A nervy Rangers moved to within three points of leaders Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a drab 1-0 win over St Mirren at the SMiSA Stadium.
Tuur Rommens scored the only goal of the game as Danny Rohl’s side took advantage of Kilmarnock’s 1-0 win over Hearts on Saturday evening to cut the gap and reignite his side’s title challenge.
Rangers knew they had to win to keep pace with Celtic in second place after their win against Motherwell on Saturday, but they were made to work for their three points in Paisley.
Rommens scored his first goal for Rangers at St Mirren
For managerless St Mirren, they remain in 10th place, level on points with Kilmarnock, and very much in a fight to avoid that relegation play-off spot but interim boss Craig McLeish will be heartened by a stubborn performance from his side.
How Rangers cut the gap on Hearts at the top
Rangers started on the front foot and forced their way into the hosts’ box in the opening stages. Djeidi Gassama had an early sight of goal but he got his first-time effort with the outside of his boot all wrong.
Rangers players claimed for a penalty when Nico Raskin knocked the ball onto the hand of Alex Gogic in the St Mirren box but both the referee and VAR were unmoved.
Alex Gogic was impressive for St Mirren against Rangers
St Mirren were forced into an early change of shape and personnel following a head collision between Jayden Richardson and Alex Gogic, with the former having to go off to be replaced by Allan Campbell after 17 minutes.
Ryan Naderi forced Shamal George into action shortly after that but his header didn’t have enough power in it to beat the goalkeeper.
Rangers took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark. Nico Raskin clipped a smart ball into a dangerous area towards the back post where the onrushing Rommens guided the ball back across George and into the net.
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Tuur Rommens puts Rangers in front after meeting Nicolas Raskin’s cross at the back post
The visitors should have doubled their lead shortly before the interval when Rommens whipped a ball into the six-yard box towards Youssef Chermiti but the striker somehow managed to prod his effort wide from close range.
Rangers nearly did get a second on the hour mark when James Tavernier fired a curling effort towards the top corner from the edge of the box but George got across well to tip the effort around the post.
George was called into action soon after to deal with a tame Naderi header before Tavernier fired another effort well wide.
Youssef Chermiti missed a golden chance for Rangers at St Mirren
The second half was scrappy and the visitors were never out of the game. Killian Phillips fired well over before Mikey Moore’s curling effort was stopped by George.
Jake Young then had a great chance for the hosts after taking a long ball over the top down well but he dragged his effort wide.
Thelo Aasgaard had a late goal disallowed for offside
Rangers thought they had sealed the points when substitute Thelo Aasgaard had the ball in the back of the net but his effort was ruled out for offside.
After three consecutive draws on the road, Rangers and Danny Rohl were mightily relieved to hear the final whistle as they kept pace with Hearts and Celtic above them to keep this enthralling title race ticking along nicely.
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