Philippe Clement marked a year in charge of Rangers this week – but Kilmarnock spoiled his party and raised major questions over the title credentials of his side.
In fact, never mind just title chances. You can even question their chances of finishing in the top two. Rugby Park has been an unhappy hunting ground for the GLasgow giants over the years and the stage was set for another tough afternoon on the plastic with Storm Ashley battering the UK – and so it proved again as Marley Watkins netted late on to see the Ibrox side blow their big chance at closing the gap.
The forward made sure the party poppers were silent and the champagne is on ice for Clement as they remain six points behind high-flying Celtic and Aberdeen after a dismal display in Ayrshire. In truth, it could have been worse had Robbie Deas not strayed offside before heading beyond Jack Butland in the first half.
The hosts caused the first real problem of the afternoon as Corrie Ndaba found space down the left flank before whipping a dangerous ball across the six yard box. Matty Kennedy looked to have a tap-in but couldn’t reach the ball in time. Killie were limiting Rangers attack and reduced them to tame efforts on the edge of the box early on. Vaclav Cerny had the best of the chances as the low drive forced Robby McCrorie into a low diving save.
The Ayrshire men thought they had taken the lead as Deas rose highest to meet Kennedy’s free-kick and nod the ball beyond Butland – but the flag quickly went up for offside. Alan Muir in the VAR room backed up the on-field officials – and Deas was then the hero at the other end.
James Tavernier made a surging run down the right flank to whip the ball across the six-yard box. Cyriel Dessers was lurking at the back post to tap the ball in – but Deas stuck out a leg to deny the striker his golden opportunity.
It was a brighter start to the second half for the visitors as Cyriel Dessers managed to get a foot to Tavernier’s deep cross into the box. The ball would bounce up and strike the bar – and Robin Propper couldn’t follow up to direct his effort towards goal. Killie gave as good as they got as Danny Armstrong floated a cross into the area. The ball fell to Kennedy who didn’t connect well on the half volley and he fired high and wide.
But they would eventually break the deadlock as Watkins shrugged off John Souttar to latch on to a looping ball forward. He scuffed the ball into the bottom corner and out of the reach of Butland.
The Kilmarnock curse
Derek McInnes came into the game knowing that Rugby Park holds a hoodoo over Rangers – with Kilmarnock winning five of their last nine games against the Light Blues at Rugby Park. Now, he can make that six from 10.
The plastic pitch has been a long-term problem for several stars from Ibrox over the years and the current crop introduced under Clement looked to be feeling the same pain. It will leave theIbrox men will still be dreading their next trip to Ayrshire after failing to shake the blues.
Dessers dilemma
It was another tough day at the office for Dessers as he cut a frustrated figure on the Rugby Park plastic. He struggled in the first half and passed up a series of opportunities in the second half – taking his tally to five games without a goal. With the Europa League clash with FCSB around the corner, Clement now has to decide if he sticks with the struggling striker or rolls the dice with Hamza Igamane -who came off the bench to replace the Nigeria international. But again a threadbare bench highlighted the lack of depth in the Rangers squad.
Looking up?
It’s tough at the top of the Scottish Premiership – but after Celtic and Aberdeen cancelled each other out in Glasgow’s east end the door was open for Rangers to cut the gap at the summit. It has been a rocky start to the season for Philippe Clement but the door opened by the drama at Celtic Park meant the pressure was on the Light Blues to close the gap.
But it would be an unhappy one-year anniversary bash for the Belgian boss at Rugby Park. The question is now, are the Light Blues looking at top spot or a fight to be runners-up?