RANGERS continued their fantastic record at Rugby Park with a 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.
Walter Smith named an unchanged starting eleven for the third consecutive game but saw a very different match to the 3-3 draw with Dundee United just five days earlier.
The scoreline belied a feisty 90 minutes which saw Kris Boyd miss from the penalty spot before grabbing his third goal in two games against his former club this season.
Davie Weir was an unlikely source for the opening goal before late strikes from Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker put extra gloss on what was a hard fought match.
The three points were however tarnished a little by the late withdrawal of Kevin Thomson on a stretcher, with the midfield man in considerable discomfort.
In a dramatic first half it was Gers who had the earliest opportunity to take the lead as Thomson’s floated free kick from the right was met by Madjid Bougherra.
The Algerian got his head to it at the far post but couldn’t guide the ball past Alan Combe from a narrow angle.
As the game flowed from end to end Killie wasted a chance to punish Bougherra’s miss when Willie Gibson latched on to a knock down on the left but fired well wide of Allan McGregor’s goal.
The fiery atmosphere was further stoked when Sasa Papac was the first name to go in referee Eddie Smith’s book as he picked up a yellow card for a high challenge on Frazer Wright.
The Bosnian certainly caught the Killie man but he was unsighted as he followed the flight of a high ball in the 14th minute.
But things really kicked in to life twelve minutes later when Boyd went down under a challenge from Grant Murray 15 yards from goal.
The ref immediately pointed at the spot and Boyd looked set for his 11th goal of the season and his third of the campaign against his old side.
But his penalty, though firmly struck, was straight down the middle and Combe managed to deflect the ball over with his knee.
The Gers No.9 almost made amends within three minutes when Bryson’s challenge earned him a yellow card and the visitors a free kick.
Davis rolled the set piece to Boyd who fired a wonderful strike past the wall and Combe only to see it rattle against the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Combe was again grateful for his woodwork in the 35th minute when Nacho Novo’s powerful strike came back of the post and nestled in the keeper’s hands.
Novo deserved better for his control and shot from Mendes’ pass and Combe knew little about the save.
The Killie shot stopper was in the thick of things again just minutes before half time when Boyd rounded him only to be crowded out by the home defence.
The former Killie forward again appealed for a spot kick but referee Smith was in no mood to give him a second chance from 12 yards.
Novo didn’t make it out for the second period with his place on the left of midfield going to Kyle Lafferty during the interval.
And it took the visiting side just four minutes of the second half to finally open the scoring.
Thomson swung in another vicious delivery from a set piece and Davie Weir battled well at the back post to meet the corner with his head and force the ball beyond Combe.
It took only a further four minutes to secure a second as Boyd grabbed an almost inevitable goal at his former hunting ground.
He latched on to a fabulous cross field pass from striking partner Kenny Miller that took Wright completely out of the game.
The No.9 didn’t even have to break stride as he fired low past Combe with his left foot.
With Rangers looking more comfortable Barry Ferguson was introduced for a further half hour of top team action, replacing Pedro Mendes in the middle of the park.
Killie responded by introducing Connor Sammon for Donovan Simmonds while Tim Clancy replaced the injured Jamie Hamill.
Gers were forced in to a further change when Thomson was stretchered off after Fernandez landed heavily on his left leg.
Whittaker was the man to take his place and after Miller had nodded in Broadfoot’s cross to make it three, the returning star also latched on to a Broadfoot delivery to make it 12 goals in three games for Walter Smith’s side.