Soccer-Rangers ease to 4-0 win over 10-man St Mirren

By Kenny MacDonald

GLASGOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Leaders Rangers stretched their lead to seven points with a comfortable 4-0 win over 10-man St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) on Saturday.

Rangers now top the SPL standings on 53 points from 22 games while champions Celtic, on 46 from 21, face Falkirk on Sunday.

St Mirren had looked the stronger team at the start and striker Billy Mehmet went close with a 15-metre header before Rangers scored against the run of play courtesy of a close-range shot from Chris Burke in 27 minutes.

Saints defender Will Haining was sent off three minutes later for his second bookable offence and Rangers took full advantage with Kris Boyd making it 2-0 in 33 minutes.

Rangers defender Steven Whittaker grabbed their third goal eight minutes from the interval with a 20-metre, right-foot shot into the bottom right of the net.

Whittaker blasted a superb rising shot into the top right-hand corner for number four in 81 minutes.

Aberdeen lost 1-0 at home to Hearts with Costa Rica striker Cristian Nade nabbing the winner while Kilmarnock lost 2-1 at home to Dundee United.

Two games, Hibernian v Gretna and Motherwell v Inverness Caledonian Thistle, were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. (Editing by Clare Fallon)