It had appeared that McLeish’s men were going to slip at least seven points behind Celtic at the top of the SPL with only three minutes remaining and the scores locked at 2-2.
Then, for the umpteenth time in the game, Peter Lovenkrands was upended just outside the Kilmarnock penalty box and when Mikel Arteta swung a ball to the back post Capucho was there to nod the ball over the goalline.
It’s unlikely that the former Porto man added 15 percent to his game today as his manager had requested – he only appeared as a substitute after 80 minutes – but his goal could prove invaluable to Rangers in the long run as they try to gather ground in the SPL title race.
In a fiercely-contested match amid the drizzle at Rugby Park, both teams looked like they were on a mission to make amends for recent heavy defeats right from the off.
Within 12 minutes the game already seen its first booking – Fernando Ricksen for a charge on Stephen Murray – and 60 seconds later Kris Boyd signalled his side’s aggressive intent when he battered Stefan Klos into the ground as they contested a high ball.
This was not a game for the faint-hearted and one that Rangers, in particular, could not afford to lose if they wanted to keep tabs on league leaders, Celtic.
Injuries has been the running theme to Rangers’ season of late and McLeish was once more forced into changes and, in the absence of both Zurab Khizanishvili and Craig Moore, Michael Ball was asked to deputise in the heart of the defence.
There was little at first to trouble the former Everton man in his new role as Rangers pushed forward in droves searching out an opening.
For all their penetration in the heart of the midfield, the Light Blues were again wasteful in the final third with Michael Mols, Mikel Arteta and Arveladze all shooting wide from decent positions.
Rangers’ endeavours had, however, earned them a series of corners and it was from one of these set-pieces that they went in front with 30 minutes gone.
Arteta’s ball sclaffed off the head of Lovenkrands to the unmarked Arveladze who was able to compose himself before passing the ball beyond Francois Dubourdeau.
Such was the simplicity of the strike that the Georgian felt no need to celebrate his goal – or perhaps he knew what was coming as Rangers held on to their lead for all of nine minutes.
Stevy Fulton’s clever back heel sent Peter Canero scampering to the byline and when he sent a cross to the back post Gary McDonald was unmarked to nudge the ball past Klos.
If McLeish was fuming with that incident he was absolutely apoplectic a minute before the break when Rangers were denied a clear-cut penalty.
Lovenkrands burst into the box only to be grappled to the ground by Gordon Greer with a move that would have not have looked out of place in a wrestling ring.
Astonishingly, ref John Underhill’s reaction was to shake his head vehemently and run towards the halfway line.
In terms of costly mistakes it was up there with the budgeting of the new Scottish Parliament building and the error was compounded when Killie went in front just four minutes after the re-start.
Garry Hay’s cross was knocked down by Gary McSwegan where the lurking Canero drove a low shot past Klos.
With the league title on the line, Rangers bombarded the Kilmarnock goal looking for an equaliser but it seemed Lady Luck had not only deserted them but she wasn’t answering their phone calls either.
In the space of three frantic minutes, Mols saw a shot blocked on the line and another crash off the crossbar, Emerson stung Dubourdeau’s palms with a fierce drive before Henning Berg nodded over from yet another Gers’ corner.
Without an away since September 21, the Light Blues were eventually thrown a lifeline when Arveladze bagged a deserved equaliser.
Berg’s long ball out of defence found Mols who touched on for the Georgian to ram it low past the goalkeeper.
The match was now flashing from end-to-end at breakneck proportions and Lovenkrands rapped the bar when through one-on-one before Dubourdeau made a brave block at the feet of Mols.
A draw was of little use to McLeish’s men and they pushed hard for an equaliser. A slip at the wrong moment denied Arveladze a chance of a hat-trick from Lovenkrands’ cross, with Emerson blazing the loose ball over.
The home side still had ideas of their own of taking the three points and only an acrobatic block by Klos prevented Canero from betting his second of the game.
Enter Capucho – on for the tiring Emerson – who helped take a vital three points back to Ibrox with one flash of his flowing mane.
He will need to show a lot more to convince the Rangers supporters of his worth but it was certainly a step in the right direction.
KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): 28 Dubourdeau; 2 Shields, 5 Greer, 6 Dindeleux, 24 Hay; 11 Canero, 8 Fulton (McLaughlin 89), 18 McDonald, 19 Murray (Hardie 70); 12 Boyd (McSwegan 35), 21 Nish
Subs not used: Meldrum, Dillon
Booked: Shields (45)
RANGERS (4-4-2): 1 Klos; 2 Ricksen, 25 Berg, 18 Ball, 16 Vanoli; 27 Hughes, 23 Arteta, 4 Emerson (Capucho 80), 26 Lovenkrands; 7 Arveladze, 10 Mols (Ostenstad 90)
Subs not used: McGregor, Ross, Burke
Booked: Ricksen (12)
Man of the Match: Shota Arveladze