ROOFE: CUP DEFEAT A JOLT

Kemar Roofe says Rangers have been stung into action as he praised the response of Steven Gerrard's team to their first domestic defeat in nine months.

The Ibrox side saw a 27- game unbeaten run brought to a shuddering halt by St Mirren last week as the Buddies dumped them out of the Betfred Cup.

There were plenty of doubters speculating on whether that shock defeat to Saints would spark a repeat of the mid- season collapses which denied Gerrard a proper tilt at the title in his first two seasons in charge. But Rangers are firmly back on track after that upset following backto- back wins over Motherwell and St Johnstone.

Roofe, pictured, scored a double as Rangers fought back to beat the stubborn Steelmen on Saturday and got another tap- in when Perth keeper Zander Clarke spilled Ianis Hagi's strike at Mcdiarmid Park on Wednesday night.

Now Roofe admits he and his team- mates are using the frustration of that St

Mirren setback to fuel their title charge having kept a firm grip on their 16- point lead at the top after hitting the Premiership midway point.

He told Rangerstv: "We take it game by game and we needed the three points here. It all stems from the St Mirren defeat - it still hurts us. That has given us an extra boost to keep pushing. ( Wednesday) was a massive three points away from home. We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game and I think we matched it and then let our quality show as well."