Kilmarnock 1 - 5 Rangers: Ibrox men finish title job in style after whirlwind start

Published on Monday 16 May 2011 00:00

IN THE end, the helicopter wasn't really necessary. Such was the ruthless and almost instant manner in which Rangers secured their 54th championship triumph yesterday, the SPL would have had time to deliver the trophy to Rugby Park by horse-drawn carriage.

This was the send-off the Ibrox club craved for departing manager Walter Smith and it was delivered in the most emphatic style possible. A goal after just 47 seconds from Kyle Lafferty set Rangers on their way and by the seventh minute they were 3-0 up and cruising to a third consecutive SPL crown.

A hapless Kilmarnock side were swatted aside by opponents who performed with uncompromising intent and often eye-catching fluency. Lafferty got his hands on the match ball as well as the trophy, netting a hat-trick, while Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic completed the scoring in what became a carefree romp over the finishing line.

By ensuring all of the drama was confined to those breathless opening minutes, Rangers made it an occasion devoid of tension for both themselves and their supporters who were able to begin their celebrations without the slightest concern about events back up the M77 at Celtic Park.

Smith's men had opened impressively in both of their previous two fixtures, against Hearts and Dundee United, but the manner in which they imposed themselves here almost rewrote the definition of a whirlwind start.

As he did in 2009 and 2010, Lafferty emerged as the title-clinching specialist for Rangers. The clocks on the electronic scoreboards at both ends of Rugby Park had not even registered a minute's play when he gave the champions their breakthrough.

Latching on to a through ball from his compatriot Steven Davis, Lafferty burst clear of Kilmarnock's makeshift central defensive pairing of Tim Clancy and Manuel Pascali before guiding the deftest of lobs over goalkeeper Cammy Bell who was unable to scramble back in time to prevent the ball dropping under his crossbar and into the net.

The pulverising of a shell-shocked home defence was maintained at relentless pace, only an apparently errant offside call from assistant referee Gary Sweeney denying Lafferty another clear run on goal in the third minute when he was played in by Naismith.

It mattered little to the visitors, however, as they duly doubled their advantage just two minutes later. Gregg Wylde, whose pace down the left wing was a constant source of concern for Killie right-back James Fowler, created the opening as he made space to square the ball to Naismith on the edge of the penalty area. Back at the ground where he made his name, Naismith brought the ball under instant control before dispatching a firm left-foot shot low beyond Bell's left hand into the corner of the net.

Kilmarnock were simply overwhelmed by the ferocity and purpose of Rangers during this spell and many of the home fans streamed out of the ground when the visitors made it 3-0 two minutes later. Jelavic, whose movement befuddled the Kilmarnock defence throughout, was the creator on the right with a perfectly picked pass to Lafferty who produced another exemplary finish to beat Bell with a low shot from around 14 yards.

If defeat was now assuredly unavoidable for Kilmarnock, they eventually gathered themselves sufficiently to at least try to limit the damage being visited upon them. With the tempo of Rangers' play almost inevitably dropping, Kilmarnock managed to force Allan McGregor into action with James Dayton and Craig Bryson both denied from distance by fine saves from the Scotland goalkeeper. It was Rangers who came closest to scoring again before half-time, however, when Davis smacked a right-foot shot against Bell's left-hand post.

There was a renewed vigour to Rangers at the start of the second half as they set about preventing even the tiniest sliver of doubt emerging about the outcome. Lafferty fluffed a simple chance to complete his hat-trick just after the restart, screwing a shot wide from close range, before Rangers did make it 4-0 in some style in the 49th minute.

Pascali conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty area with a clumsy challenge on Jelavic. The Croatian got up to take command of the set piece situation, brilliantly netting his 19th goal of the season with a sweetly struck right-foot shot which curled beyond Bell's left hand into the roof of the net.

As they looked to emulate their irresistible start to the first half, Rangers racked up their fifth goal four minutes later. Naismith seized possession in the centre circle and burst through the middle, holding off a couple of challenges before finding Lafferty on the right of the penalty area. This time, the big Ulsterman made no mistake as he notched his hat-trick goal with a firm and precise right-foot shot beyond Bell from around 16 yards.

There were chances aplenty for Rangers to add to their tally, Lafferty missing another clear opportunity and Naismith striking the crossbar. Even David Weir got in on the act, the veteran skipper venturing forward to force a fine save from Bell with a powerful shot.

Dayton's consolation for Kilmarnock was almost an irrelevance, his 65th minute free-kick deflected off the wall and beating McGregor via the inside of the goalkeeper's left-hand post. For Rangers, the party had been in full swing since shortly after 12.30pm and will doubtless continue for some time yet.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Fowler, Clancy, Pascali, Hay; Bryson, Kelly, Taouil; Dayton (Fisher 81), Aubameyang (Gros 76), Silva (Sissoko 54). Subs not used: Letheren, Berntsson, Agard, Pursehouse.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Bougherra, Weir, Papac; Naismith, Davis, Edu, Wylde (McCulloch 71); Jelavic (Diouf 81), Lafferty (Healy 90). Subs not used: Alexander, Fleck, Foster, Hutton.