Killie gave the champions a real scare before sub Nuno Capucho
scored a late winner at Rugby Park. This was Killie's 3rd SPL loss on
the trot, however manager Jim Jefferies has already called on his player
to turn in this type of effort & commitment every week, and he believes
Killie will move quickly up the table.
In a scrappy opening period the Kilmarnock defence were able to cope
with Rangers' attacking thrusts without too much trouble.
Freddie Dindeleux made a timely interception in the box after Michael
Mols had turned Gordon Greer and was shaping to shoot.
Mols then beat the offside trap to gather a long ball from Michael
Ball but Greer was in the way of the shot and the Dutchman blasted the
rebound well off target.
The home side replied with a cross from Stephen Murray which found
Canero beyond the back post. He headed back into the danger zone but
Rangers goalkeeper Stefan Klos was able to grab the ball before Colin
Nish could pounce.
With Rangers looking rather pedestrian, Arveladze tried his luck from
outside the box but his low drive skidded wide of the post.
With half an hour gone Rangers went in front when Arveladze scooped
the ball into the top corner after Peter Lovenkrands had failed to
connect with a corner and distracted the home defence.
Killie made a change with Kris Boyd limping off in the 35th minute to
be replaced by Gary McSwegan and they equalised three minutes later.
McDonald converted a superb move that started with a backheel from
Stevie Fulton to Canero on the right side of the box and the Scotland
Under-21 man picked out his unmarked colleague to apply the finish at
the back post.
Lovenkrands then got in behind the Killie defence and was bundled
over by a challenge from Greer in the area but referee John Underhill
waved away Rangers' appeals for a penalty.
In the 50th minute Canero fired Killie into a surprise lead with a
well placed shot after McSwegan headed a high hanging ball from the left
to where the midfielder was lurking unmarked on the edge the box.
Emerson thumped a long-ranger just wide as Rangers tried to get back
on level terms straight away.
Lovenkrands fired in a shot that was blocked by a defender before
Mols saw a close range effort bounce back off the underside of the bar.
Killie were under immense pressure and when Francois Dubourdeau could
only parry an
Emerson effort it seemed Arveladze must net the rebound
but he fired across goal and wide.
The Georgian striker made amends to grab his second goal of the day
after 63 minutes when he lashed home a shot from ten yards after a neat
flick from Mols had opened up the home defence.
A few minutes later, Lovenkrands sprinted away from his marker but
the Dane's powerful angled shot crashed off the crossbar.
Dubourdeau blocked a close-range Mols shot with his legs before Greg
Shields threw himself in front of a blast from Fernando Ricksen.
Kilmarnock were still a threat and substitute Martin Hardie saw his
18 yard shot blocked by Klos and Mikel Arteta was on hand to clear off
the line as the ball squirmed towards the net.
Dubourdeau was able to smother another Arveladze effort and had to
get down quickly to stop Ricksen's low shot.
In the 86th minute Arteta swung a free kick into the back post area
and Capucho was allowed to squeeze his header past Dubourdeau.
,
Greer, Dindeleux, Hay, Canero, Fulton, (McLaughlin 89 mins) , Murray
(Hardie 71 mins) McDonald, Boyd (McSwegan 35 mins), Nish.
