Rangers went top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday thanks to a 2-1 over St Mirren at Ibrox.
Sasa Papac put the home side in front but Darren McGregor's leveller had the sides on term at the break. Steven Whitakker then hit a penalty in the early stages of the second half and that, in the end, was enough for Walter Smith's men.
El-Hadji Diouf started and Madjid Bougherra, just back from injury, was on the bench after they escaped additional bans for their infamous Old Firm indiscretions this week.
Diouf and his team-mates were slow to get going though, the home fans having to wait a while before the Senegalese attacker’s corner led to a chance for Kyle Lafferty, whose shot was heroically blocked by Steven Thomson.
The Northern Ireland hitman was then ruled offside when he collected Diouf’s pass and beat Paul Gallacher. No goal given!
The hosts were in front, however, on 33 minutes. Lafferty collected a Steven Davis pass and shot for goal. Gallacher denied him on the line, but defender Papac was in the right place to bang in the rebound.
The Buddies regrouped though, with Aaron Mooy finding the room to tee up McGregor and he volleyed past namesake Allan from close range.
The Gers were back in front seven minutes into the second half after referee Euan Norris ruled that Nikica Jelavic was impeded in the St Mirren area by John Potter. Whittaker stepped up to rifle the ball to the net right-footed.
Jelavic had missed a couple of chances himself and the Croatian international continued to be wasteful when nodding Rchard Foster’s header over the bar, and also missing a clean connection with a Davis cross following a Gers breakaway.
The visitors created little in response and in the end were beaten as the Gers go one point clear of Celtic, who now have a game in hand.