Report: Rangers 2-0 Kilmarnock

RANGERS claimed a well-deserved 2-0 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox this afternoon to make it two wins from two in the Scottish Premiership.

Antonio Colak’s goal early in the second half looked like being the difference before Alfredo Morelos marked his return from injury with a goal two minutes from time.

From the side which faced Union Saint-Gilloise in midweek, in came Ridvan Yilmaz for a starting debut, Steven Davis, Tom Lawrence and Scott Wright for this first home league match of the season for the Light Blues.

That meant it was a back five of Jon McLaughlin in goal with James Tavernier for his 350th appearance, Connor Goldson, James Sands and Ridvan in front of him.

John Lundstram was joined in midfield by Davis, with Lawrence, Malik Tillman, Wright and Colak in front of them.

Each of Jack, Matondo, Kamara and Barisic were on the bench this afternoon next to Allan McGregor, the returning Morelos, Ben Davies, Scott Arfield and Leon King.

Rangers began the game well, and a super pass from Wright put Tillman in on the left edge of the area, but Killie managed to get bodies back to deny him on the line.

Colak then dragged a shot wide of the far post from an acute angle, while goalkeeper Sam Walker did well to get a deflected Wright strike round the post when he shot from 25-yards.

Tom Lawrence then cracked the crossbar with a full volley from 25-yards, while Goldson found the side-netting with a driven effort from inside the area when set up by Tillman.

Woods gathered a Wright effort out of the air before it could reach the top corner, but 0-0 is how it was to remain at the break.

Gers began the second half in much the same manner with plenty of the ball, and their dominance finally paid off in the 51st minute.

A loose ball reached Antonio Colak with his back to goal around 30-yards out. He played a neat one-two with Lawrence before racing into the area, taking the return ball and sliding it superbly past Walker for his first competitive goal in Light Blue.

Alfredo Morelos then replaced Colak on 64 minutes to make his return from injury, and he dragged an early shot wide when fed by Lawrence.

But the Colombian wasn’t to be denied. With two minutes left, Davis slid a super pass through the Killie defence for Rabbi Matondo to latch onto on the right.

He did well to get the ball to the back post, and waiting to turn the ball home and open his account for the season was Morelos.

It was just the tonic Gers needed ahead of a huge night on Tuesday, when they will attempt to overturn their 2-0 deficit at home to Union Saint-Gilloise.

RANGERS: McLaughlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Ridvan (Barisic, 64), Lundstram, Davis, Tillman (Arfield, 65), Lawrence, Wright (Matondo, 64), Colak (Morelos, 64)

SUBS: McGregor, Jack, Kamara, Davies, King.

KILMARNOCK: Walker, Dorsett, Power (McInroy, 84), Taylor, McKenzie (Cameron 84), Shaw, Murray, Wright, Donnelly (Polworth, 60), Alebiosu, Lafferty (Armstrong, 74)

SUBS: Woods, Hodson, Sanders, Lyons, Waters.

REFEREE: Kevin Clancy

ATTENDANCE: 49,600


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