Patience has been a virtue for Ibrox side

STEVEN Davis is looking forward to Rangers reaping the rewards of their newfound patience.

Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side were made to fight all the way to the 87th minute to grab the breakthrough at Livingston on Wednesday night.

Alfredo Morelos’s late winner sealed a 1-0 triumph that moved the champions-elect to within four points of the title.

Gers could be crowned champions as early as Sunday if they can beat St Mirren at Ibrox on Saturday and Celtic slip up against Dundee United at Tannadice 24 hours later.

Otherwise the Old Firm derby clash at Parkhead on March 21 will be circled in the Light Blues’ diary as title D-day.

Having been made to wait 10 years to get their hands back on Scotland’s biggest prize, Rangers have realised they cannot rush success.

And Davis reckons that patience has been the key component to this season’s impending triumph.

He said: “That has been a huge positive for us this year. I think that comes with the confidence of getting results by doing it that way.

“We have certainly learned from the past and believe in our quality and we have to just continue to show that (patience).

“Even in games where there are spells where it is difficult, we just keep believing, keep doing the right things and more times than not we have found the answers this season.”

Davis added: “I think you know what you are going to get every time you come to Livingston.

“You are going to have to compete first and foremost and try to win the battles, and I thought we stood up to that challenge really well and it was just a matter of being patient and keeping on trying to do the right things.

“Luckily, Alfredo got the winner for us in the end.”

Morelos has taken his time to get going this season but the Colombian now has seven goals in his last 10 appearances after firing home the late clincher at the Tony Macaroni Arena.

Boss Gerrard was dismissed at half-time after marching on to the pitch to confront referee John Beaton, who had booked Morelos for a dive despite him being clearly tripped by Lions keeper Max Stryjek.

But Davis praised the striker for keeping his cool after that first half flashpoint.

He said: “He caused their centrehalves a lot of problems and everyone knows it was a penalty in the first half so for that to go against him, and for him to keep his nerve and keep doing the right things, I am delighted for him to get the winner at the end.”

Rangers have lodged an appeal against the yellow card shown to Morelos at Livingston.

The striker will now have his case dealt with by the Scottish Football Association’s fast-track disciplinary panel, with a hearing set for today.