By Robert McElroy
Kilmarnock 2 (Wright 11, Lyons 14) Rangers 4 (Dessers 2 [53, 62], Cerny 35, Bajrami 85)
Attendance 8,751
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Rangers came from 2-0 down to defeat Kilmarnock on a thrilling night at Rugby Park to ensure the ‘New Era’ got off to a winning start.
Interim Manager Barry Ferguson fielded an unchanged starting line-up from Saturday – to the surprise of many.
The Light Blue legions were out in force with the Chadwick Stand packed to capacity, giving Ferguson a warm welcome.
The game got off to a ferocious start on the artificial surface – inside the first two minutes Brad Lyons’ powerful 25-yard shot was deflected over, then shortly afterwards at the other end from a James Tavernier head-flickwhen Hamza Igamane’s volley was clawed away by home ‘keeper Kieran O’Hara.
Kilmarnock were certainly up for this one, playing at a fervent tempo – although one did wonder whether they would be able to maintain that level of energy. A series of corners finally paid dividends in the eleventh minute however from a Fraser Murray corner to the far post Joe Wright rose unchallenged to head home.
It was a dreadful goal to concede – yet another from a dead-ball situation – with Robin Propper badly at fault.
Matters went from bad to worse for the Ibrox when three minutes later a badly-misplaced pass from Nico Raskin enabled Brad Lyons to intercept and curl the ball past Jack Butland.
The home side were hitting Rangers on the break continuously and looking likely to add to their 2-0 lead at any time with the Ibrox defence a shambles.
Barry Ferguson, clearly recognising that the situation was desperate, decided on a change on the half-hour mark with Ridvan Yilmaz substituting for Clinton Nsiala – the youngster not having the best of nights, it is fair to say.
Almost immediately the atmosphere as well as the game itself was transformed as James Tavernier moved into central defence with Yilmaz at right-back.
Within three minutes Hamza Igamane broke through only to run out of space in attempting to get away a shot, the loose ball breaking to Dessers whose effort was blocked on the line by ex-Ranger Lewis Mayo.
The deficit was however reduced on 35 minutes when Mohamed Diomande fed Vaclav Cerny who coolly carried the ball forward before slotting home a left-foot shot.
It was an entirely different game now – and Rangers finished the first-half well on top although at the break the score remained 2-1 to Kilmarnock.
Eight minutes after the restart it was all-square when from a Tavernier corner Dessers stooped low to head into the net.
Rangers were now well on top – and just after the hour mark they took the lead with the goal of the night when a long ball from Yilmaz released Dessers who volleyed home as the ball dropped over his shoulder.
Killie looked down and out – although Butland had to be alert to keep out Corrie Ndaba’s effort.
Igamane was denied by O’Hara as the visitors chased a fourth, surely clinching goal – his 25-yard drive from a Dessers lay-off being turned wide by the ‘keeper.
Tom Lawrence and Nedim Bajrami were introduced for Ianis Hagi and Igamane in the 78th minute – and seven minutes later it was Bajrami who sealed the points with Goal Number Four from a Diomande pass following a classic counter-attack.
Kilmarnock: O’Hara; Wright, Mayo, Ndaba; Armstrong (Donnelly 61), Deas (Watson 81), Lyons. Magennis (Polworth 69), Murray; Wales, Watkins (Cameron 81)
Unused Subs: McCrorie, Wilson-Brown, Kennedy, Anderson, Ramsay
Rangers: Butland; Tavernier, Propper, Nsiala (Yilmaz 30), Jefte; Cerny (McCausland 87), Diomande, Raskin, Hagi (Lawrence 78), Igamane (Bajrami 78); Dessers
Unused Subs: Kelly, Fernandes, Rice, Curtis, Danilo
Referee: Don Robertson
