Rangers overcome St Mirren with late goals

Rangers overcame stubborn St Mirren and ensured the Paisley side still have work to do to secure a top-six Scottish Premiership place

Mark O'Hara's volley brought St Mirren level and he scored again after Fashion Sakala had headed Rangers' second.

But two Alfredo Morelos goals and one from Scott Arfield eventually snuffed out the visitor' resistance.

St Mirren, in fifth, remain a point off Hearts and are a point above Hibernian and two clear of Livingston with one round of pre-split fixtures to go. Rangers shorten Celtic's advantage at the top to nine points at least until the leaders visit to Kilmarnock on Sunday.

• Follow the latest Rangers news
• Keep up to date with St Mirren

Having reached a century of Rangers goals with a double against Celtic last week, Tavernier had an opportunity to make it 101 after Nicolas Raskin had been tripped by Alex Gogic. However, Carson guessed correctly with a save to his right.

Carson was at it again when he blocked Fashion Sakala's volley from close range but the Northern Irishman could do nothing to stop Cantwell's first Ibrox goal.

Malik Tillman, Sakala and Tavernier combined to get a square ball across the face of goal and Cantwell knocked the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.

More attacking possession came Rangers' way but they passed up opportunities get shots away, leaving the door open for St Mirren at the other end.

The visitors kept the ball in opposition territory as the whistle neared and Greg Kiltie's deflected delivery was taken on the run by O'Hara with his chest, the midfielder's finish deceiving all as the ball sailed from right to left into the net.

It was from a Borna Barisic free-kick that Rangers got back in front, Sakala using the pace of the ball to nod past Carson.

A Tavernier free-kick was fisted away by Carson and the keeper then got down to block a Nicolas Raskin drive as Rangers turned the screw.

But again Rangers were caught out by their own defending as Ryan Strain's cross was headed down by John Souttar and O'Hara drilled the ball into the bottom right corner.

The onus was on the hosts to force the issue again and Tavernier's cross was flicked on by Cantwell's head for Morelos to score.

Almost straight away, he netted again - a side-foot finish from substitute Rabbi Matondo's square ball. The offside flag had been raised against Matondo but VAR overruled the decision and the goal stood.

And, after a mazy run by Cantwell, sub Arfield nonchalantly beat Carson to complete the scoring.

Player of the match - Todd Cantwell

With a goal and two assists, the midfielder was instrumental in Rangers' win

What's next?

St Mirren play their final match of April at home to Kilmarnock on Saturday (15:00 BST). Rangers are on the road next weekend, taking on Aberdeen on Sunday (16:30)