Nikica Jelavic's double helped ensure that Rangers defeated St Johstone to narrow the gap at the top of the Scottish Premier League to five points.
Jelavic fired the opener after four minutes at Ibrox.
Jody Morris forced Rangers keeper Allan McGregor into a superb save before Kyle Lafferty headed the home side's second four minutes short of the break.
Papac's fine finish made it 3-0 on 81 minutes and Jelavic swept in another for the home side in stoppage time.
And the victory ensured that the Ibrox men capitalised on Celtic's slip up earlier in the day.
Combined with the SPL leaders' 2-0 defeat away to Motherwell, the reigning champions are now five points behind with two games in hand.
It completed a heartening few days for Walter Smith's side, who responded to last Sunday's defeat at Celtic Park with progress in the Europa League.
Lafferty scored Rangers' second goal against Saints at Ibrox
Rangers captain David Weir had been rested after overcoming illness to play against Sporting on Thursday, the veteran's place at the heart of the defence being taken by Kyle Bartley.
The introduction of Jelavic, Lafferty, Vladimir Weiss and David Healy added to the home side's attacking options, with El-Hadji Diouf, Richard Foster and John Fleck being the others to drop out.
And it only took another four minutes for the Ibrox men to add an opening goal to the celebrations.
A shot from Maurice Edu - who netted the decisive goal in Portugal - was blocked and Jelavic was the first to react and pounce on the loose ball before dispatching an unstoppable volley past the grasp of Peter Enckelman.
There were suggestions that the ball had struck the hand of Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra in the build-up, but referee Steven McLean pointed to the centre circle.
Lafferty attempted to add to the scoreline, but the St Johnstone goalkeeper was up to the task this time and able to smother at the near post.
Saints had made just one change following their draw with Dundee United, with Stevie May replacing the injured Jamie Adams, but they were forced into a defensive reshuffle after 17 minutes, with Alan Maybury coming on for the influential but injured Michael Duberry.
Rangers were threatening again when Lafferty whipped a cross into the box from the left that was missed by Jelavic and fell for Healy, but the Northern Irishman's shot was blocked well by Enckelman.
The home side had to make a change of their own when Weiss limped off and youngster Gregg Wylde was thrown into the action after 27 minutes.
Lafferty then squandered a great chance when he collected a lovely pass from Steven Davis only to hook well over when he should at least have tested the goalkeeper.
The big striker fired straight into Enckelman's arms when Lafferty remained onside with only the goalkeeper to beat, with Davis again the provider.
St Johnstone had rarely threatened but would have equalised if McGregor had not produced a breathtaking save from a fine Morris drive.
Cleveland Taylor then sliced just wide from 18 yards as the Perth side and went close.
Lafferty eventually succeeded four minutes before the break when he rose to meet Wylde's corner and sent a firm header into the back of the net.
Rangers were looking comfortable in the second half, but Murray Davidson came close to forcing them into a re-think with an effort into the side-netting.
Saints were beginning to dominate long phases of play, but Edu sent a powerful low drive just wide as the home side responded on the break.
Liam Craig went close for St Johnstone with a header, but Papac ensured there would be no fightback by finishing superbly after playing a one-two with Jelavic before scoring his fourth goal in six games against the Saints.
There was still time for Rangers to have penalty claims rejected when Enckelman came off his line to clatter Wylde.
However, the winger did have a hand in a goal, cutting the ball back for Jelavic to score in the dying seconds.
Live text and stats
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Scottish Premier
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Rangers
4-0
St Johnstone
FT
(HT 2-0)
Jelavic 5
Lafferty 41
Papac 81
Jelavic 90+2
Rangers
01 McGregor
05 Papac
16 Whittaker
21 Bartley
24 Bougherra
07 Edu
08 Davis
20 Weiss (Wylde 27)
11 Lafferty (Foster 82)
15 Healy (Fleck 75)
18 Jelavic
Substitutes
25 Alexander,
03 Weir,
12 Foster,
39 Wylde,
10 Fleck,
17 Diouf,
28 Kerkar
St Johnstone
01 Enckelman
02 MacKay
03 Grainger
06 Duberry (Maybury 17)
12 Anderson yellow card
04 Morris
10 Craig
11 Taylor (Invincibile 64)
20 Davidson
21 Samuel
32 May (Novikovas 75)
Substitutes
15 Smith,
17 Gartland,
19 Maybury,
37 Caddis,
22 Invincibile,
08 Novikovas,
16 MacDonald
Ref: Steven McleanAtt: 43,125
RANGERS
ST JOHNSTONE
Possession
Rangers33%
St Johnstone67%
Attempts on target
Rangers9
St Johnstone3
Attempts off target
Rangers8
St Johnstone3
Corners
Rangers2
St Johnstone2
Fouls
Rangers11
St Johnstone9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+2:36 The referee blows for the end of the match.
90:00+1:33 GOAL - Nikica Jelavic:Rangers 4 - 0 St Johnstone Nikica Jelavic gets on the score sheet with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rangers 4-0 St Johnstone.
90:00+0:54 John Fleck produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
90:00+0:34 Arvydas Novikovas concedes a free kick for a foul on John Fleck. Steven Whittaker takes the direct free kick.
88:22 Effort from inside the area by Nikica Jelavic misses to the left of the target.
87:39 Unfair challenge on Sasa Papac by Daniele Invincibile results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Sasa Papac.
83:39 Kyle Bartley challenges Collin Samuel unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jody Morris from right channel.
82:58 Gregg Wylde takes a shot. Save by Peter Enckelman.
81:47 Substitution Richard Foster is brought on as a substitute for Kyle Lafferty.
80:54 The assist for the goal came from Nikica Jelavic.
80:54 GOAL - Sasa Papac:Rangers 3 - 0 St Johnstone Sasa Papac scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Rangers 3-0 St Johnstone.
80:02 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kyle Bartley by Arvydas Novikovas. Direct free kick taken by Steven Whittaker.
78:20 Gregg Wylde fouled by Alan Maybury, the ref awards a free kick. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
76:23 Foul by David MacKay on Steven Davis, free kick awarded. Nikica Jelavic produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
75:40 John Fleck produces a cross, Nikica Jelavic takes a shot. Save made by Peter Enckelman.
74:53 Gregg Wylde is ruled offside. Peter Enckelman takes the direct free kick.
74:34 Substitution Arvydas Novikovas replaces Steve May.
74:05 Substitution John Fleck on for David Healy.
73:51 Alan Maybury sends in a cross.
72:58 Maurice Edu handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Daniel Grainger restarts play with the free kick.
72:17 The ball is sent over by Daniele Invincibile, Sasa Papac manages to make a clearance.
68:12 Collin Samuel is caught offside. Direct free kick taken by Madjid Bougherra.
66:08 Foul by Daniele Invincibile on Sasa Papac, free kick awarded. Sasa Papac takes the direct free kick.
63:18 Foul by Madjid Bougherra on Collin Samuel, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Jody Morris.
63:18 Substitution Daniele Invincibile comes on in place of Cleveland Taylor.
61:51 The ball is sent over by Alan Maybury, clearance made by Steven Davis.
60:21 Centre by Liam Craig.
59:36 Maurice Edu produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
59:06 Murray Davidson has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
58:20 Kyle Lafferty challenges Murray Davidson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Enckelman takes the free kick.
56:35 Booking Steven Anderson receives a caution.
54:32 Gregg Wylde gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Murray Davidson. Steve May delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.
52:46 Kyle Lafferty takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the bar.
52:38 David Healy sends in a cross.
50:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gregg Wylde by Daniel Grainger. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Madjid Bougherra from right channel.
48:35 Liam Craig takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
47:53 Liam Craig produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
46:03 David Healy challenges Steven Anderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. David MacKay takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+2:08 The half-time whistle blows.
44:29 Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Nikica Jelavic misses to the left of the goal.
44:07 Inswinging corner taken by Gregg Wylde from the right by-line.
44:00 Centre by Gregg Wylde, clearance by Steven Anderson.
42:36 Cleveland Taylor produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
42:21 Corner taken by Daniel Grainger from the left by-line.
42:03 Jody Morris takes a shot. Allan McGregor makes a save.
41:54 The ball is crossed by Jody Morris, clearance by Madjid Bougherra.
41:21 Unfair challenge on Cleveland Taylor by Sasa Papac results in a free kick. Jody Morris takes the direct free kick.
40:09 Inswinging corner taken by Gregg Wylde from the right by-line played to the near post, assist by Gregg Wylde.
40:09 GOAL - Kyle Lafferty:Rangers 2 - 0 St Johnstone Kyle Lafferty finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the top left corner of the goal. Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone.
38:51 David Healy fouled by Steven Anderson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
38:23 Centre by Collin Samuel, clearance made by Steven Whittaker.
38:04 A cross is delivered by Sasa Papac, clearance made by David MacKay.
33:53 Shot by Kyle Bartley from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.
33:24 Kyle Lafferty takes a shot. Save by Peter Enckelman.
33:09 Foul by Steve May on Steven Davis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Steven Davis.
29:23 Effort on goal by Kyle Lafferty from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
28:24 The ball is sent over by Gregg Wylde, David MacKay makes a clearance.
28:18 Steve May sends in a cross.
27:24 Liam Craig delivers the ball, Nikica Jelavic manages to make a clearance.
27:14 Corner taken short by Liam Craig.
26:41 Substitution (Rangers) makes a substitution, with Gregg Wylde coming on for Vladimir Weiss.
26:29 The ball is crossed by Murray Davidson, clearance by Sasa Papac.
24:46 Steve May takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
22:53 Kyle Bartley concedes a free kick for a foul on Steve May. Free kick taken by Daniel Grainger.
22:13 Foul by Steven Davis on Steven Anderson, free kick awarded. Peter Enckelman takes the free kick.
21:56 David Healy takes a shot. Save made by Peter Enckelman.
19:47 Free kick awarded for a foul by Kyle Lafferty on Cleveland Taylor. Peter Enckelman restarts play with the free kick.
16:08 Substitution Alan Maybury comes on in place of Michael Duberry.
14:51 Kyle Lafferty takes a shot. Save by Peter Enckelman.
14:44 Vladimir Weiss delivers the ball, Daniel Grainger makes a clearance.
13:26 David Healy challenges David MacKay unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Enckelman restarts play with the free kick.
12:30 Free kick awarded for a foul by Maurice Edu on Michael Duberry. Peter Enckelman restarts play with the free kick.
9:06 Steven Davis crosses the ball, Michael Duberry manages to make a clearance.
8:11 A cross is delivered by David Healy, clearance by Michael Duberry.
4:25 GOAL - Nikica Jelavic:Rangers 1 - 0 St Johnstone Nikica Jelavic finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Rangers 1-0 St Johnstone.
3:10 The ball is sent over by Nikica Jelavic.
1:29 The official flags Collin Samuel offside. Indirect free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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