KENNY MILLER reckons Rangers proved their mental mettle for the Championship title race as they ground out a hard-fought victory over Queen of the South.

The striker netted the only goal of the game at Palmerston as Mark Warburton’s side re-established their eight point lead over title rivals Hibernian.

It was a moment to savour for Miller as his stunning second half volley lit up an otherwise low-key and competitive encounter in Dumfries.

Hibs were 3-0 winners at home to Alloa earlier in the day and Miller was delighted to see the Light Blues dig deep to clinch a crucial Championship triumph.

He said: “It might be a bit of a cliché but these are the kinds of wins that win you leagues.

“You can’t play the beautiful game all the time and score three and four goals and everyone comes away absolutely delighted and you get fully praised.

“There are times when you have to grind and we did that today. It was unlike us in the last 20 minutes because we panicked a little bit and were more frantic than what we have been and there’s no doubt we were hanging on.

“We didn’t do what we work on in training every day which is keeping the ball and staying calm and being a threat going the other way.

“It was a bit of a hang-on job but sometimes you have to win like that and we’re delighted to get the three points.

“When we were in the Premiership it was rare that we played on the same day as Celtic so we’re used to responding to the pressure of other teams winning.

“It’s added pressure but we can’t control what Hibs do but we can control what we do and it was great to get the win.”

It took a moment of magic from Miller to secure the win for Rangers as he made an instant impact just seconds after replacing Nicky Clark at Palmerston.

The stunning effort was the striker’s 100th goal in Scottish league action and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular of his glittering career.

But the 36-year-old reckons there was a degree of good fortune in the strike that looped over keeper Jim Atkinson and into the net in front of the travelling Gers fans.

Miller said: “I think it was the slowest, highest shot that’s ever been seen at Palmerston Park. I was delighted it went in and there was an element of luck to it but if you don’t shoot then you don’t score.

“I was sure it must have taken a deflection with the way it fell out of the sky but apparently it didn’t. It’s a big win for us and I’m delighted we got it.

“I was told it was my 100th Scottish League goal and it’s nice to hit that landmark and it’s always nicer when it’s a winning goal.

“I look at goals I’ve scored and I was in full control of what I was up to and knew exactly what I was doing but with this I was getting closed down from all angles and it was a bit of a hit and a hope but when you shoot you try and hit the target and fortunately it went in.

“I’ve been told my first Scottish league goal was the first of a double for Stenhousemuir away at Albion Rovers (in November 1998) when I went on loan and it was probably better than this one because I actually meant it.”