Nacho focused only on Gers

Rangers may have made hard work of their 1-0 Bank of Scotland Premier League win over St Mirren - but Nacho Novo insists Celtic's imminent title success played no part in Sunday's game.

Gers headed into the match at Love Street knowing defeat would finally see their bitter rivals crowned Scottish champions after their own unconvincing win over Motherwell 24 hours earlier.

But he said: "The most important thing at Rangers is winning games - that is the players' mentality to win. We weren't thinking about Celtic or anything else. We were just thinking about us and trying to do our best."

He added: "From now until the end of the season we have to try to win every game."

The win allowed Rangers to edge closer to clinching the runners-up spot in the SPL and they head into the last five games of the season with an eight-point advantage over nearest rivals Aberdeen.

Novo added: "It was quite important for us to win and we also kept a clean sheet. That was the main thing. The most important thing is that we got the three points.

"We knew we were going to come here and it was going to be tough and that they would defend well. Now we have to concentrate on the next game against Hearts."

The striker also had a word of encouragement for future team-mate Kirk Broadfoot. The Saints captain started the game even though he has signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Ibrox club in the summer.

Buddies boss Gus MacPherson may have been regretting his decision to play Broadfoot thanks to his part in gifting Novo the only goal of the game. However, the Gers man says he saw enough of the defender to be confident he will be a decent acquisition next term.

Novo said: "He is a player Rangers are signing so he is obviously a good player. I think he will do really well and he will come here and be a great signing for Rangers."