Rangers beat St Mirren, open 13 point gap over Celtic

Lee McCulloch scored a double as Rangers came from behind to seal a 3-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday that increases their lead in the Scottish Premier League to 13 points.

With rivals Celtic not playing Falkirk until Sunday, the hosts knew they could pile the pressure on with a win over a side they have already defeated twice in the past six weeks.

McCulloch picked up two goals either side of half-time after St Mirren’s Graham Carey stunned Ibrox by opening the scoring on the 30-minute mark.

On-loan Celtic starlet Carey rifled a low shot past Rangers’ Allan McGregor with the keeper left rooted to the spot.

But their lead lasted just two minutes by smashing home a free-kick on two minutes as McCulloch fired Rangers level.

The Buddies keeper then made saves from Davis and an acrobatic attempt from Danny Wilson as Rangers pushed for another before half-time

Within 45 seconds of the restart Rangers had the lead. Papac’s cross from the left was headed to the edge of the box by Boyd where McCulloch lashed a shot into the ground which bounced over Gallacher for his second of the game.

Rangers hit the post three times in a game that was rich in attacking play and substitute Nacho Novo converted an easy tap-in on 78 minutes from a Steven Davis centre.

Davis had come close to scoring himself in the first-half when his swerving free-kick crashed off the bar with Gallacher beaten and Sasa Papac’s left-foot shot from the rebound hit the woodwork.

Rangers’ victory lays the groundwork for the league cup final where they will meet St Mirren again in two weeks time.

Elsewhere in the Scottish Premier League, Hibernian moved to third spot with a 1-0 win over Kilmarnock, Hamilton and Aberdeen drew 1-1 and Motherwell won 2-1 away to St Johnstone.