A first-half Jermain Defoe strike was enough to give Rangers a narrow win over St Mirren in the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The veteran striker showed his predatory instincts when he struck on 34 minutes to give the Gers all three points at Ibrox.
It was far from a memorable match with neither side creating many clear cut opportunities throughout the 90 minutes. Saints game plan to frustrate Rangers largely worked but despite efforts to have a go in the final stages of the match, the Buddies couldn't get the goal they craved to grab a share of the spoils.
Jim Goodwin's men were dealt an early blow when stand-in captain Kyle Magennis had to be stretchered off in the opening 10 minutes. The midfielder went down inside the Rangers half with what appears to be a knee injury and had to be replaced by Ilkay Durmus. Magennis is set for a scan which will determine the damage he has suffered with the manager confessing he is looks set for significant spell on the sidelines.
It took Rangers until 25 minutes to really create anything of note. Vaclav Hladky did well to save from Ryan Kent after the Rangers winger danced his way into the Saints penalty area. The ball found its way to Steven Davis on the edge of the area but the midfielder's clipped ball into the box was too high for Defoe.
But just under 10 minutes later the Ibrox side were ahead. Borna Barisic's low ball across the box deflected off Junior Morias and found its way to an unmarked Defoe who guided home from close range.
Rangers almost added a second right on the stroke of half-time with a number of men in blue looking to get a final touch on the ball in a stramash but Saints goalkeeper Hladky gathered.
It took over 22 minutes after the interval for anything of note to take place in the second-half. Nikola Katic rose the highest to meet a Davis corner. The Croatian defender headed it across the box with Defoe lurking at the back post but the striker couldn't meet it to double Rangers' advantage.
Saints started to commit more forward and with just 15 minutes remaining went close to grabbing an equaliser. Conor McCarthy, making his first Ladbrokes Premiership start, nodded just wide after getting on the end of a Cammy MacPherson free-kick.
Rangers twice could have wrapped the game up in the closing minutes with substitute Sheyi Ojo seeing an effort deflected just wide while fellow sub Scott Arfield shot straight at Hladky from close range.
In the end one was enough for Rangers to ensure all the points remained in Glasgow.
Full-Time: Rangers 1-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Hladky, Flynn, McCarthy, P.McGinn, Famewo, Waters, Magennis (Durmus 7), Foley, MacPherson (Mullen 87), Morias (Andreu 77), Obika
Subs Not Used: Lyness, Erhahon, Henderson, Mullen, Cooke
Rangers: McGregor, Flanagan, Katic, Goldson (c), Barisic, Kamara (Arfield 69), Jack, Davis, Aribo (Ojo 80), Kent, Defoe
Subs Not Used: Foderingham, Edmundson, Ojo, Halliday. Jones, Patterson
Referee: Nick Walsh
Assistant Referee: Alan Mulvanny
Assistant Referee: Graeme Leslie
Fourth Official: Steven Kincaid
Attendance: 49,297
