SIMA'S SPARKLERS

Fab Ab's firecrackers give Clement vital victory after Euro flop as Todd shines

- ANDY NEWPORT

>>RANGERS..2 ST MIRREN..O

IBROX chiefs have decided it's time-up for pyro on the terraces.

But thankfully for Philippe Clement, Abdallah Sima still had a couple of sparklers up his sleeve as the Senegalese ace lit up Rangers' path to victory.

The Light Blues have called on fans to leave their flares and smoke bombs at home after their Dens Park wall of fire stunt earned a dressing down from the SPFL.

That's a call manager Clement had already made after the chaotic Dundee display caused havoc on the night.

Of more recent concern for the Ibrox gaffer has been finding a way to relight his team's fuse after performances fizzled out during this week's lacklustre draws with Aberdeen and Aris Limassol.

The clash with St Mirren wasn't exactly a firecracker show either but a solid win at least ensures the Belgian's bounce didn't fall flat as he made it to 10 games as Gers boss without defeat.

It took the hosts until first-half stoppage time to get the goal that ignited victory when Sima slammed past Zach Hemming.

The on-loan Brighton winger has been feeling a little worn out having become a dad recently.

But he was wide awake to a second opportunity with 19 minutes left as he wrapped up a win that maintains the eight-point deficit on table-toppers Celtic, with a game in hand.

Todd Cantwell was the man who created both goals as he shrugged off the humiliation of being hooked during the first half of Thursday's stalemate with the Cypriots.

Finally in his favoured central role, this was a chance to at last show Clement what he could offer in the box seat.