Rangers 2-1 Kilmarnock: Review

Well a huge sigh of relief there as Rangers more or less snatched it, Having done so well over large spells of the match and even doing so good that Kilmarnock stayed in their own half for most of the game, how was this game won just by a lucky O.G in the dying minutes of the game?

When the sides were announced and rangers had 6 defenders in their team, I including many other Rangers fans looked worried, but as the game got underway it was more a 3-5-2 with Foster & Whittaker up the wings. David Weir, Bougherra & Bartley all in the centre.

Rangers started the game well but most of the opening 20 minutes was played in the middle of the park, with Kilmarnock happy to sit back and let rangers come at them. It wasn’t until the 38th Minute when a one two between Steven Davis and Steven Whittaker gave Whittaker the chance to pick out Diouf who had time to settle himself and calmly fire in the opener.

Diouf Celebrates With Jelavic.

As the Second half got under way it was more of the same from both sides, as Rangers were just happy to sit on their one goal advantage. They were made to pay when Foster made a high challenge on the incoming Clancy, referee Alan Muir pointed to the spot. Jamie Hamil Converted from 12 yards and the match was all square.

Rangers continued to look lively though as they created a good couple of chances and maybe should have had their own ‘couple’ of penalty’s, firstly when Jelavic was man handled within side the area but the ref waved play on. An even more obvious Penalty was when bougherra who played almost as a right winger at times cross the ball in but hit off the hand of the killie left back, once again no penalty awarded!

The Rangers bench knew a chance was needed an on came Weiss & Lafferty in place of the Goal Scorer Diouf & Foster.

Weiss sets up the winner

With only 15 minutes left rangers fans may have felt like this one was slipping away but Weiss had other ideas, As on the 87th Minute an in swinging cross was met by Clancy who put it past his own keeper.Their was yet another penatly turned down in the dying minutes when Lafftery collided with Clancy who was at the centre of everything today for Kilmarnock, the ref once again waved play on. So With little time to play Rangers gathered the 3 points they so desperately needed.

Final Score: Rangers 2-1 Kilmarnock

Player Ratings

McGregor 6, Very little to do, but when the ball came to him continued to get play moving, nothing could do with the goal.

Weir 6, Never really had a lot to do as kilmarnock were happy most of the game to sit back.

Bougherra 8, Great Defending and for most of the match was playing up top on the right crossed in a couple of balls (one which was handled in the area) and threw himself about a lot today.

Bartley 7, Had one or two chances he could have finished, defended well in the back 3 along with Weir & bougherra, good display from the young player.

Papac 6, Thought had another good game never really had much to do and got booked but never let much passed him.

Foster 7, Done well kept trying to take it past players and quick turn of pace helped him at times. Good covering and unlucky for the penalty incident.

Whittaker 8, Was another who played well today, deployed in the midfield role and set up Diouf’s goal after a lovely 1-2 with Davis.

Davis 7, Broke down a couple of attacks today put in an OK shift & played a nice ball to Whittaker who set up the first goal.

Edu 6, Was never really in the game an made a couple of wayward passes.

Diouf 8, Scored the opening goal, but he done more than that he came to the defenders to pick up the ball was always searching for the ball, always in space. Got 3 or 4 free-kicks in promising positions.

Jelavic 7, Still trying to get back after injury done well to hold some balls up but not really in the game that much.

Subs: Weiss 6, Lafferty 5.

Well now The Rangers will look towards Thursday’s Europa League Second Leg Tie With PSV.

Gary Linton

Category: Team News