Kilmarnock 1 - 5 Rangers: Lafferty hat-trick helps Rangers to the title

Published on Sunday 15 May 2011 14:17

Rangers secure the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League title in style with an emphatic 5 - 1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.

• Kyle Lafferty is mobbed after notching his second and Rangers' third

A hat-trick from Kyle Lafferty and contributions from Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic removed any doubt about the destination of the SPL trophy.

The faint hopes that Celtic fans harboured of nicking victory on the last day of the season were effectively extinguished after seven minutes at Rugby Park with two goals from Lafferty and one from Naismith.

Kilmarnock did manage to pull a goal back after 65 minutes when Dayton's free-kick took a slight deflection off the wall and hit the post before finding the back of the net.

Rangers named an unchanged side as they aimed for the win which would see them crowned Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions for the third season in a row.

Kilmarnock were without star man Alexei Eremenko through suspension and made just one change, with Mehdi Taouil drafted into the side.

Rangers needed an early goal to settle the nerves and they got one with just 47 seconds on the clock.

Steven Davis released Kyle Lafferty and he lofted high over the reach of goalkeeper Cammy Bell and into the back of the net from the edge of the box.

The Ibrox side were celebrating again with five minutes gone. This time, Gregg Wylde was the provider.

He played the ball into Steven Naismith, who turned before lashing home.

The second goal was marred slightly by the sight of a supporter invading the pitch, although he was quickly apprehended by police and stewards.

The goals kept coming and the champions extended their lead further two minutes later when Nikica Jelavic set up Lafferty to side-foot past the helpless Bell and claim his second of the day.

Rangers could have added to their tally when Steven Whittaker raced down the right flank before picking out Naismith and he touched on for Jelavic but his flick was deflected wide of target.

At the other end, Kilmarnock could have pulled a goal back when James Dayton tried his luck with a shot that goalkeeper Allan McGregor did well to block.

Only the woodwork prevented Walter Smith's men from heading into the interval with a bigger advantage after Davis saw his ferocious strike crash off the post shortly before half-time.

Rangers notched up another two goals within eight minutes of the restart.

Jelavic contributed to the goals haul after 49 minutes when he was tripped just outside the area by Manuel Pascali before sending a swerving free-kick into the top right corner.

Naismith then embarked on surging run before slotting into the path of Lafferty to stroke home and claim his hat-trick with 53 minutes gone.

Kilmarnock did manage to pull a goal back after 65 minutes when Dayton's free-kick took a slight deflection off the wall and hit the post before finding the back of the net.