Rangers moved to within a point of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic heading into the international break after overcoming St Mirren 2-0 in Paisley.

A first-half penalty from Ryan Naderi and a deflected second-half strike from captain Dan Neil securing a valuable win for Derek McInnes's side as they extended their unbeaten domestic run to 12 matches.

With reigning champions Celtic not in action until Sunday against Kilmarnock, the Ibrox side arrived in Renfrewshire with an opportunity to apply some pressure on Matin O’Neill’s men at the summit. They did exactly that with a dominant success.

Both teams observed a moment of remembrance before kick-off, with a piper playing and a wreath laid in the centre circle ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Rangers made one alteration from their Premier Sports Cup semi-final victory over Aberdeen, Neil replacing Tuur Rommens, while James Penrice slotted back in at left-back. Winger Badredine Bouanani had recovered from illness and centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez was also passed fit to start after shaking off an ankle issue.

The visitors were soon handed the opportunity to take the lead. Penrice went down under a challenge from Samuel Ramos inside the penalty area, prompting referee Nick Walsh to point to the spot. Saints protested, with Ramos appearing to make minimal contact, but a VAR review upheld the on-field decision.

Naderi showed composure to make amends for an earlier miss, sending Jacob Chapman the wrong way with a stuttered run-up before calmly rolling the ball into the bottom-right corner. It was his sixth goal in seven matches and another reminder of his growing importance to Rangers.

St Mirren responded positively, with Ramos seeing a penalty appeal of his own dismissed after his header back across goal appeared to strike Naderi’s hand. The hosts enjoyed more possession as the half progressed, but their build-up play lacked urgency and Rangers were generally comfortable disrupting their rhythm.

The Light Blues eventually found the breathing space they wanted in the 61st minute. Kevin Kelsy helped drive the visitors forward, with the loose ball breaking invitingly for Neil on the edge of the penalty area. His strike took a wicked deflection off Calvin Ramsay and wrong-footed Chapman, nestling in the net to open a two-goal cushion.

St Mirren refused to disappear quietly. Declan John blazed over from a promising position before Pandur produced a superb reaction save to keep out substitute Eseosa Sule at the back post.

Rangers managed to see out the closing stages without surrendering their advantage as they moved within a solitary point of Celtic at the top of the table heading into the break.