This scrappy win, against a Kilmarnock side who battled back strongly in the second half after being outplayed in the first, sees Rangers move above their hosts and back in to fourth place in the SPL table with Hibs and Hearts next in their sights.
Peter Lovenkrands grabbed the headlines and the match ball with a well-taken hat-trick but it was the manner in which his team performed as a collective that will have most pleased McLeish.
The Rangers manager had stuck to the formation that had served him so well in the midweek draw with Inter Milan, pairing Lovenkrands with Thomas Buffel in attack, and made just one change in personnel with Steven Smith replacing Hamed Namouchi on the left of midfield.
It meant Rangers started the match without a recognised striker on the field although there were four in reserve on the substitutes bench, including the fit-again Nacho Novo who appeared off the bench late in the game.
If trying to end a 10-match winless streak wasn’t sufficient motivation for McLeish’s men as they took to the field then the constant prompting by the Rugby Park PA announcer that “a win for Kilmarnock today will take us five points clear of Rangers” should have further spurred them on.
Whether it was the rush from Champions League qualification or the relief from seeing their manager safely ensconced in office after weeks of debate there was a fluidity about Rangers’ play, in the first half especially, that had been sorely missing in recent weeks.
With Bob Malcolm anchoring the midfield, Barry Ferguson was liberated to push forward and join the attack at any given opportunity and within the opening 10 minutes the Scotland skipper was dashing to collect a pass wide on the left before sending in a tempting centre that Alan Combe snatched just ahead of Lovenkrands.
The Dane’s moment in the spotlight though would not be long in arriving as Rangers surged in front after 16 minutes.
Malcolm’s pass sent the makeshift forward breaking clear of the static Kilmarnock and he calmly poked an effort past Combe for his third goal in as many games.
The goal sparked outrage from the home defence, supporters and bench as they howled for offside – television pictures showed Simon Ford had played Lovenkrands on – and when Jim Jefferies made his complaints too vociferously to the fourth official he was sent to watch the rest of the game from the comfort of the Main Stand.
Kilmarnock’s afternoon would soon get worse when they had a penalty claim waved away when the ball appeared to strike Malcolm on the arm and they then spent the remainder of the half trying to foil a rampant Rangers side.
After Combe had stuck out a fist to deny Buffel with a fine stop, Rangers extended their lead three minutes before the break and again Lovenkrands was the scorer.
Just as he had done against Inter, the inspirational Buffel – whose return has, not coincidentally, seen an upturn in Rangers’ performances – slid the pass through to the Dane and from a tight angle he thrashed an effort in off the crossbar.
Rangers could have ended the contest with a third on the stroke of half-time – Ford did brilliantly to clear Chris Burke’s effort off his line – and they were on the attack again immediately after the break, Burke crossing for Smith who, at full stretch, couldn’t direct his effort on goal.
There was always a creeping suspicion that such wastefulness could come back to haunt them and that sensation was heightened when Kilmarnock reduced the deficit on the hour mark.
Kris Boyd – a peripheral figure in the first half – created the chance with a stinging shot that Ronald Waterreus parried.
Marvin Andrews tried to dribble out of defence but succeeded only in gifting possession to Gary Naismith whose lateral pass was converted by Gary McDonald from close range.
From a seemingly invincible position, Rangers old failures started to creep back in and they were fortunate not to lose a second goal when Naismith connected with Gordon Greer’s cross only to glance his header marginally wide.
Kilmarnock’s fans sensed blood but it would be Rangers who delivered the knock-out blow when they extended their lead.
Lovenkrands again was the scorer to complete his hat-trick but in truth it was Buffel’s goal, the Belgian racing through the middle, foxing Combe with some neat footwork before his team-mate nicked in to grab the glory by stroking the ball into the open net.
McLeish then handed Novo his first start since September 24, withdrawing Lovenkrands following what had been his best performance for almost two years, but it was Kilmarnock who would score next, Boyd slamming an effort high into the net after Sotirios Kyrgiakos had failed to effectively clear Stevie Murray’s free kick.
There were a few nervy moments towards the end as Kilmarnock pushed for a late equaliser but in the end Rangers held on to record an overdue win.
Happy Anniversary Alex.
KILMARNOCK (4-1-3-2): 1 Combe; 5 Greer, 6 Ford, 18 Wright, 3 Hay; 2 Fowler; 12 Johnston, 7 McDonald, 11 Invincible (Murray 55); 9 Boyd, 14 Naismith
Subs not used: Smith, Lilley, Dodds, Dillon, di Giacomo, Campbell
Booked: None
RANGERS (4-4-2): 25 Waterreus; 2 Ricksen (Hutton 46), 14 Kyrgiakos, 5 Andrews, 24 Murray; 17 Burke, 12 Malcolm, 6 Ferguson, 34 Smith; 4 Buffel, 26 Lovenkrands (Novo 73)
Subs not used: Klos, Pierre-Fanfan, McCormack, Thompson, Jeffers
Booked: Hutton (68)