Attendance 49,108
Rangers launched the defence of their League Championship title with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Ibrox this afternoon on a day of intense heat.
Pre-match there was joyous celebrations as the League Championship flag was unfurled by Chairman John McClelland amidst a colourful pageant that found fifty flag-bearers forming a guard of honour as both teams entered the field of play.
Of the Ibrox newcomers Zurab Khizanishvili was a welcome introduction for his home debut, playing alongside Craig Moore in central defence, whilst Paulo Vanoli was on the bench.
Referee John Rowbotham was called into action as early as the fifth minute when he was obliged to yellow-card Chris Innes for a foul on Michael Mols.
The opening goal was not long in coming for the 49,108 spectators and the thirteenth minute was an unlucky one for visiting goalkeeper Colin Meldrum who dropped a Fernando Ricksen cross under no pressure whatsoever. Peter Lovenkrands could scarcely believe his luck, turning the ball over the line from close range.
Two minutes later Ronald De Boer turned a Lovenkrands cross home only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.
Rangers were looking to add to their single goal lead at every opportunity twice Michael Mols came close, testing Meldrum with a 22nd minute drive that was the culmination of a flowing move between Barry Ferguson and De Boer, then seven minutes on firing over from a Ricksen pass.
Ricksen himself was not all that far away in 33 minutes when his drive from a De Boer lay-off was just too high.
Sixty seconds later Killie were reduced to ten men when Innes received his second yellow card for yet another foul on Mols. The defender had little cause for complaint he had committed at least five fouls following his early booking.
Rangers almost exerted an instantaneous punishment on their opponents a De Boer header from Moore's cross drifting inches wide.
The second goal was merely delayed however Mols turning a Moore header from an Arteta corner home in 37 minutes.
Five minutes later it was 3-0 when former Ranger Greg Shields conceded a penalty when he bundled Ferguson to the ground as the Light Blue Captain homed in on a De Boer cross. There was considerably less pressure on
Arteta than on the occasion of his last penalty (the final goal in the final minute of the final League game of last season), but the result was exactly the same.
Rangers restarted looking for more Ferguson's 25-yard drive from an Arteta corner being held by Meldrum in 50 minutes, then sixty seconds later a Lovenkrands angled drive from Ricksen s cross flashed across the face of goal.
Paulo Vanoli received a warm welcome when he made his debut, replacing Michael Ball in 63 minutes, and within five minutes he had almost made his mark with a low cross that was inches away from the inrushing Mols.
It was merely a matter of time however and Arteta it was who notched a fourth goal in 71 minutes with a low 25-yard drive from a Lovenkrands pass.
Two minutes later Fergie should have made it five when he shot weakly at Meldrum after Mols had taken advantage of hesitancy in the visitors defence. Rangers played out time content with a four-goal win although Mols should have done better than shoot wide after turning the Kilmarnock defence inside out in the final minute.
Manager Alex McLeish afterwards expressed his satisfaction:
'A great start. Everything during pre-season has been geared towards today the start of competitive fixtures. What happens in pre-season games is irrelevant. I was pleased with the players approach to today s game. Zurab Khizanishvili showed he could be a very good player, very composed and versatile. Barry Ferguson showed energy and desire, Mikel Arteta great attitude. Every player needs to prove himself to me. I would prefer not to have lost any player, but the books have to be balanced, even at clubs like Milan.
Kilmarnock boss Jim Jeffries was honest enough to admit: 'It was four going on ten. We gave away too many gifts, but I will be well satisfied if we play as well next week.
For Rangers, the real test will come on Wednesday with the visit of FC Kobenhavn, but for today at least there is the comfort of a two-point lead over Celtic, who drew 0-0 at Dunfermline.
RANGERS Klos; Ross, Khizanishvili, Moore, Ball (Vanoli 63); Ricksen (Thompson 81), Ferguson, Arteta (Malcolm 75), Lovenkrands; Mols, De Boer
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Burke
KILMARNOCK Meldrum; Shields, Dindeleaux, Innes, Hay; Hessey, Locke, Fulton; Di Giacomo (Nish 76), Boyd (McSwegan 76), Invincible
UNUSED SUBS Hardie, Dubourdeau, McDonald
REFEREE John Rowbotham