Two-goal Tore Andre Flo ensured Rangers went into the winter break still optimistic they can eventually overhaul 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 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 £12 million man looked recovered from that problem and proved it with two goals worthy of such a price tag.

The first 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. It was Graham Fenton who felt the force of his boot, in the face and in the penalty box. Ricky Gillies squeezed the resulting penalty kick past Stefan Klos. Suddenly the home side were back in it.

St Mirren 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. But Flo's second goal restored the balance in Rangers' 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.

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 off the top of his head.

Substitute Jorg Albertz almost scored 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 his 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.

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.

Attendance: 8,142.

Referee: D McDonald (Scotland).