the way for Rangers' opening goal as with Dasvovic a frustrated figure on the touchline Ferguson ran into the space he had vacated.

The Scotland midfielder burst forward before feeding his international colleague Dodds who slotted the ball past Main to put Rangers level in controversial manner.

Dodds then repeated his European double of midweek by promptly scoring again in Rangers' next attack, this time an Albertz pass receiving a sharp finish on the volley for 2-1.

Saints needed an urgent reply to Dodds' latest double and Lovenkrands almost supplied it with a curled 25-yard effort superbly tipped over by Stefan Klos.

Rangers were lifted and turning on the style now though, McCann producing a run and shot saved by Main before the keeper was again alert to deny Ferguson from point-blank range.

After 66 minutes, Dodds swung in a cross McCann sent just wide via a flicked header before the lively Ferguson drilled a fierce shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Rangers were becoming wasteful now and Ferguson should have done better than shoot straight at Main after 79 minutes after finding himself time and space on the left.

St Johnstone refused to concede defeat and Rangers had little option but to swallow their pride and sit back on their slender lead in the wake of a determined late onslaught.