Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 1
14/08/2010 21:07:35 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.
Rangers 2 Kilmarnock 1 The day started great for Rangers with the unfurling of the championship flag by Chairman Alistair Johnston amongst hearty celebration from the Ibrox faithful.
In addition was the introduction of their first new player in two years, James Beattie, and the promise of one or two more to follow.
Then just after the quarter hour mark Rangers had more to celebrate when Kenny Miller somehow bundled the ball home after a James Fowler had blocked a Kirk Broadfoot effort on the line.
Rangers had started the game well and when Millers effort went in you could have forgiven the home fans for believing they were in for a straightforward afternoon, especially given Killie are many a pundit’s favourites for the drop.
However, Mixu Paatelainen’s side with several new faces in it hadn’t read the script and settled in making life difficult for their hosts.
Toward the end of the first half Killie enjoyed decent spells of possession in the Rangers half and Danny Invincible and James Fowler both went close to equalising.
Rangers saw things out until half time and started the second period on top, with Beattie squandering a decent chance for a debut goal after Frazer Wright’s slip had let him in.
Rangers, however, did add to their lead on 57 minutes when their best player on the day Steven Naismith drove home an angled shot from Miller’s lofted pass.
Killie though responded immediately when Sasa Papac was correctly penalised for a push on Dayton in the penalty box.
Jamie Hamill stepped up a calmly stroked the ball past McGregor from 12 yards.
Kyle Lafferty almost eased the Rangers’ nerves with a free-kick which whistled past the upright, but it was Killie who finished the stronger as they looked for an equaliser, so much so that Walter Smith left his seat in the directors box for one in the dugout.
James Beattie was withdrawn after 80 minutes to mass applause from the majority inside Ibrox. As debuts go it was ok, nothing more. In his defence he only arrived in Glasgow yesterday and hasn’t even trained with his new teammates yet. More will be expected of him in the coming weeks and months.
Rangers just about deserved to see the game out based on the chances they created, but Killie kept them honest for 90 minutes and made them work for their 3 points.
Rangers: McGregor, Weir, Broadfoot, Papac, Whittaker, Bougherra, Edu, Miller, Lafferty, Naismith, Beattie (Hutton 80)
Kilmarnock: Bell,
Fowler, Wright, Gordon, Bryson, Hamill, Invincibile (Sammon 83), Silva (Hay 58), Kelly, Dayton, Pascali
Goals: Rangers: Miller [16], Naismith [57]; Kilmarnock: Hamill pen [60]