THERE was no sign of a European hangover at Ibrox this afternoon as Rangers produced one of their best performances of the season to seal all three points against Kilmarnock.
Even following the rigours of Thursday’s UEFA Cup clash in Auxerre, the Light Blues put on an impressive and clinical display to extend the longest unbeaten run of Paul Le Guen’s reign.
It’s no fluke that the recent good results have coincided with the manager’s ability to field a settled side and against Kilmarnock he made just one change to his line-up.
It was an enforced one at that, after Steven Smith was ruled out with a back injury, giving Sasa Papac the chance to show what he can do at left-back.
Having snatched a point at the death in the previous encounter at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock came to Ibrox with an attacking line-up fielding Steven Naismith and Gary Wales up front and within the opening minute they signalled their intent.
Although the attacks came to nothing, Jim Jefferies’ men forced two corners in quick succession calling Allan McGregor into action on both occasions.
With Smith sidelined, there was more of an onus on Alan Hutton to provide the width from full-back and after five minutes he provided a great cross to the back post from the right.
Dado Prso was waiting perfectly poised, but uncharacteristically panicked and blasted his effort high over the bar.
Two minutes later Charlie Adam then broke free in the box to get a run at Barry Ferguson’s corner, but miss-timed his jump and ended up in the net instead of the ball.
With questions still being asked over the efficiency of Brahim Hemdani and Karl Svensson’s partnership in central defence, Killie almost provided the answer after 16 minutes.
Wales whipped in a fantastic cross from the left for Danny Invincible to rise completely unmarked in the box to head goal-bound.
Thankfully for Rangers his effort was not on target but had it been was a sure goal.
It was a wake up call for the Light Blues and they never really looked back.
From the resultant goal kick Prso almost gave his side the lead after a great move, which started wide on the right when Hutton collected Novo’s dummy before cutting the ball back for Kris Boyd.
His shot was blocked but Novo reacted quickly to chip the ball to the back post and Prso smashed an over-head kick, which Graeme Smith did well to push around the upright.
With their tails up however, it was only a matter of time before Le Guen’s side took the lead and the opener came through a spectacular effort from Adam on 22 minutes.
Prso showed great vision to pick out the youngster in the centre of the park, after cushioning Ferguson’s throw in, and the midfielder drove forward before rounding Frazer Wright and firing a shot with his weaker right foot across the keeper.
Clearly bursting with confidence, Adam almost grabbed his second three minutes later when he picked up Hutton’s square ball on the edge of the area, before lifting a cheeky chip just past the post. But after 27 minutes Rangers were rewarded for their good play when Boyd extended the lead.
It was a typical poacher’s goal as the 22-year-old tapped home from close range, after Killie keeper Smith had pushed Novo’s cross-come-shot into his path.
It was a vital strike for Gers giving them some breathing space, but also momentous for Boyd, who is now level in second place with John Hartson in the SPL’s all-time scorers chart on 89 goals.
Novo had scored in his last two matches and almost netted the third against Killie when he collected Boyd’s cross, but Smith saved his shot well at the second attempt.
Clearly thinking about damage limitation Jefferies’ brought on defender Simon Ford at half time for Wales and Mark Walters’ nephew was called into action immediately.
Prso’s ball into the box was collected by Novo at the back post and his low drilled cross smashed against Ford, forcing Smith into an excellent save to stop the third goal.
Svnesson then rose unmarked to meet the subsequent flag-kick but put his header just over the bar.
The game was ended as a contest after 57 minutes when Prso scored his first goal since September 9.
Papac found Boyd inside the D and he fed the ball along the edge of the area to the Croatian striker. Prso then did well to deceive his marker before drilling a low left-footed shot past Smith.
Thomas Buffel came on to replace Novo and with 10 minutes remaining went on an excellent mazy run that deserved a goal at the end. He powered forward into the Killie box before dinking the ball over Smith’s head, but the keeper just got a fingertip to the shot and deflected the Belgian’s effort away from goal.
Filip Sebo picked up the rebound but his low shot was blocked by Ford.
RANGERS: 22 McGregor, 20 Hutton, 19 Svensson, 7 Hemdani, 5 Papac, 10 Novo (4 Buffel 65), 6 Ferguson, 8 Clement, 25 Adam, 15 Boyd (23 Sebo 74), 9 Prso (14 Sionko 58)
SUBS: 1 Klos, 27 Rodriguez, 28 Ponroy, 29 Stanger
KILMARNOCK: 13 Smith, 2 Fowler, 14 Wright, 15 G Murray (19 S Murray 76), 3 Hay, 5 Greer, 7 Naismith, 22 Leven (18 Di Giacomo 74), 12 Johnston, 10 Wales (6 Ford 45), 11 Invincible
SUBS: 1 Combe, 16 Dodds, 21 O’Leary, 28 Campbell
REFEREE: Kenny Clark
MAN OF THE MATCH: Dado Prso