Kilmarnock 0 - 2 Rangers: Rangers ruthlessly efficient as they seek early confirmation of SPL title

Published on Tuesday 9 March 2010 22:19

RANGERS last night maintained their relentless progress towards a successful defence of the SPL title which is now just a maximum of six victories short of completion.

• Kenny Miller celebrates with team mates DaMarcus Beasley and Kris Boyd after doubling his side's advantage. Picture: SNS

Walter Smith's men took time to subdue an energetic Kilmarnock outfit before goals from Steven Whittaker and Kenny Miller early in the second half secured the win which extends their lead over Celtic at the top of the table to 13 points.

Concerns expressed by the Rangers manager that his players may subconsciously ease off in the title run-in because of their healthy advantage appear unfounded. With ten games of the league campaign remaining, current form suggests they will cross the finishing line at the earliest possible opportunity.

While the Ibrox club can continue their pursuit of a domestic treble with increasing optimism, Kilmarnock remain in the relegation equation after suffering a third successive defeat. Manager Jimmy Calderwood, however, can take some encouragement from their first half performance last night when they caused Rangers genuine discomfort.

The pressing tactics of Calderwood's side initially unsettled Rangers for whom many of their normally steady performers were lacking in composure.

Certainly, the home team would have been the more frustrated with the goalless half-time scoreline. Mehdi Taouil should have taken advantage of Allan McGregor's uncharacteristic flap at a swirling cross from the lively Iain Flannigan on Kilmarnock's left flank. The ball dropped invitingly to Taouil inside the penalty area but the little Moroccan's powerful shot lacked accuracy and was blocked by Sasa Papac.

A free-kick from Flannigan then managed to bemuse McGregor once again, the goalkeeper dropping the ball at the feet of Manuel Pascali. The Kilmarnock captain was unable to react quickly enough, however, and McGregor redeemed the situation.

Rangers, struggling to get wide men Steven Davis and DaMarcus Beasley on the ball in telling positions, were only sporadically able to find space behind the well organised Kilmarnock defence. Davis drifted inside to create their first real opening, finding Kris Boyd on the right of the penalty area with a neat reverse pass. Boyd's low cutback to the near post was intended for Danny Wilson but the backtracking Allan Russell made a fine saving tackle.

Boyd was generally being well policed by Pascali. He did, however, come close to a spectacular breakthrough when Jamie Hamill's mistake allowed Miller to find his strike partner in a swift counter attack but Boyd's dipping volley from 20 yards flew over.

Hamill atoned for his sloppiness when he denied Boyd in the opening exchanges of the second half. Lee McCulloch worked the ball to the striker just inside the penalty area and his shot looped beyond goalkeeper Cameron Bell before being scooped off the line by Hamill. There had been a heightened sense of purpose about the champions since the restart and it brought them their lead in the 55th minute with a goal created and finished by their full-backs. Papac swung over a cross which Tim Clancy could only nod out into the path of Whittaker.

The Scotland international controlled the ball on his chest and strode forward before drilling a fierce low shot beyond Bell from around eight yards. It was his 11th goal of the season, an eye-catching tally for the right-back.

Rangers, having seized the initiative, simply tightened their grip on the contest as they doubled their advantage six minutes later. A sweeping move started on the left by Beasley had the home defence floundering. Boyd fed the ball to Davis who cut in from the right and drove in a low shot which Bell blocked but was unable to hold. Miller pounced to drive the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

Boyd missed a good chance to add gloss to the final scoreline for Rangers but they headed back up the M77 content with another job ruthlessly done.

Kilmarnock: Bell, Clancy, Hamill, Wright, Pascali, Fowler, Taouil, Severin (Kelly 86), Flannigan (Invincibile 65), Maguire, Russell (Burchill 69). Subs not used: Robinson, Hay, Fernandez, Kiernan.

Rangers: McGregor, Whittaker, Papac, Wilson, Weir, Davis, Thomson (Edu 68), Beasley, McCulloch, Miller (Novo 76), Boyd. Subs: Alexander, Naismith, Broadfoot, Little, Fleck.