The Jambos also saw an opportunity missed on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Livingston but Gerrard waved away suggestions their rivals' results had heaped pressure on his team.

Instead, he insisted, it gave them all the encouragement they needed to blow Saints away.

"The results over the weekend – not just Celtic, but Hearts as well – gave us a bit of a spring in our step," he said.

"When we are presented with opportunities like that we have to make sure we're ready to pounce, especially if we're off the top.

"Any time someone above us drops points we have to capitalise on that and I thought we did. We were very strong and played some really good stuff.

"When I took over I knew it would take time. But at times today we looked really dangerous going forward and could have scored a couple more goals.

"We rattled the woodwork a few times but that's the way we've got to be at home. When teams come here we've got to give them a difficult 90 minutes."

James Tavernier swept Gers ahead early with a stunning free-kick before Alfredo Morelos ended a six-game drought for club and country with the second.

Scott Arfield, Kyle Lafferty and then Daniel Candeias wrapped up Gerrard's biggest win as Ibrox boss in the second half, with the only blip Blair Alston's late spot-kick for Saints.

It rounded off an encouraging week for Rangers as they followed up their 4-0 mauling of Dundee and their Europa League draw with Villarreal with another morale-boosting display.

"I thought we were very good, especially on the back of a tough night in Spain," added Gerrard. "It was the exact performance I was looking for.

"We were ruthless at times and played some stunning football, scoring five very good goals.

"The only fault is with the penalty at the end where we got a little bit sloppy but all in all I'm very happy."

Dejected Saints boss Wright was left to wonder what might have been after seeing David Wotherspoon and Tony Watt miss crucial chances when the game was still in the balance.

He said: "We made it tough for ourselves. Rangers played really well but a lot of the goals we could have defended better.

"We had a great chance with David before they scored the first, we had another at 2-0 but we miss it, they go up the field to make it 3-0 and that kills it.

"The chance at 2-0 with Blair and Tony, we're through. I would guarantee Rangers probably score that.

"Yeah, they were ruthless but from my point of view we didn't help ourselves. Too many times made it easy for them."

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