Rangers appeal for new balls but mitre-gate followed by evidence of their cojones – inside the Ibrox title race

It was new balls please at half-time in Paisley as Rangers demanded a fresh batch of Mitres.

But it was the new set of cojones Philippe Clement's side managed to dig out that means they still have a title dream to cling on to. The Belgian and his team have faced big question marks over whether they have the stones for this flag fight after blowing their Premiership lead.

Those doubts came flooding back at the SMiSA Stadium as Gers allowed Stephen Robinson's Eurochasing Buddies to hit back through Mikael Mandron just five minutes after James Bolton's own goal had gifted them the lead. Clement's side needed to grow a pair. But in skipper James Tavernier they've got a man who continues to stand up and be counted - even when faced with the harshest of criticism - and it was his vicious delivery which laid it on a plate for Cyriel Dessers to clinch a huge win with his 20th club goal of the season.

Gers headed down the tunnel at the break complaining about Saints's flat size 5s. Robinson had no such issues with his pumped-up Paisley outfit. The Buddies had lost 18 of their previous 19 topflight clashes against Gers, a run of woe stretching back to 2011. But with Saints aiming for a first European adventure since 1987 after securing a top-six finish for the second year running, this was always going to be a tough assignment for the Light Blues.

Yet again, injuries weren't helping Clement's cause. Fabio Silva and Borna Barisic returned for the away side as crocked wide men Abdallah Sima and Rabbi Matondo forced Gers' tinkerman gaffer into further line-up changes. But it was as you were in the centre of their backline as Leon Balogun was again trusted to partner John Souttar, with Connor Goldson left on the bench.

Robinson