After falling behind to a Daniel Armstrong penalty just after the 10-minute mark, the Gers were left frustrated and restricted to minimal clear openings as they went in at the break a goal down.
An expert James Tavernier free kick followed by a well-taken Tom Lawrence finish turned the match quickly on it’s head in four second half minutes as the Light Blues went on to take the three points which continues their fantastic league form as they picked up another vital three points.
Manager Philippe Clement named three changes to the side that ran out rampant 5-0 winners over Hearts at the weekend, with Borna Barisic, Ross McCausland and Fabio Silva all coming in from the start.
Jack Butland started in goal for the Gers in Ayrshire, behind a back four of captain James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, John Souttar and Borna Barisic.
John Lundstram, Tom Lawrence and Mohamed Diomande started in the middle of midfield, with Ross McCausland and Oscar Cortes providing support from the flanks for Fabio Silva who lead the line.
The Gers targeted a fast start in Ayrshire as they looked to carry on their weekend momentum and overall form in 2024.
After some early exchanges in possession and a Rangers free kick in the final third that came to no avail, they almost broke the deadlock early on two occasions. Firstly Ross McCausland profited from a long Jack Butland kick as he got the better of Corrie Ndaba in the full-back area.
His cross was met at the near post by forward Fabio Silva with his deflected effort just drifting wide of the target. The resulting corner lead to the next opportunity, James Tavernier’s delivery was met by the head of Connor Goldson who was unmarked, but William Dennis did well to turn the attempt over the top.
Killie had a chance at the other end in a frantic start to the contest. A short corner was whipped in to the near post and met by the head of Liam Donnelly, but his effort flashed wide of the target from the angle.
The hosts were then awarded a penalty just shortly afterwards. Another short corner was taken and this time delivered by Daniel Armstrong, Gers midfielder John Lundstram was close by and his block was deemed to be by the use of a hand by referee David Dickinson. The Killie number 11 stepped up and converted the spot kick just after the 10-minute mark.
The Light Blues looked for a quick response after the start at Rugby Park. Oscar Cortes was getting more and more involved down the flank but the away side were unable to manufacture any clear chances in the near moments after falling behind.
The Colombian was then involved as he produced a smart effort from very little. The winger received the ball from Mohamed Diomande as he took it on the spin, taking the shot quick he tried to catch Dennis off guard but the shot stopper turned it round the post.
Donnelly almost got on the end of another Killie corner kick routine. The Ayrshire side took it short as they had been doing in the contest up to that point . Armstrong’s left footed cross flashed across the area with the defender close by, but there were no takers inside the area.
The away side continued to keep possession towards the half-hour mark but chances were few and far between. Derek McInnes’ men were happy to remain in their shape and play on the counter-attack with the Gers looking to make the most of openings in midfield.
Frustrations continued for Clement’s men as the half time interval approached. A wide free kick by Borna Barisic was met by the head of John Souttar inside the area, he knocked it down for Diomande but his left footed effort inside the area was dragged with bodies in front of him.
Kyle Vassell got his head on another Armstrong free kick inside the box as he met it amongst the bodies, but it flew over the top of Butland’s bar in the last of the first half action in Ayrshire with the hosts going in a goal ahead.
Jack Butland produced a magnificent save at the start of the second half to stop the hosts doubling their lead. A free kick was taken quickly which caught the Gers out down their own left defensive side.
A cross was fired in low from Vassell which was met by the arriving Matthew Kennedy, his shot looked set to find the corner but the Light Blues goalkeeper did brilliantly to keep the effort out.
A moment of real quality from the captain got the Gers on level terms. Some clever play through midfield from Tom Lawrence saw the Welshman win a free kick just outside the area for the Gers.
James Tavernier stepped up and curled the ball beyond Dennis with the goalkeeper unable to keep the effort out after getting a hand on it as Rangers got themselves back on terms.
Rangers turned the match on its head in an instant. Tom Lawrence took a free kick quickly on the edge of the box towards substitute Cyriel Dessers.
The ball broke back perfectly into the path of the midfielder who expertly placed a shot into the bottom corner beyond the goalkeeper as the Gers found two goals in quick succession.
Clement’s men took a real lift from their second half showing as they threatened to add a third. Tavernier’s corner was met at the near post by Dessers who flicked it towards goal on the volley, but saw the effort come back off the crossbar.
Kennedy had an effort fired with pace into the arms of Butland as the hosts looked to respond themselves after falling behind in a spell of two goals in four minutes for the away side.
Diomande was next to go close in the match as it approached the final 10 minutes of normal time which looked set to be an exciting end to the match in Ayrshire.
The midfielder cut inside onto his favoured left foot as he looked to curl one into the far corner, but the effort whistled past the far post with Dennis on the stretch.
The Gers did well to manage the game towards the end of the contest as they kept the ball in the final third for the majority of the six additional minutes at the end of the game.
Despite late pressure from Kilmarnock with three consecutive corners at the death, Rangers held on for a massive three points in East Ayrshire to claim a 2-1 win.
KILMARNOCK: Dennis, Ndaba, Wright, Mayo, Vassell (Van Veen 75), Kennedy, Armstrong (McKenzie 83), Findlay, Donnelly (Balagizi 83), Watkins (Stewart 75), Polworth (Watson 83).
SUBS: O’Hara, Deas, Murray, Cameron.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic (Ridvan 45), Lundstram, Diomande, Lawrence (Raskin 75), McCausland (Sterling 55), Silva (Dessers 45), Cortes (Wright 70).
SUBS: McCrorie, Davies, Balogun, McKinnon.