Early-bird Boyd shoots down St Mirren

2009/11/08

GLASGOW: Rangers survived a late scare to secure a narrow 2-1 win over St Mirren at Ibrox that moved them up to second in the Scottish Premier League and cut Celtic's advantage at the top.

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 the SPL top-scorer 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 tomorrow the win puts pressure on Tony Mowbray's side and cuts their lead in the race for the championship to just one point.

Rangers coach Walter Smith made three changes to the side that drew with Unirea Urziceni in Wednesday's Champions League clash by bringing in Boyd, Nacho Novo and John Fleck.

Elsewhere, Dundee United won 2-0 away to Kilmarnock, Aberdeen defeated St Johnstone 2-1, Motherwell and Hamilton drew 2-2 and the Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibernian ended goalless. -- AFP