Bazza Bails Out The Bigots

(Photos from SNS & used with permission)

Kilmarnock 0 - 1 Rangers
(SPL Match No.23 - Rugby Park, 29th Dec 2002, 3.00pm)

Barry Ferguson ran the show on Sunday at Rugby Park but it took a Peter Lovenkrands goal to ensure that Rangers ended the year at the top of the Premier League table. Determined to see out the year with a win, Rangers dominated the opening spell of the first half but, like so many other games recently, poor finishing was letting them down in front of goal...and some resolute defending by Greg Shields.

A free-kick after 14 minutes gave Barry Ferguson the chance to flight the ball into the box which was met by Shota Arveladze but his close range header was easily held by big Marshall. Six minutes later, Ferguson met a Kevin Muscat ball before trying his luck with a long, low effort only to watch as the shot took a deflection off Hoody and fell harmlessly past the post.

Arveladze's cross found Maurice Ross out on the right flank and he squared into the path of Ronald de Boer at the near post. But the dozy Dutchman fired wide from just a few yards out under pressure from Innes and the once again outstanding Dillon.

However, the Kilmarnock rearguard had no chance in the 24th minute when de Boer flighted a superb, long ball out to Lovenkrands on the left and with Fowler no where to be seen, he charged into the box before driving low under Marshall. Italian donkey Amoruso tried to add his own name to the score sheet by surging to the edge of the area before unleashing a shot which was miles over the crossbar...no surprise there then!

While Rangers remained unchanged at half time, the gaffer introduced Craig Dargo to the game, in place of Ally Mitchell who had been trying to mark Barry Ferguson. The same eleven who had beaten Dunfermline the week previous were now on the park and things started to liven up a little. He almost had an immediate impact on the game after being released by Andy McLaren and unleashed the shot only to be denied by Stefan Klos, who had raced off his line to block the effort.

Killie were still searching for the leveller and McLaren had a decent chance when he lined up the shot just outside the 18-yard box. But the ball fell wide of the post. We came even closer after 61 minutes when Gary McSwegan tried an opportunist drive from fully 35 yards only to watch in agony as the thunderous shot cracked off the crossbar. It would have been goal of the season had it went in! But, a minute later, it was Rangers' turn to put Killie under pressure when de Boer played the ball to Lovenkrands at the near post and he tried to squeeze home from a tight angle but the effort was blocked by Marshall.

Rangers should have doubled their lead after 67 minutes when de Boer released Caniggia into the box and the tiny Argentinean looked set to net only to bullet across the face of goal and past the upright. And again in 77 minutes when Caniggia supplied the cross which was met by de Boer on the six-yard line but he somehow managed to nod it over the crossbar.

He had the chance to make amends four minutes later when Caniggia set him up for the header once again. But, this time, he nodded straight into Marshall's hands at the far post. Rangers piled on the pressure and Michael Mols was unlucky to see his shot strike the crossbar after being played through by Amoruso late in the game. All in all It wasn't pretty with Ferguson being the difference between the two teams, Jefferies won't be too worried about ending the unbeaten streak with a result like this...roll on next Saturday.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, Canero, nInnes, Shields, Fowler, Fulton, Mahood, Mitchell (Dargo 45), Dillon, nMcLaren, McSwegan (Boyd 66).
Subs not used: Meldrum, Dindeleux, Hay.

Rangers: Klos, Amoruso, nMoore, Muscat, Ross, de Boer, Ferguson, Malcolm, Arveladze (Caniggia 51), Lovenkrands, Mols.
Subs not used: McGregor, McLean, Latapy, Nerlinger.

Referee: Dougie McDonald
Attendance: 13,396