Marley Watkins’s late strike gave Kilmarnock a shock home Premiership win against a rudderless Rangers. The top two, Celtic and Aberdeen, drew 2-2 on Saturday to offer Rangers encouragement in the title race, but Philippe Clement’s team failed miserably in their attempt to take advantage.
Despite having plenty of possession, there was a disjointed look to Rangers, whose fans held up protest banners in the second half, one of which said: “The mismanagement of Rangers must stop and stop now.”
Rangers improved little after the break and Kilmarnock struck in the 87th minute when Watkins broke through to beat the goalkeeper, Jack Butland, and earn his side a first home win of the season, with Rangers dropping six points behind Celtic and Aberdeen.
Rangers have to recover from another blow to start preparing for the Europa League game against the Romanian side FCSB at Ibrox on Thursday, but even this early their title hopes look forlorn and their supporters vented their frustration at the end.
Kilmarnock, whose 3-2 win against Dundee last time out was their first domestic victory of the season, had good early chances, including when Matty Kennedy somehow missed a cross from left-back Corrie Ndaba right in front of the Rangers goal.
The visitors were struggling to find any rhythm, but in the 18th minute the former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie made a good save from Vaclav Cerny’s long-range drive, a rare attempt on goal.
In the 52nd minute Cyriel Dessers’s drive from 30 yards was tipped round a post by McCrorie for a corner from which the striker hit the bar.
Leon Balogun and Nico Raskin replaced Robin Pröpper and Connor Barron and Rangers began pressing with more purpose, McCrorie making saves from James Tavernier and John Souttar, although in the 70th minute on a Kilmarnock break Kennedy tested Butland with a decent drive.
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There appeared to be cheers from the Rangers fans when Dessers was replaced moments later by Hamza Igamane. The game was in the balance until Watkins pounced, running on to a pass from the substitute David Watson and brushing past Souttar to send a shot bouncing past Butland.
Igamane missed with an effort to equalise in the third of six added minutes.
