RANGERS cruised back to the SPL summit in some style as they swept aside Kilmarnock with a 3-0 win in one of their most routine outings of the season.
First-half goals from Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker meant the Ayrshiremen were dead and buried well before the midway point.
It was the perfect way for Gers to resume play after the international break – and the ideal warm-up for Tuesday’s vital Champions League clash with VfB Stuttgart.
The Light Blues weren’t at their best against Killie but then they didn’t have to be. On a sodden day, the visitors started well but wilted far too easily.
Even so, this triumph will do plenty for confidence at Ibrox and the result means the hosts remain the only unbeaten side in senior British league football.
On top of that, they finally have a clean sheet to boast about – their first in nine competitive games, the last coming against Aberdeen on September 26.
Manager Walter Smith made two changes to the team that beat St Mirren a fortnight ago, with Kevin Thomson and Miller returning to the fold.
They replaced John Fleck and Nacho Novo, both of whom dropped to the bench, while Danny Wilson started again with Madjid Bougherra given the day off.
Rangers were slow to get going and Kevin Kyle had a great opportunity to put the visitors ahead just three minutes in.
He beat Wilson to the ball as he muscled into the teenage defender and headed Garry Hay’s cross towards goal but Allan McGregor saved well.
The hosts responded well and took the lead in the seventh minute with that man Boyd, so prolific against his old club, notching the opener.
He latched on to Thomson’s threaded through ball and after breaking the offside trap, he fired past Mark Brown and inside the far post.
Boyd thought he had doubled the lead just seconds later when he found the net once more but this time he had moved too early and it remained 1-0.
That almost proved costly as Killie came back upfield, with Fraser Wright drawing another good stop from McGregor six yards out.
Play was swinging from end to end and Steven Naismith linked well with Miller to create an opening.
But the former Rugby Park favourite’s final touch was far too heavy and Brown was grateful as the ball ran into his grasp.
Naismith was unlucky again midway through the first period when a high ball into the box was brought down by Boyd and laid off to him.
The young Scotland forward struck his resulting shot really well and it was only an excellent reaction save from Brown that kept him out.
Rangers were starting to settle and Boyd tried to release Naismith again as he began to become more involved.
But while that one didn’t come off, a good move by the Light Blues certainly did as they moved two goals ahead on 24 minutes.
This time Miller was the scorer, passing into the net after great running by Lee McCulloch to set him up on the edge of the box.
Although Smith’s men were comfortable leaders, Killie certainly weren’t out of the game yet and when they came forward they showed plenty of purpose.
Indeed, it took a header off the line from Wilson to ensure Jamie Hamill didn’t cut the advantage in half.
The problem for the away side was while they looked decent as they attacked, they also left themselves far too exposed at times.
They continually left big holes in their midfield, giving the likes of Boyd and Naismith so much space, and Gers should arguably have punished them more than they did.
Kyle gave the home team a reminder of how deadly he could be with a rasping 25-yard drive but McGregor was equal to it and made a fine diving save.
With their next attack, the Light Blues moved into cruise control as they opened up a 3-0 lead and killed the game as a contest.
This time Whittaker was the scorer, poking home at the second attempt after great work from Miller against Ryan O’Leary on the right flank.
Naismith nearly made it four when he capitalised on O’Leary’s misplaced header but last-gasp intervention from the Killie defence only just denied him.
Miller also had a go from distance after McGregor denied Gavin Skelton at the other end and it was clear Rangers were hungry for more.
They were simply peppering shots at the Kilmarnock goal by now, with a half volley from Miller 25 yards out not far from dipping in at all.
The half-time whistle couldn’t come quickly enough for the visitors and when it finally did, it’s safe to say there were probably some harsh words said in their dressing room.
You wouldn’t have known it after the restart though as the Light Blues continued to heap pressure on their opponents.
Boyd headed just past the post and Sasa Papac curled just past the far post after a neat lay-off from Naismith.
Steven Davis also had a go but his drive was always bending away from goal rather than towards it.
Miller should probably have done better when he linked up with Boyd and Naismith than shoot straight at Brown with a tame effort.
With time ticking on and Killie offering little up front by now, the match lost a lot of its rhythm with both sides seemingly settling for things to remain as they were.
But the introduction of Kyle Lafferty for Boyd almost led to a fourth goal as his header looked poised to drop in until a remarkable clearance off the line by two players.
The fact he didn’t net mattered little, although it would have been beneficial for the Northern Ireland hitman to open his club account for the season.
Kevin Thomson came as close as anyone to adding gloss to a deserved victory when he collected Lafferty’s pass and fired goalwards late on.
But his shot rattled back off the post and Gers had to settle for a 3-0 success which has then a point clear of Celtic ahead of their game at Dundee United tomorrow.