McCulloch (centre) turned the match in Rangers' favour with two goals
By Andy Campbell
Lee McCulloch scored twice as Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers came from behind to beat St Mirren.
Graham Carey stunned the Ibrox crowd with a superb free-kick to give St Mirren the lead on the half-hour mark.
McCulloch quickly levelled for Rangers with a deflected shot and the midfielder volleyed home his second just after the half-time interval.
Rangers hit the woodwork three times in an open game and sealed victory through Nacho Novo's 78th-minute strike.
The result came hours after widespread media speculation about an imminent takeover of Rangers by a London-based consortium and moved the Ibrox side 13 points clear of nearest challengers Celtic.
A high-tempo start to the game saw Michael Higdon fire over the Rangers goal from 20 yards.
At the other end, Lee Mair made a crucial block to divert Kris Boyd's shot out for a corner.
St Mirren went back on the attack and Steven Thomson latched onto a through-ball and stabbed a shot towards goal, forcing Allan McGregor to make a last-ditch save.
Steven Davis' swerving free-kick struck the St Mirren crossbar and, after the ball was returned into the penalty area, Sasa Papac fired against the outside of Paul Gallacher's right-hand post.
On-loan Celtic full-back Carey broke the deadlock with a fiercely-struck free-kick that flew into the corner as McGregor stood rooted to the spot.
Rangers responded within two minutes as Kevin Thomson's free-kick into the area eventually fell to McCulloch, who found the net with the aid of a deflection off Chris Innes.
Carey (right) had given St Mirren the lead with an impressive strike
The Ibrox side looked to get in front before the break and Danny Wilson's volley from McCulloch's knock-down was superbly saved by Gallacher.
However, the hosts did not have long to wait to take the lead as a well-worked move in the opening minute of the second half ended with McCulloch finding the net again.
Papac's deep cross was headed down by Boyd to Kenny Miller, who teed up McCulloch for a scoring strike.
Rangers continued to pressurise and Miller's shot across goal was almost converted at the back post by DaMarcus Beasley.
Innes limped off to be replaced by Stephen O'Donnell before Beasley headed against the post from a Thomson free-kick.
Higdon's replacement Dargo tested McGregor from 25 yards as Saints looked for a leveller.
Novo had earlier come on for Beasley and made his mark on the scoresheet when he ghosted in behind John Potter to flick home Davis' free-kick.
St Mirren had a good chance to reduce the deficit when Carey's cross found O'Donnell at the back post but the midfielder skewed his shot wide.
Dargo had another shot saved by McGregor and Andy Dorman was inches away from connecting with a teasing O'Donnell delivery before Steven Whittaker's powerful drive cleared the St Mirren crossbar in injury time.
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