Scotland: Kilmarnock stun Rangers with late winner
Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Rangers
Rangers remain six points behind the Premiership leaders after suffering a late defeat against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
In a lacklustre match, Rangers wasted several opportunities to secure three points. A combination of poor finishing and solid defending from Kilmarnock made it another frustrating afternoon for the Belgian manager. As the game was heading for a draw, David Watson's lob found Marley Watkins, who beat the offside trap and bundled the ball past Jack Butland.
The Gers need to regroup quickly ahead of their Europa League match against FCSB on Thursday. Meanwhile, Derek McInnes' team has now moved to seventh place and are just outside the top six on goal difference.
A closer look at how Kilmarnock stunned this Rangers side
Home form has traditionally been a strength for Kilmarnock, but they had recorded five draws and one defeat in all competitions on their own pitch leading up to this game.
⚽️ Goal of the day: Marley Watkins v Rangers pic.twitter.com/4c7SN3aiyI
— Kilmarnock FC (@KilmarnockFC) October 21, 2024
Their first league win of the season came in their last outing—an unlikely comeback from 2-0 down at Dens Park. In that match, they exhibited a return to their usual form, applying pressure on Rangers and quickly advancing the ball.
Vassell caused Souttar and Propper significant trouble in the first half, bolstered by the physical presence of Watkins.
Kennedy and Danny Armstrong contributed good width and energy in both attack and defence, tracking back to form a six-man defence as the full-backs moved inside to support the centre-halves.
Derek McInnes had consistently assured us we would see the "real Kilmarnock" after a few sluggish performances following European matches, and it seems that promise is starting to materialise.
Rangers fans aren't happy
The banner below displayed the frustration of Rangers fans regarding the management of their club. Another poor performance has fueled more anger at not only at the boss, Philippe Clement, but also at various directors. This is only expected to increase over the next few games unless they start picking up results again.
The away side certainly did not look like a team hungry to force themselves into a title race. The truth is that they struggled to match Kilmarnock's appetite for the fight. Their defenders were passive, allowing too many long balls to drop on the artificial surface.
The midfield was ineffective, as central duo Mohamed Diomande and Connor Barron frequently turned back instead of pushing forward.
Rangers have scored only 12 goals in their eight Premiership matches—half of Celtic's total—and striker Dessers often lacked sufficient service during the game.
