Rangers moved to within three points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts thanks to a narrow victory at managerless St Mirren.
Tuur Rommens’ first goal for the Ibrox club proved to be the difference between the sides, tapping home an excellent cross from Nico Raskin on 31 minutes.
Rangers spurned several chances to extend their lead, but always looked comfortable defensively and saw the game out for a potentially vital three points.
After Celtic beat Motherwell and Hearts lost at Kilmarnock on Saturday, the league’s top three have bunched up again before the final eight matches of the season.
Rangers dominated possession from the off but struggled to create in the opening stages in a swirling Paisley wind.
However, Raskin delivered a rare moment of quality with a superb left-footed cross and Rommens ghosted in behind unaware defender Richard King to open the scoring.
Visiting striker Youssef Chermiti inexplicably volleyed wide from six yards out before half-time, and home goalkeeper Shamal George made two good saves to deny Ryan Naderi and James Tavernier after the break.
The hosts’ best chance came when a loose ball fell to Mark O’Hara on the edge of the box, but he scuffed his shot straight at a Rangers defender.
St Mirren – led by caretaker manager Craig McLeish after Stephen Robinson’s departure to Aberdeen earlier this week – are only above Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot on goal difference and trail ninth-placed Aberdeen by six points.