The bedsheets were back as the Rangers support spelled out their frustrations at Rugby Park.
But Philippe Clement can forget about sleeping soundly any time soon after watching his dozy squad pass up the chance to put pressure on Premiership pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen. Saturday’s enthralling four-goal thriller at Parkhead was a terrific advert for our game.
It should have had Gers wide awake to the chance of trimming the deficit at the top back to three points. Instead, they suffered a nightmare in Ayrshire as Marley Watkins’ 87th-minute winner left them six adrift of Brendan Rodgers and Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten leaders. It wasn’t quite a snorefest, but it was yet another drab Gers performance that will feed into the mood of discontent around Ibrox a year into Clement’s tenure as boss.
The travelling fans produced the latest in a long line of furious banner displays as the teams emerged for the second half. The first flurry was a pop over the fact the club is still without a permanent chairman and CEO, ending with the blast “No clue, one scapegoat”. Exactly who that was referring to wasn’t clear but they were crystal with their next outburst: “The mismanagement of Rangers must stop and stop now.”
If they were hoping that stinging rebuke would spark a reaction they were sadly mistaken as Derek McInnes’ superb side deservedly ran off with the points and just a second league win this term. Gers arrived at Rugby Park to be met with blue skies as warnings that Storm Ashley would wreak havoc across the country proved to be a damp squib.
The so-called “weather bomb” was forecast to go off just as the teams kicked-off at noon. Meteorologists had been concerned a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure would bring lashing rain and 55mph gusts. But it’s Clement who will be feeling fresh strain after his first anniversary celebrations were wrecked. Sky Sports pundit and former Ibrox hitman Kris Boyd summed up the mood of the support before the game when he claimed Gers were “weaker” than the team Clement had dismantled over the summer – and more importantly a “millions miles” behind Celtic.
It’s hard to disagree after watching yet another laboured mess of a performance. Killie fully merited their win. McInnes had been under some growing pressure himself after a difficult start to the season. But it’s now back-to-back wins for Killie after their smash-and-grab triumph over Dundee. They had to leave it late at Dens and fought all the way to the death again to grab a win that moves them up to seventh.
Storm Ashley may not have hit the kind of destructive powers predicted, but the blustery conditions still made life difficult enough on Killie’s notorious plastic pitch. It will be ripped up at the end of the season and for Gers, it can’t come quick enough.
They’d managed just six wins on their 14 previous visits since the synthetic surface was first installed a decade ago It was immediately clear they weren’t going to relish this one either. Killie looked to apply pressure from the off and when Jefte was short with a headed backpass, the chance was on.
Kyle Vassell got a toe to the ball to nick it away from keeper Jack Butland, but before Watkins could prod into the empty net, Butland threw himself at the ball, getting a key touch before John Souttar could clear. There was another close call as Corrie Ndaba flashed a wicked ball across the face of goal but Matty Kennedy was a millisecond late in arriving.
The visitors had plenty of the ball but finding gaps in McInnes’ disciplined shape is like trying to find a likeable Tory MP. Vaclav Cerny had to resort to shooting from distance but former Ibrox keeper Robby McCrorie was equal to it. Robbie Deas had the ball in the net but his celebrations were immediately shut down by an offside flag.
Cyriel Dessers had spent the first half frustrating his team-mates and supporters with his trampoline touch, but his first involvement after the break was a smart turn and shot that forced McCrorie into a finger-tip save. From Cerny’s deep corner, the Nigerian came close again as he rattled the bar before Robin Propper hooked a big chance over.
Kennedy did the same at the other end as Gers’ backline again looked vulnerable. It took a last-ditch Deas tackle to prevent Cerny giving Gers the lead as the Czech ace raced onto a lofted James Tavernier pass. The Gers skipper was on corner duty moments later and almost caught out McCrorie, who only just batted away the wicked in-swinger, which almost flew in at the near post
The Killie faithful were on their feet seconds later as a nightmare touch from Jefte left Kennedy racing alone towards Butland’s goal. The winger had an age to pick his spot, but in the end made it easy for the Ibrox No.1 as he aimed his shot right into the keeper’s midriff.
Souttar was Scotland’s hero in midweek as he sent Cristiano Ronaldo home in a Hampden huff. But the Rangers stopper was left looking glum himself as Watkins outmuscled him to David Watson’s hooked pass to bundle the ball beyond Butland for the only goal. The addition of six added minutes set Killie nerves jangling but when Gers sub Hamza Igamane sent a late shot wide, the Ayrshire support could breathe easy.