Rangers boss Steven Gerrard welcomed an Old Firm boost as Alfredo Morelos finally ended his three-month Premiership scoring drought to seal a 2-0 win at St Mirren.
Morelos was back in Gerrard's starting line-up for the first time since collecting a two-game ban for a forearm smash on Dundee United's Mark Connolly.
That Tannadice rush of blood to the head was a sign of the frustration that has been brewing under the surface for the Colombian amid a dry spell that stretched back to his last league strike against Hibernian in September.
But there were no cracks in his confidence this time as he coolly slotted past St Mirren goalkeeper Jak Alnwick following a poor Joe Shaughnessy back-pass to put Rangers two-up just six minutes after Kemar Roofe had scored the opener.
And Gerrard admits Morelos' return to form could not be better timed for his team as they look to stretch their 16-point lead over Neil Lennon's Hoops when they host the second Old Firm derby battle of the season this weekend.
"Alfredo will be delighted with the goal," he said. "He has been training well and I had a good feeling it was about to come.
"He's getting into some good places. He was unlucky against St Johnstone last week and unlucky against Hibs on Saturday when he came on.
"So I had a feeling it was only a matter of time. You can't keep him down forever. That will do his confidence the world of good."
