Rangers 3 - 0 Kilmarnock: Focus falters after a first-half flurry

Published on Saturday 21 November 2009 19:40

Boyd 7; Miller 24; Whittaker 35

&#149 Put the boot in: Kris Boyd makes it 14 goals in 14 appearances against his former club.

AFTER the international break this wasn't exactly a return with a bang. For Kilmarnock it was more of a whimper, while Rangers simply did all that was required. Remarkably, given what was at stake – a return to the top of the SPL table – that wasn't actually that much. A seventh-minute goal from Kris Boyd gave the Ibrox men the lead, after which it was an exercise in sharpening up ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League group match against Stuttgart.

"The first half was our best period. We scored three and had a few other opportunities," said manager Walter Smith, "and after an international break I'm just happy to go away with the win."

Killie manager Jim Jefferies claimed afterwards that they had their share of possession but it was the home side who had the cutting edge, aided handsomely by the visitors' defensive ineptitude. The first half displays of centre-backs Ryan O'Leary and Fraser Wright meant this match could never be described as a fair fight and it died a slow death as a consequence. Rangers' superiority on the day was more than deserving of such a one-sided scoreline and in the end it could have been even more, the disparity in their league placings clearly indicated in their overall play.

As is becoming the norm after international sojourns, Madjid Bougherra had failed to return from his travels in time for this game. The club insisted they would not have selected him anyway and that could become the case long-term as patience wears thin and Danny Wilson grows in stature and experience.

This was to be one of the young centre-back's biggest tests. Quite literally. Up against Kevin Kyle, he was faced with a different kind of conundrum than those already solved in his short stint in the SPL. Again he coped admirably and Kyle left the field in the 65th minute with a bloodied mouth and a bruised reputation. Smith says he now has a decision to make with regards who starts alongside Weir midweek.

This was a Kilmarnock team seriously short on away confidence, having scored just one league goal away from home all season. They tried to address that issue by starting with both Kyle and David Fernandez up front but any attacking threat was posed purely by the hosts.

Boyd, whose early opener made it 14 goals in 14 appearances against his former club and edged him a step closer to Henrik Larsson's record haul of SPL goals, was a source of great consternation in the visitors' rearguard as the match settled into a pattern. The goal had prompted appeals for offside but James Fowler appeared to play him on.

If Kilmarnock failed to get their way that time, they were saved by the flag two minutes later as Boyd slammed another effort into Mark Brown's net. It is the kind of striking presence that may spark interest in whoever turns out to be the new Scotland manager.

Boyd and another Killie old boy, Steven Naismith, then combined to force a point-blank save from Brown.

But Rangers were still coming forward facing little resistance. Miller and Boyd were torturing their markers, providing the targets and any necessary link-up, while Steven Whittaker and Sasa Papac were galloping up the flanks, pushing up Steve Davis and Naismith, or swinging in the kind of balls that proved tricky for Jim Jefferies' men to nullify.

And in the 25th minute Rangers increased their lead. Lee McCulloch gave a short pass to Whittaker before setting off as fast as he could on a direct run towards the Killie box. The full-back picked out the run and McCulloch showed a wonderful piece of awareness and skill to redirect the ball as it came over his shoulder, sticking a toe out to place it into the path of Miller who slotted it low into the goal.

That's how easy it was. A series of quick, short passes across field, and three touches later it was in the back of Brown's net. It was not wholly unexpected, though. The last time Kilmarnock defeated Rangers was in May 2007 and the scorer of the only goal that day was Naismith.

In the seven head-to-heads since then, Kilmarnock had taken just one measly point.

If even the most optimistic Killie fan harboured any hope of a fightback after the second goal they were in no doubt ten minutes later and Whittaker was far enough forward to get in on the act. He was foiled with his right-foot shot by Fraser Wright, although the diving Brown may have got to it anyway. But while the shot was blocked it was not cleared and spun straight back into Whittaker's path and this time he finished with his left foot.

Before that Kyle had manufactured a ferocious crack at goal but Allan McGregor was equal to it. The keeper displayed great levels of concentration as he was rarely called on but when Gavin Skelton hurried through, nicking the ball off David Weir, he was off his line quickly to smother the danger.

The second half was noteworthy for very little. Rangers tried to add to their tally without the same verve and urgency, Smith admitting it was only natural that focus, even subconsciously, switched to Tuesday, while Kilmarnock huffed and puffed. They were a more solid barrier to penetrate but that is about the only crumb of comfort.

Jefferies confessed that he had feared it could have been a real rout. It had the makings of one but fortunately for them Rangers had the job done and their minds switched to bigger things.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Lee McCulloch worked tirelessly in midfield and his exquisite touch in the build up to Rangers' second goal set him apart on the day.

QUICK FACT

Kilmarnock have the worst away record in the league, having earned just one point on their travels so far this term.

TALKING POINT

For Kilmarnock fans it was whether Boyd was offside for the first goal. But the hot topic for Rangers fans is whether the wayward Madjid Bougherra should be given a start ahead of young Danny Wilson against Stuttgart on Tuesday. Many feel that the Algerian should be taught a lesson.