He moved onto 11 goals against the Ayrshiremen with a cool penalty and a trademark finish in the space of four minutes to claim three vital points in a match Rangers largely dominated.
They had to come from behind to do it and they lost Sasa Papac to a red card in the final minute which means he misses next weekend’s Motherwell match,
But they were worthy winners with Steve Davis showing his class in midfield and Mo Edu making a decent debut after coming in at the last minute when Kevin Thomson failed a pre-match fitness test.
There was an element of farce about the way Kilmarnock took the lead in nine minutes and from Rangers’ point of view the goal should have been avoided.
Rangers had dealt with talented Moroccan Mehdi Taouil’s corner from the left and the ball came out to Garry Hay some 35 yards out.
The Killie captain lobbed the ball into the box and Davie Weir allowed it to bounced between him and Allan McGregor.
Frazer Wright beat McGregor in the air as they fought for the ball and as it dropped Wright simply turned and popped it into the net from three yards.
It was a calamitous goal to lose in what was virtually Killie’s only attack of note in the first half.
Rangers tried to recover quickly and dominated the remainder of the first 45 minutes but could not find a way past Alan Combe.
DaMarcus Beasley had a great chance when he was played in brilliantly by Mo Edu in 15 minutes but instead of firing off a shot with his left foot he delayed and Killie got back to cover.
The American never really looked comfortable all day and he was replaced at half-time by Nacho Novo who, once again, was to play his part.
Kenny Miller tried to play in Kris Boyd in 28 minutes, flashing the ball across the face of goal but his strike partner could not get a touch.
Then six minutes later Miller set up Boyd again after some tremendous play inside the box but Combe made a good save from Boyd’s left foot shot, forcing a corner.
Steve Davis took it and Kirk Broadfoot came desperately close to emulating his Scotland heroics from Wednesday night when he met the ball powerfully with his head but again Combe produced a terrific block.
It was fast becoming a frustrating day for Rangers and they came close again in 41 minutes Papac brilliantly won the ball and set up Miller but his shot was deflected over the bar by Fowler.
However, they finally drew level 12 minutes into the second half although they needed a penalty to do so.
Papac played in Novo on the left side of the box and Italian midfielder Manual Pascali clumsily brought down the Spaniard.
There was only one man to take the spotkick. Killie did their best to put him off but Boyd slammed the penalty low to Combe’s right.
His old club must be sick of the sight of him because he had Rangers ahead within four minutes, claiming his 11th goal against Killie.
Rangers deserved it for their industry and patience.
It was Davis who set Boyd up, playing a quick ball into the striker’s feet but Kris still had work to do.
He twisted away from Simon Ford to give himself an angle and drove a right foot which clipped Wright’s ankle and flew past Combe.
Combe stopped Killie from going further behind when he did well to block Miller’s left foot shot after Novo had cut the ball back.
And then in 81 minutes he denied Charlie Adam with a brilliant save as Novo and Mendes caught Killie on the break.
The Killie keeper was called into action again in 84 minutes this time stopping a powerful Novo drive at his near post.
Papac was sent off on 90 minutes for a second yellow card when he tripped substitute Donovan Simmonds and there were a few scary moments in injury time.
However, Rangers survived to claim the win they wanted.