Former Killie man Boyd almost scored with the first real chance of the game when he collected a Chris Burke cross on the six-yard line but too much height on the effort saw the ball land on the roof of the net instead.

Thomas Buffel tried to keep the pressure on Killie by trying his luck with a long-range shot but a deflection was enough to send the ball fizzing wide of the target.

Then, only the heroics of goalkeeper Alan Combe prevented Rangers from finding the back of the net. He denied Buffel from point-blank range before reacting quickly to block the rebound from Gavin Rae.

Just when it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would finally breach Combe's goal, Killie hit them with a sucker punch after 27 minutes.

A Lindsay Wilson ball into the danger area was touched into the path of Colin Nish by Gary Wales and Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus was left with no chance when the gangly striker rifled home with relish from 10 yards.

But the edge was taken off Kilmarnock's celebrations soon after when Garry Hay collided with former team-mate Kris Boyd and left the field on a stretcher.

He was replaced by Gary McDonald with 36 minutes gone.

Rangers rounded off what turned out to be a disappointing first half with yellow cards for both Burke and Boyd.

Alan Hutton was replaced by Andrews at the break, with Ian Murray switching to right back to allow the new addition to occupy his familiar role in the heart of defence.

But even Alex McLeish could not have predicted just how fortuitous the substitution would be.

Rangers began their comeback when they were handed a free-kick on the edge of the box, after Dado Prso was felled by Fraser Wright.

Steven Smith sent the ball into the box and it was the unlikely figure of Andrews who rose above everyone else to send a glancing header over the line after 50 minutes.

Clearly boosted, Rangers took the lead with 63 minutes gone. A Prso cross found Boyd in front of goal and he nodded home his 33rd goal of the season, leaving Combe rooted to the spot.

Kilmarnock were left with little hope of salvaging anything from the game when Rangers netted again after 78 minutes.

Burke did well to keep the ball in play at the by-line before cutting back across goal and it was Andrews, lurking at the back post, who headed in his second of the day

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