RANGERS earned another three Scottish Premiership points with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kilmarnock this afternoon.
A stunning Ryan Jack volley in the first half was the difference between the two sides, with Gers now heading into Europa League on Thursday action off the back of victory.
Manager Steven Gerrard named three changes to his side - from last weekend’s match against Hamilton, Filip Helander, Bongani Zungu and Glen Karama were replaced in the starting XI by Leon Balogun, Ryan Jack and Steven Davis.
There was a further boost to the boss today on the bench, with both Jermain Defoe and Scott Arfield making welcome returns from injury.
Temperatures remained below freezing for the entirety of the match, with snow flurries passing through as well as winter retained its iron grip on the Southside of Glasgow.
Gers thought they had an early lead through a lovely, angled James Tavernier finish from the edge of the box after an excellent move involving Cedric Itten and Ianis Hagi, but the flag of the far-side assistant referee went against the skipper.
Ianis Hagi had a free-kick from 25-yards go up and over the wall but slip just wide of target, but Kilmarnock were doing well to keep Gers at bay.
It looked like it would take a moment of inspiration to break them down – and that’s exactly what there was on 37 minutes.
A James Tavernier corner was scrambled away to around 25 yards from goal, slightly to the right of centre. Running onto it was Ryan Jack, who flicked the ball into the air, and on the full volley he arrowed a stunning strike into the top corner, well out of reach of goalkeeper Doyle.
Jack’s technique was outstanding, and it certainly goes down as the best goal he’s scored for the club so far, with that being his second of the season.
Ryan Kent came close to a second minutes later, stinging the palms of Doyle with a shot at the end of a run from midfield, but 1-0 to the hosts is how it remained at the break.
Kent put one into Doyle’s arms right at the start of the second half after the winger won the ball back from Killie’s kick-off and charged forward, before Doyle made it a hat-trick of saves from Kent, pushing a powerful drive wide after Joe Aribo set him up.
Brandon Haunstrup made a fine block to prevent Aribo grabbing that second, while Cedric Itten fied straight at Doyle on the turn.
Tavernier sent one right across the face of goal which somehow Killie managed to scramble away, while Aribo couldn’t finish on the end of a super break involving Kent and Itten.
While Gers weren’t able to grab the second goal they craved, they retained a superb control over the game, with Allan McGregor a virtual spectator in goal.
It’s on now to Antwerp for Gers on Thursday night.
RANGERS: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, Balogun, Barisic; Jack, Davis, Aribo; Kent (Arfield, 88), Itten, Hagi (Wright, 79)
SUBS NOT USED: McLaughlin, Bassey, Helander, Defoe, Patterson, Kamara, Stewart.
KILMARNOCK: Doyle, McGowan, Haunstrup, Dikamona, McKenzie (Whitehall, 79), Dicker (Burke, 64) Kiltie, Kabamba, Mulumbu, Medley, Tsibola (Dabo, 80)
SUBS NOT USED: Rogers, Oakley, Ibsen Rossi, Pierrick, Pinnock, Millen.
REFEREE: Don Robertson