Rangers went deservedly top of the table today, despite a truly ghastly surface at McDiarmid Park which shouldn’t even qualify as suitable for League Two never mind the Premiership.

It was, frankly, a strange XI Philippe Clement put out, with most fans exasperated at the sight of Silva, Barisic and Wright on the team sheet, and in all honesty all three of those players justified fans’ ire, as all struggled not only on that surface but for form in general.

Even the subs made little sense initially, with the hapless Wright taken off for the strange choice of Sterling on the right wing, but the second half vindicated pretty much Clement’s entire tactical approach to this match.

The first half the football was ugly, it was horrible, the pitch playing into Saints’ hands, and they didn’t need to play much of the flowing game, just stop Rangers playing ours.

And until Diomande introduced himself, it worked – Rangers hadn’t managed a single shot, never mind any on target.

But that belting goal from 20 yards put Rangers firmly in control of this match, and half time saw the struggling Wright replaced by Sterling – and that’s where a strange choice was vindicated.

The ex-Chelsea man isn’t a winger, he isn’t an attacker, but he is big, strong, quick and nimble, and not only did he nearly score one, but he won a penalty from a clumsy Considine tackle.

By the time an errant handball gave Rangers a second penalty, top of the table was assured.

Philippe Clement will continue to carry out strange decisions that we stupid supporters don’t need to understand, and as long as Rangers keep on winning (it’s a 100% win rate this year) he doesn’t need to defend them.

Sterling can go in goal and Butland can be up front for all it matters, Rangers are continuing to get the results and for the first time in an age, we top the league on goal difference and points.

What a turnaround.