Kilmarnock 1 Rangers 2 – Connor Goldson scores in injury time to bag all three points for Gers
THIS wasn’t exactly an emphatic statement of title war from Rangers.
It was more a mild declaration to Celtic they might get it tough this season.
Steven Gerrard had demanded a big message of intent from Rugby Park – and the pressure was cranked up even more by the Celts’ massacre of St Johnstone 24-hours earlier.
Ultimately, though, he had to settle for a bang average performance and agonisingly wait for a decisive 90th minute header by Connor Goldson.
The Verdict
KILMARNOCK
Branescu 7
O’Donnell 8
Broadfoot 7
Findlay 7
Taylor 6
Dicker 7
Burke 7
Power 8
El Makrini 5
McKenzie 7
Brophy 6
SUBS: Greg Kiltie (El Makrini, 70) 4; Alex Bruce (McKenzie, 89) 2.
RANGERS
Foderingham 6
Tavernier 7
Goldson 6
Katic 6
Barisic 6
Davis 6
Jack 6
Aribo 6
Arfield 6
Ojo 5
Morelos 5
SUBS: Jordan Jones (Ojo, 79) 3; Greg Stewart (Arfield, 87) 2.
A relieved Gerrard, however, still happily banked the three points.
And he’ll be hoping this triumph will prove fateful come next May – for the last time Gers won in the league here the LEAGUE was won, back in 2011.
Gerrard will be most satisfied with his players digging it out.
For Killie boss Angelo Alessio and his players it was a crushing defeat.
They’d fought back from an early Scott Arfield opener to level through Stephen O’Donnell and put so much into it.
But while they got nothing tangible for their efforts they most definitely restored some pride following the calamitous Europa League exit to Connah’s Quay Nomads.
Allan McGregor completed a domestic suspension - running over from last season - with Wes Foderingham in the Gers goal. Gers had two other changes from their midweek Euro action, Jermain Defoe and Glen Kamara dropping to the bench.
Gers had only managed one victory from their previous three top flight openers and expectation on their shoulders as they kicked off the bid to stop Nine for Celtic was huge.
There were big question marks over Alessio’s team but he certainly looked the part before a ball was kicked, typically stylish Italian with smart suit and well polished shoes.
Would Killie be as sleek in formation and style as Antonio Conte’s former assistant had preached they would be on his appointment?
QUEUE CHAOS Watch hundreds of Rangers fans pile into Rugby Park as Kimarnock open gates amid queue chaos
Within the opening few minutes it was clear the answer was NO.
Killie played deeper and as Gerrard had suspected were a counter attack set-up.
That was sensible by Alessio who after his opening two games had the home supporters fearing he was a colossal dud.
Killie had been a serious pain for the Light Blues last term – unbeaten in the four league meetings within seven clashes and winning the home fixtures.
But the opening stages for both teams were tedious.
Gers frontman Alfredo Morelos took advantage of Stuart Findlay being deceived by the bounce of the ball in the box to produce a hooked shot from an angle – Killie No1 Laurentiu Branescu uncomfortably touching it past for a corner.
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By 10 minutes Rangers were bossing it, passing for fun but finding it difficult to zip the ball about with any pace on a sticky surface.
They grabbed a deserved 16th minute lead from a corner needlessly conceded by Scotland cap Greg Taylor.
James Tavernier’s delivery should’ve been bread ’n’ butter for the Killie centre-halves – but instead Nikola Katic had point blank freedom to power a header which Branescu parried out well.
Only problem for the on-loan Juventus keeper was the presence of Arfield to shoot home from four yards.
That should’ve proved the spark for Gers to kick on and quickly put the game out of Killie’s reach.
It didn’t happen – and that would’ve upset Gerrard who saw this too many times last season.
Rangers were comfortable enough but they also weren’t worrying Killie any more.
Alessio’s men produced their first threatening moment in the 20th minute – an Eamonn Brophy left foot angled volley pushed away unconvincingly by Foderingham.
Boredom set in again until Arfield, from a decent Morelos knock-down, unleashed a 32nd minute right shot weak and wide.
As the first half closed the Gers got sloppy, giving the ball away cheaply and conceding free-kicks in the wrong areas.
You had to imagine there were stern half time words for them from their manager.
Ryan Jack had a wayward 25-yard shot seven minutes after the break – but Killie then lifted their game for their best spell.
And only Brophy can explain how he contrived to miss in the 56th minute.
A brilliant Chris Burke ball across the face of the six yard box eliminated the Gers defence and the striker darted in to meet it.
But, staggeringly, Brophy’s prodded effort in front of goal went WIDE.
It was an absolute sitter and will already prove hard to beat this season.
Rangers knew it was a massive let-off – and within three minutes Joe Aribo forced Killie keeper Branescu into a diving save.
Gerrard’s men briefly came alive but soon settled back into mediocrity.
A long range Burke effort was easy for Foderingham.
Killie knew they were still in the game and managed a few half chances before, stunningly, they equalised with seven minutes left with a horror goal for the Gers back-line.
Burke floated a free-kick to the far post and not a defender managed to get a clearing touch. It dropped for the unmarked O’Donnell four yards out and he composed himself perfectly before drilling a right foot volley into the roof of the net.
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Honking Rangers – their 4,300 fans stunned into silence - had been asking for it.
Aribo thought he’d snatched an 89th minute winner with a left foot curling shot which looked destined to the top far corner – until Branescu somehow twisted mid-air to finger tip it wide.
But just moments later, from Tavernier’s delayed corner, Goldson rose imperiously to bullet home the Gers clincher.
Cue bedlam at the Rangers end as joyous supporters spilled onto the pitch.
It was like their team had just become champions.
But while it was a vital victory to avoid already falling behind the Hoops, only the deluded will reckon this kind of Gers display will be enough to halt the Parkhead juggernaut.
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