It was a difficult afternoon for Michael Beale’s side in Ayrshire as they were unable to find a breakthrough against Derek McInnes’ men.
With nine signings so far this summer transfer window, it was a new-look Rangers side that took to the pitch for the first match of the new campaign.
Jack Butland was one of five debutants to start the match as he lined-up in goal, with captain James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, John Souttar and Borna Barisic in front of him.
In midfield, Nico Raskin was joined by Kieran Dowell and John Lundstram, while Sam Lammers and Abdallah Sima provided the support for striker Cyriel Dessers.
Rangers were dominating possession early in the match as they looked to find a breakthrough in the Killie defence. Sima tried to chip the ball over Will Dennis with a neat flick but it was held by the goalkeeper with 8 minutes on the clock at Rugby Park.
Shortly after, Kilmarnock had a sight of goal from a set-piece as a Daniel Armstrong free-kick was swung into the area in search of ex-Ranger Lewis Mayo who had made a run in at the back post, but his effort was over the bar.
Cyriel Dessers was sent through on goal as Abdallah Sima picked him out after getting on the end of a long ball from John Souttar but Lewis Mayo recovered to deny the striker a sight of goal.
With just over five minutes until the break, Rangers had their first corner of the match as James Tavernier swung the ball into the box, but Dennis was able to gather as Dessers looked to get a touch at the front post.
Dennis was called into action again before half-time as he stopped a low Dessers strike, before the Kilmarnock number one pulled off a good save to tip over a powerful strike from John Lundstram.
Into the second-half, John Souttar tried a speculative effort from distance as the centre-back drove forward, but it was over the bar, with Souttar having another opportunity a few minutes later as he headed wide from a James Tavernier corner.
Matthew Kennedy sent a curling effort wide from outside the box as the home side looked to get a chance at goal before Rangers came close as Kieran Dowell’s shot was deflected just over Dennis’ bar.
With half an hour of the game remaining, Beale turned to his bench for the first time this afternoon as Danilo was introduced for his debut alongside Todd Cantwell, with Cyriel Dessers and Kieran Dowell making way.
However, it was the home side who took the lead in the 65th minute as a long throw was sent into the Rangers box. The Light Blues were unable to clear in the area with Brad Lyons turning in the box to strike the ball beyond Jack Butland.
The goal gave the home side a lift as Armstrong drilled a low shot just wide of Butland’s right-hand post before Nico Raskin drilled a shot wide from distance as Rangers searched for a goal in this match.
With six minutes added on, Beale’s men continued their pursuit, but Kilmarnock were standing firm as they held on to take all three points.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Dowell (Cantwell, 62), Lundstram (Jack, 72), Raskin, Sima, Lammers (Roofe, 84), Dessers (Danilo, 62)
Subs: McCrorie, Hagi, Cifuentes, Matondo, Balogun.
Kilmarnock: Dennis, Ndaba, Mayo, Deas, Lyons, Kennedy (Cameron, 89), Armstrong (Murray, 89), Watson, Magennis (McKenzie, 76), Findlay, Watkins (Vassell, 63).
Subs: O’Hara, Sanders, Davies, Donnelly, Polworth.
Referee: Willie Collum