Rangers 2 (Andrews 10, Novo 81) Kilmarnock 0
Attendance 46,278
Manager Alex McLeish made four changes from Thursday
night with Marvin Andrews, Gregory Vignal, Stephen
Hughes and Peter Lovenkrands replacing Zurab
Khizanishvili, Paulo Vanoli, Chris Burke and Dado
Prso, the Croatian being named as substitute against a
visiting team that included two former Rangers’
players in their line-up, namely Allan Johnston and
Peter Leven.
A linesman’s flag denied Peter Lovenkrands the opening
goal in the second minute as Rangers sought an early
strike.
Six minutes later Steven Thompson’s low 25-yard drive
from a Nacho Novo lay-off flashed inches wide.
The opening goal was merely delayed a further two
minutes however – Andrews notching his first for the
club when he stabbed the ball home following a
Fernando Ricksen corner that was driven goalwards by
Hughes.
Novo came close to making it 2-0 almost immediately
thereafter, heading a Lovenkrands corner just over.
The Dane was looking hungrier than of late, one mazy
run from a Thompson pass in 24 minutes carrying him
across the edge of the penalty area before firing a
right-foot shot wide of the target.
Three minutes later a Gary McDonald header found Kris
Boyd, five-goal hero against Dundee United last
Saturday. Shrugging off the challenge of Jean-Alain
Boumsong, Boyd shot wide from a narrow angle when a
square ball to Craig Dargo may have paid dividends.
With the interval approaching Rangers stepped up the
pace in search of a second goal – Thompson’s header
from a Ricksen corner being cleared off the line by
Leven, but half-time arrived with the home side ahead
by just the one goal.
The Light Blues pressed incessantly upon the
resumption of play – Lovenkrands coming close twice
inside sixty seconds – firstly when his turn and shot
from a Ricksen pass was just wide, then when he was
inches away from an inswinging Novo cross.
Killie goalkeeper Alan Combe denied Hughes in 54
minutes, holding the midfielder’s volley from a
Thompson lay-off, but was rescued by the woodwork
three minutes later when Thompson’s shot from a Novo
pass struck the base of the post.
Stefan Klos had scarcely been troubled all afternoon –
but was called into action in 69 minutes when Danny
Invincible dispossessed Bob Malcolm before seeing his
twenty-yarder held by the ‘Gers goalkeeper.
Rangers reacted to that scare instantaneously –
Andrews twice being denied by Combe from a Vignal
free-kick, his point-blank header being parried by the
goalkeeper, then his ferocious shot from the rebound
being turned wide.
A one-goal lead is always fragile, as was demonstrated
in 76 minutes when Vignal’s error allowed Boyd to
rifle a twenty-yard shot against an upright.
Three minutes later Prso replaced Thompson – and
Thursday’s goalscorer made an immediate impact in 81
minutes, his head-flick from a Vignal free-kick
releasing Novo who rifled the ball home for his first
competitive Ibrox goal.
The little Spaniard went off to a standing ovation
before play restarted, being replaced by Shota
Arveladze.
Prso almost added a third in 86 minutes, his shot from
a Lovenkrands pass being blocked by Combe, who also
denied Arveladze in the last minute, touching the
Georgian’s shot from a Ricksen pass over the bar.
2-0 it was however, and afterwards a relaxed Alex
McLeish summarised:
“A great three points – the target was to win the
game. We made a perfect start. The strikers worked
hard, but didn’t get the breaks. We continue to create
chances. I rested a few players today. Bob Malcolm
showed discipline and exceptional use of the ball.”
On the outstanding Marvin Andrews, who thoroughly
deserved his ‘Man-of-the-Match’ award, ‘Eck’
emphasised:
“We always knew we would need him.”
RANGERS Klos; Ricksen, Boumsong, Andrews, Vignal;
Ricksen, Hughes, Malcolm, Lovenkrands; Novo (Arveladze
81), Thompson (Prso 79)
UNUSED SUBS G. Smith, Kalenga, Davidson, MacLean,
McCormack
KILMARNOCK Combe; Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleaux, Leven;
Invincible, McDonald, Locke, Johnston; Dargo (Nish
76), Boyd
UNUSED SUBS Smith, Greer, Dillon, Murray, Dodds,
Canning
REFEREE Iain Brines