Rangers swept aside St Mirren to move within a point of the Scottish Premiership title – and will be crowned champions if Celtic fail to win at Dundee United on Sunday.
Alfredo Morelos’ acute finish added to Ryan Kent’s thumping strike as two goals in two minutes made the result a formality.
Ianis Hagi netted a minute after the break as Rangers – with manager Steven Gerrard serving a one-match ban in the stands – maintained their perfect home record with a 16th win.
Rangers players and some staff rushed to one corner of the stadium at full-time to acknowledge their fans, who had flouted coronavirus lockdown restrictions by gathering outside hours before kick-off.
Defeat dented St Mirren’s top-six hopes but they have a two-point lead over St Johnstone and their fate in their own hands with one pre-split fixture left.
As a measure of how far Rangers have come since their financial implosion, eight years ago this weekend they were being turned over 2-1 at home by part-time Annan Athletic in the bottom tier.
Their trek to the pinnacle of Scottish football has been long and arduous, but that will make a first top-flight title in 10 years all the sweeter for supporters.
Flares and fireworks filled the sky as a fervent atmosphere of celebration greeted Gerrard and the players on their way into Ibrox.
The hosts then crackled with intensity from the outset with a sparkling performance that showed no hint of nerves.
St Mirren had already achieved what no other side in domestic or European competition have managed this season – a win over Rangers – but their hopes of that repeating that shock League Cup success were quickly extinguished.
Kent made the 14th-minute breakthrough when he collected a Connor Goldson pass 25 yards out, feigned a right-foot shot to bamboozle Jake Doyle-Hayes before arrowing the ball into the net with his left.
Before Jim Goodwin’s men had time to compose themselves, their deficit was doubled as Glen Kamara played in Morelos down the right-hand side of the box. The angle was tight but the Colombian striker’s finish was clinical as it kissed the far post on its way in.
St Mirren’s attempted response saw Dylan Connolly dispossess Steven Davis and bear down on goal before dragging wide.
But that was rare respite from Rangers pressure and Goldson headed inches wide after Borna Barisic had lasered a free-kick on to the centre-back’s forehead.
The third soon followed after the restart as Kent bounded down the left and his cutback found Hagi at the back post to pick his spot.
St Mirren’s main concern now was preventing further damage to their goal difference, but they almost pulled one back as substitute Jon Obika’s flick from six yards out was clawed away from the top corner by Allan McGregor.
The visitors prevented further damage, with goalkeeper Jak Alnwick sticking out a leg to slice a Kent drive over his own bar, then superbly foiling Jermain Defoe from close range.
St Mirren substitute Dylan Reid made history as he came off the bench at the death to become the Paisley club’s youngest debutant at 16 years and six days.
Man of the match – Ryan Kent
What did we learn?
This was a nerveless, ruthless display from a Rangers side who have painful experience of St Mirren’s ability to produce a shock.
From the moment Kent’s opener nestled in the net, the result was never in doubt and Gerrard’s side refused to let the emotion of the occasion affect them.
St Mirren, meanwhile, diligently kept at it to avoid a heavier defeat. A first top-six finish since 1985 is still within their grasp and would be just reward for an excellent campaign from Goodwin and his team.
What’s next?
Rangers will be glued to the TV on Sunday hoping for a Celtic slip-up at Tannadice. That result will determine whether Rangers are already champions when they return to action in the Old Firm derby at Celtic Park on 21 March (12:00 GMT).
St Mirren play their final pre-split fixture the previous day with a trip to second-bottom Hamilton Academical (15:00).
Player of the match
KentRyan Kent
Rangers
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number20Player nameMorelos
Squad number7Player nameHagi
Squad number10Player nameDavis
Squad number37Player nameArfield
Squad number9Player nameDefoe
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number17Player nameAribo
Squad number18Player nameKamara
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number26Player nameBalogun
Squad number24Player nameStewart
Squad number5Player nameHelander
Squad number16Player namePatterson
Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
St Mirren
Squad number19Player nameReid
Squad number1Player nameAlnwick
Squad number45Player nameQuaner
Squad number25Player nameErhahon
Squad number7Player nameDoyle-Hayes
Squad number21Player nameConnolly
Squad number17Player nameMcGrath
Squad number9Player nameObika
Squad number11Player nameDurmus
Squad number2Player nameTait
Squad number5Player nameMcCarthy
Squad number22Player nameFraser
Squad number10Player nameMcAllister
Squad number4Player nameShaughnessy
Squad number8Player nameFlynn
Squad number14Player nameMacPherson
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
- 1McGregor
- 16Patterson
- 6Goldson
- 5HelanderSubstituted forBalogunat 58′minutes
- 31Barisic
- 18Kamara
- 10DavisSubstituted forArfieldat 59′minutes
- 17Aribo
- 7HagiBooked at 71minsSubstituted forWrightat 74′minutes
- 20MorelosSubstituted forDefoeat 73′minutes
- 14KentSubstituted forStewartat 81′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bassey
- 4Simpson
- 9Defoe
- 11Itten
- 23Wright
- 24Stewart
- 26Balogun
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
St Mirren
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Alnwick
- 22Fraser
- 5McCarthy
- 4ShaughnessyBooked at 73mins
- 2Tait
- 7Doyle-Hayes
- 25ErhahonSubstituted forReidat 88′minutes
- 21ConnollySubstituted forMacPhersonat 71′minutes
- 17McGrathBooked at 59minsSubstituted forFlynnat 71′minutes
- 11DurmusSubstituted forMcAllisterat 55′minutes
- 45QuanerSubstituted forObikaat 55′minutes
Substitutes
- 8Flynn
- 9Obika
- 10McAllister
- 14MacPherson
- 19Reid
- 23Erwin
- 26Lyness
- 30Henderson
- 33Jamieson
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 3, St. Mirren 0.
Second Half ends, Rangers 3, St. Mirren 0.
Substitution, St. Mirren. Dylan Reid replaces Ethan Erhahon.
Attempt missed. Leon Balogun (Rangers) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Ryan Flynn.
Attempt saved. Jermain Defoe (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Greg Stewart.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Jak Alnwick.
Attempt saved. Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Borna Barisic with a cross.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Joe Shaughnessy.
Scott Wright (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jake Doyle-Hayes (St. Mirren).
Offside, Rangers. Scott Wright tries a through ball, but Jermain Defoe is caught offside.
Substitution, Rangers. Greg Stewart replaces Ryan Kent.
Offside, St. Mirren. Kyle McAllister tries a through ball, but Ryan Flynn is caught offside.
Foul by Scott Arfield (Rangers).
Cameron MacPherson (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt blocked. Richard Tait (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Offside, Rangers. Connor Goldson tries a through ball, but Jermain Defoe is caught offside.
Offside, Rangers. Leon Balogun tries a through ball, but Scott Wright is caught offside.
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Ianis Hagi.
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