Gers take title race to wire

St Mirren 0 Rangers3

A Kris Boyd strike and a double from Jean-Claude Darcheville means the Old Firm rivals head into the final night of the season level on points but with the defending champions four goals better off.

The destination of the silverware now rests on Rangers’ trip to Aberdeen and Celtic’s clash with Dundee United at Tannadice on Thursday evening.

This match was all about goals as far as Rangers were concerned and Walter Smith started with three attacking players – Nacho Novo, Boyd and Darcheville.

With 65 games under their belt already and three – including last night’s clash — still to go, the Rangers boss had no option but to go for broke in a bid to save their season ahead of a final night SPL showdown at Pittodrie.

That policy paid off almost immediately and the Ibrox side were ahead as early as the fourth minute.

Steven Davis’ cross found Kirk Broadfoot unmarked in the box and he flicked a teasing ball across the face of goal. Novo failed to connect but Boyd was on hand to rifle home from close range.

Following a flurry of activity from Saints, Rangers pushed forward and had the net bulging again with 23 minutes on the clock.

Stephen O’Donnell accidentally stood on the ball and gifted possession to Darcheville 20 yards out, and he had plenty of time to tee up a low, right-footed shot that left goalkeeper Mark Howard with little chance.

Rangers’ hard work was further rewarded when the St Mirren keeper was left fishing the ball out of the net again with 69 minutes gone.

This time, Boyd’s lay-off found Barry Ferguson and the skipper played in Darcheville, who slotted under the body of Howard from 12 yards.

ST MIRREN: Howard, Barron, Haining, Potter, Miranda, McGinn (Hamilton 56), Murray, Dorman, Mason, O’Donnell, Mehmet.

RANGERS: Alexander, Broadfoot, Dailly, Weir, Whittaker, Davis, Thomson, Ferguson, Novo (Beasley 77), Boyd, Darcheville (Cousin 81).

Ref: C Thomson (Scotland).