Rangers on verge of 1st Scottish league title in 10 years

Rangers' players ran to a gap in the stands at Ibrox and celebrated in front of their jubilant fans after a 3-0 win over St. Mirren on Saturday that left the club on the verge of its first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years.

Thousands of Rangers supporters had ignored lockdown rules by gathering outside the stadium in Glasgow ahead of the game to proclaim what will be a long-awaited return of the title, which has been in possession of fierce rival Celtic for nine straight years. The conduct of the fans was condemned by the Scottish government.

Many of the fans had left by kickoff but some stayed on, hoping to catch a glimpse of the team through the gates at the east end of the Main Stand.

Rangers did not let them down, with goals from Ryan Kent, Alfredo Morelos and Ianis Hagi earning a 28th win from 32 games and giving the team managed by Liverpool great Steven Gerrard a 21-point lead. The title will be clinched on Sunday if secondplace Celtic fails to win away to Dundee United.

If Celtic wins, Rangers can look forward to the dream scenario of finally putting an end to Celtic's reign of dominance when the Old Firm rivals meet at Celtic's Parkhead stadium on March 21.

Winning the league — for a record-extending 55th time — would cap the revival of a team that was demoted to the bottom tier of the Scottish game because of a financial meltdown. Celtic has dominated since and was looking to win the title for an unprecedented 10th straight season, and for a 52nd time overall.