Have Old Firm wrestled title momentum away from Hearts?
Outsiders might assume the Old Firm will now run away with things, given their historic dominance, but it is not quite that simple. The top three still have to play each other after the league splits and Derek McInnes' Hearts side have responded superbly to any setbacks this season. Still, the pressure has not yet been ramped up to the current levels and it remains to be seen who will cope best under such conditions.
Rangers went to Paisley on Sunday knowing they needed to win in order to make the most of Hearts' defeat and also to arrest their own stuttering form, having drawn three of their past four league outings and been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Celtic. They were far from their best against managerless St Mirren, but crucially got over the line. Former Rangers striker Peter Lovenkrands - who won two league titles during his time at Ibrox - says that is all that matters at this stage of the season.
"You don't have to play well to go away and get the result," he told BBC Scotland. "It wasn't the greatest game to watch but Rangers got what they came for, they got three points and closed the gap to Hearts. "It's a huge win for them, it doesn't really matter how well they played.
" Hearts still lead the way, but have now lost three straight away matches. The Tynceastle outfit have routinely bounced back from losses this season - they are yet to lose back-to-back games this term - but are still without key duo Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin. The Scotland striker and Australia midfielder are due back from injury next week, which Scott Allan - a Premiership winner with Celtic - thinks will provide a welcome boost.
"What they have done this season is when they have had a result they haven't wanted, they have come back the following week and got three points. "Once it gets to the split they will have Shankland and Devlin back and Hearts are a lot stronger with them. "It was always going to be a difficult game at Kilmarnock and it was a game of moments.