Boyd shoots down St Mirren

Rangers survived a late scare to secure a narrow 2-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox yesterday that moved them up to second in the Scottish Premier League.

It looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the Buddies after Kris Boyd fired Rangers into the lead after just 18 seconds but the Paisley side were unlucky not to equalise before Boyd got his second in the 57th minute.

St Mirren were never out of the game, however, and pulled a fine goal back with just two minutes remaining through substitute Stephen O'Donnell.

With Celtic not playing Falkirk until this afternoon the win puts pressure on Tony Mowbray's side and cuts their lead to just one point.

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson was left to rue his team's start.

"That's the worst possible start you can have, but credit to them the way they came back after that," he said.

"When you lose goals like that it's always going to be difficult."

His opposite number Walter Smith said Rangers had squandered quite a few opportunities.

"Overall we are delighted to win the game but it was obviously a bit closer than I would have hoped, especially after a better second half than we had in the first half," he said.