The forward was on target in both halves at Ibrox in a controlled performance from Philippe Clement’s side. 

From Thursday evening’s UEFA Europa League match against Aris Limassol the manager named five changes to the starting line-up with Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun, Todd Cantwell, Tom Lawrence, Ross McCausland and Cyriel Dessers all coming into the starting line-up. 

That meant Rangers lined-up with Jack Butland in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Leon Balogun and Borna Barisic. 

John Lundstram and Tom Lawrence are joined in midfield by Todd Cantwell with Abdallah Sima and Ross McCausland providing the width in attack. 

There was also a change up front for the Light Blues as Cyriel Dessers came in for Danilo.

It was Rangers who got the action underway at Ibrox as Clement’s side looked to make it seven games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership. 

Abdallah Sima had a header held by Zach Hemming early in the match as the on-loan Brighton forward got on the end of a James Tavernier corner but it was gathered by the St Mirren number one.

Cyriel Dessers was next to have sight of an opening goal at Ibrox as Tavernier was again the provider with a cross from the right. The striker got a strong connection to turn the ball goalwards but it was just wide of the left-hand post. 

For the visitors, Conor McMenamin whipped a ball into the area in search of Jonah Ayunga, but Leon Balogun was on hand to deny the St Mirren striker an effort as Jack Butland recovered the ball inside the box. 

Sima came close again with a header which looped just inches over the bar as Rangers continued to search for an opening goal in this match. 

Butland was called into action with under 10 minutes until half-time as Rangers lost possession in a dangerous position on the edge of the box with Caolan Boyd-Munce picking up the ball for St Mirren. The midfielder found space to guide a right-footed strike towards goal but Butland was on hand with a diving save to tip it wide for a corner. 

It was Rangers who found the breakthrough at Ibrox in the final minute of the first-half. The move started on the right with Ross McCausland who found the run of Cyriel Dessers out wide. 

The striker did well to beat the St Mirren defender before picking out Todd Cantwell inside the box. He turned and made a run towards the penalty spot with Abdallah Sima able to pick up and direct a powerful shot into the back of the net to give Rangers the lead at half-time. 

Early in the second-half, Butland again pulled off a good stop as he tipped wide a long-range effort from Jonah Ayunga before at the other end James Tavernier saw a powerful strike from the edge of the box pushed away by Hemming. 

Dessers was next to see a low shot saved after Tom Lawrence did well to win the ball back in the middle of the pitch to feed the ball into the path of the striker.

With just over an hour played, Clement turned to his bench for the first time in this match as Danilo came on up front in place of Cyriel Dessers. 

There was a second for Rangers and a second for Abdallah Sima with 70 minutes on the clock at Ibrox as he netted his 12th goal of the season. It was a lovely ball from Todd Cantwell as he picked out the run of the Senegal international to send him through on goal. Sima showed his composure to take a touch as he drove into the box before finishing low beyond Zach Hemming. 

A further two changes followed the second goal as Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan came on in place of Ross McCausland and Borna Barisic before a further two changes saw James Tavernier and Todd Cantwell replaced by Dujon Sterling and Sam Lammers. 

Lammers had a chance late in the game but it bounced just wide of the post.

Rangers attention now turns to another Scottish Premiership tie on Wednesday evening away to Hearts.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier (Sterling, 85), Goldson, Balogun, Barisic (Ridvan, 80), Lundstram, Lawrence, Cantwell (Lammers, 85), McCausland (Matondo, 80), Sima, Dessers (Danilo, 62). 

Subs: McCrorie, Souttar, Cifuentes, Davies.

St Mirren: Hemming, Tanser, Taylor (Dunne, 72), O’Hara, Ayunga (Olusanya, 72), Flynn, McMenamin, Kiltie, Gogic, Boyd-Munce, Fraser. 

Subs: Urminsky, Bolton, Mandron, Small, Baccus, Grieve, Jamieson.

Referee: Matthew MacDermid.