Philippe Clement admits the ends justified the means for Rangers as they left it late to see off St Mirren and keep their Premiership title challenge on track.

Cyriel Dessers netted his 20th goal of the campaign with just 15 minutes remaining to secure a crucial three points and end a difficult run of league form for Clement’s side. Rangers had earlier seen their opener – scored after James Bolton converted into his own net – cancelled out by a Mikael Mandron header.

Rangers have been beaten by Motherwell and Ross County and held by Celtic and Dundee in recent weeks as their momentum under Clement’s guidance has been halted. This battling victory came on the back of a Scottish Cup win against Hearts and leaves Rangers potentially just five wins away from a clean sweep of honours this season.

It was another unconvincing performance from Clement’s side as they toiled for large spells of a tight encounter. Yet Clement was able to reflect on a job well done in the end as he praised the character of his side to emerge victorious.

“That they did what they need to do and that is winning games,” Clement said. “That is the first thing. Was it our most sexy game? No. But it is also the circumstances and all respect to St Mirren also. They are aggressive, they are powerful in the duels, the pitch is also smaller and that creates more duels. We had to dig in, we knew that from before but the team did. We get the result. I don’t think if you don’t lead with 2-0 or 3-0 that one team will have an easy game here. That is because of the quality and mentality of St Mirren, of their players and their manager. It is about taking the three points, and with a very good second goal also.”

Rangers return to Premiership action when they host Kilmarnock in their second post-split fixture on Sunday. The fourth Old Firm showdown of the season could be defining in the title race and the Glasgow giants will also go head-to-head at Hampden next month.

Clement’s side have not been fluent for some time but the Belgian – a serial winner during his time in his homeland with Genk and Club Brugge – knows what it takes to get over the line in a title race.

“Of course,” Clement said if it was about winning by any means necessary at this stage of the campaign. “It is all season like that. Football is about the results in the end. Nobody remembers that we won 4-0 against Hibs in October with really good football, or other games. At the end it is about the points. We had a lot of good games like that but you need in a season games that you win with resilience or mentality or digging in together and fighting. There is not one team in the world who only wins games in a very beautiful way, like the team did already several times. For sure, not teams who win trophies. You need both and they showed the right mentality today. Now it is getting good recovery and working towards next weekend to go towards then.”

Time was running out for Rangers before Dessers provided a crucial moment to win it. A James Tavernier cross evaded Bolton and keeper Zach Hemming and the Nigerian nodded home from close range.

Dessers has often been a maligned figure amongst the Rangers support during a difficult first term at Ibrox. His boss appreciates his efforts, though, after a match-winning intervention in Paisley.

“That it is not only the goals,” Clement said. “It is also the work he is doing without ball, also his work as high support. He is working really hard for the team, he is giving everything. He changed the situation himself in a really good way. If I hear what the fans are singing now or six months ago, there are different songs. But he deserves because he has been working really hard to help the team, not only thinking about himself but to help the team. Then the moments come and the situations come to be decisive in that position. It was again a really good finish today and a good cross of Tav also.”