Two-goal Tore Andre Flo ensured Rangers went into the winter break still optimistic they can eventually overhaul Premier League leaders Celtic.

Flo's double before half-time set the champions on the way to a 3-1 victory at St Mirren, whose winless run now stretches to 11 league matches.

Defender Bert Konterman helped himself to the third as Dick Advocaat's men recovered from the blow of seeing Flo's opener cancelled out by a Ricky Gillies penalty.

The scoreline was a repeat of the Love Street encounter in August and means Rangers have banged in 13 goals against the promoted team.

But when you start a match 15 points behind your local rivals on a day when they have just walloped Kilmarnock 6-0 you certainly look for a hero.

And Flo seems to be able to do no wrong so far in his short Ibrox career, hamstring twangs permitting of course.

The £12million man looked completely recovered from that problem and proved it with two goals worthy of such a price tag.

The first followed a pattern already set against Celtic and St Johnstone in that it was a close range effort, a header from a Neil McCann corner to the near post that the Norseman pinged in off that upright.

The second was much better, an audacious flick with his right foot as Claudio Reyna's cross threatened to elude him. It was pure skill from the former Chelsea man, who allowed his left leg to step across the path of the ball to make the back flick become a reality.

Rangers certainly needed that goal as another moment of controversy from Fernando Ricksen had just cost them a 13th minute lead.

Ricksen's name is already synonymous with kung-fu kicks following his well-documented run in with Aberdeen's Darren Moore and this time it was Graham Fenton who felt the force of his boot, in the face and in the penalty box.

Up stepped Ricky Gillies to squeeze the resulting penalty kick past Stefan Klos' left hand and the upright and suddenly the home side were back in it.

Saints had been spirited throughout the first half with Steven McGarry, an early replacement for Tom Brown, looking lively and inventive.

Brown had fallen badly trying to cut out a Lorenzo Amoruso clearance and had to be stretchered off.

Amoruso played his part too and even planted a free kick on target, which would no doubt have impressed West Ham boss Harry Redknapp, his potential buyer.

But Flo's second goal it was that restored the balance in the fallen champions' favour and they went in at the break having created most of the chances.

That domination intensified after the restart, with Kenny Miller smacking a shot against the bar, and over, within four minutes.

Flo dragged a hat-trick chance wide and Claudio Reyna fired straight at goalkeeper Ludovic Roy as the attacks mounted.

Rangers took a decisive lead in the 61st minute when Bert Konterman deflected Ronald de Boer's corner from the left into the net with the slightest of deflections of the top of his head.

Saints had shown not half as much fight in the second period and finally looked a beaten team, news of which will have been greeted warmly in the tangerine half of Dundee.

Miller, who notched a famous five goals in the 7-1 mauling of Saints at Ibrox in November, came close again with a snapshot that fizzed just over as Rangers attempted to boost their goal difference tally.

Substitute Jorg Albertz almost did just that with a trademark piledriver but Roy produced the save of the match to deny him.

Flo sensed that hat-trick was near again when McCann slid an inviting ball across the turf but not even the Norseman's long legs could reach this time.

All St Mirren could do now was keep the score down and Roy denied McCann in a one-on-one by using his legs.

The result means Rangers will resume after the winter break 12 points behind Celtic with game in hand.

And it also leaves the home side without a league win since October and just a two-point advantage over Dundee Utd team, who beat Motherwell earlier in the day.

Teams

St Mirren: Roy, Nicolson (McKenzie 75), Turner, Baltacha, Kerr, Murray, Brown (McGarry 9), Gillies, Walker, Fenton,Renfurm (Yardley 67).

Subs Not Used: Scrimgour, Bowman.Booked: Nicolson.

Goals: Gillies 36 pen.

Rangers: Klos, Ricksen (Ross 85), Amoruso, Konterman, Numan, Reyna, Ferguson, de Boer (Albertz 65), McCann, Flo, Miller (Mols 68).

Subs Not Used: Christensen, Wilson.

Goals: Flo 12, 44, Konterman 60.

Att: 8,142

Ref: D McDonald (Scotland).