RANGERS took a huge step towards the Scottish Premiership title this afternoon after beating St Mirren 3-0 at Ibrox Stadium – with Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi getting the all-important goals.
As things stand, the Light Blues now need just one more point from their remaining league fixtures and they will be crowned champions for the 55th time in the club’s history and the first time in 10 years.
Of course, if Celtic lose or draw to Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow it is over, but all Steven Gerrard’s men could do was focus on winning today, and they did so in emphatic style.
The Buddies travelled to Ibrox on the back of a five-game unbeaten run in the top flight – although that included four draws – but the home side flew out of the traps after switching ends before kick-off, shooting towards the Copland Stand in the first half.
An early drive from distance from Joe Aribo stung Jak Alnwick’s palms, giving an early indication of the Gers’ intent, before the visitors were stunned by two quick-fire goals.
With 14 minutes played a terrific left-foot shot from the electric Kent nestled in the bottom corner of the net and just two minutes later Morelos – after his match-winning goal against Livingston in midweek - doubled his side’s advantage.
Glen Kamara fed the ball to his Colombian teammate in the box and on the angle he produced a delightful finish across Alnwick and in off the far post.
With a two-goal cushion already in place, Rangers continued to push forward with pace and purpose, but after the half-hour mark it was St Mirren’s Dylan Connolly who showed his speed when he darted past Filip Helander but his right-foot shot failed to test Allan McGregor.
It was a good chance for the Saints to get back into the game and they must have been relieved six minutes before the interval when a Connor Goldson header from a Borna Barisic set piece curled inches wide of Alnwick’s right-hand post.
30 second into the second-half, however, and Rangers were 3-0 up. Kent found space on the left wing and his low cross found Hagi lurking at the back post. The 22-year-old Romanian took a touch and composed himself before rifling the ball into the net from eight yards.
Kent was clearly in the mood and he was denied a second goal when he took aim from distance, but somehow Alnwick diverted the ball over his crossbar with an outstretched leg.
With an hour played Gerrard made his first substitutions, with Leon Balogun replacing Filip Helander and Scott Arfield going on for midfield maestro Steven Davis.
The Light Blues continuing to dominate possession and were in total control when Scott Wright and Jermain Defoe were also introduced, for Hagi and man of the match Morelos respectively, with 16 minutes remaining before Greg Stewart got a taste of the action, with Kent going off.
With the clock ticking down a good delivery in from Stewart was met by Defoe but Alnwick did brilliantly to deny the striker with an excellent block to keep the score at 3-0 at full-time.
Yet again, from start to finish, this was a powerful performance from an impressive Rangers team on the brink of making history.
Defensively they were solid from start to finish and at the other end of the pitch the attacking trio of Kent, Morelos and Hagi were a threat and fully deserved their well-taken goals.
RANGERS: McGregor, Patterson, Goldson, Helander (Balogun 60), Barisic, Kamara, Davis (Arfield 60), Aribo, Hagi (Wright 74), Morelos (Defoe 74), Kent (Stewart 80)
Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Bassey, Simpson, Itten
Goals: Kent 14, Morelos 16, Kent 46
Bookings: Hagi
ST MIRREN: Alnwick, Tait, Shaughnessy, McCarthy, Doyle-Hayes, Durmus (McAllister 55), McGrath (Flynn 71), Connolly (MacPherson 71), Fraser, Erhahon (Reid 88), Quaner (Obika 55)
Subs Not Used: Erwin, Lyness, Henderson, Jamieson
Bookings: Shaughnessy, McGrath