You could forgive Barry Ferguson for having second thoughts about giving up that easy life of his.
Fifteen shambolic minutes into his first game as caretaker gaffer, his comfortable seat back in the hospitality lounges and radio studio must have seemed awfully appealing. It was only then the Ibrox legend would have fully grasped what it means to manage this rag-tag Rangers squad. But when a show of bravery was required, the former skipper didn’t hesitate.
It was a major call to hook Clinton Nsiala just half an hour into his first match in charge. The club ambassador-turned-interim-boss, though, was bold enough to make the call that was needed, dragging the dithering centre-back off after he and partner Robin Propper had been run ragged by red-hot Kilmarnock. At that point, it was looking like the Ibrox board had chosen to call in the wrong former hero to pick up the pieces left behind by Philippe Clement.
Killie boss Derek McInnes was calling the shots early on as his team deservedly raced two goals up through Joe Wright and Brad Lyons. But the decision to replace Nsiala with Ridvan Yilmaz turned the tide as Rangers hit back with a Cyriel Dessers’ double in-between strikes from Vaclav Cerny and Nedim Bajrami.
It was an outcome you have to say would have been unlikely had the former Belgian boss still been in charge. But a team hopelessly short on fight finally found a way to restore some small pride after those mortifying defeats to Queen’s Park and St Mirren.
Ferguson would have known it would be far from easy making his dugout debut down this end of the M77. Rangers had won on only four of their previous 10 visits as Rugby Park proved to be the graveyard of many a title bid.
That wasn’t quite the case when they came here this time last year. Tomorrow marks a full 12 months since Clement’s side roared back from a goal down on the Ayrshire astro to snatch top spot with just 10 games to play. It looked like the Belgian’s resurgent Rangers were going to go all the way and claim a championship that appeared lost after a disastrous start under Michael Beale.
The wheels would soon come off completely as Clement’s reign skidded off the road. It came to a final, shuddering halt at the weekend – with Ferguson invited to take the wheel. Ibrox was three-quarters empty by the time the final whistle brought Clement’s stint in charge to a miserable end.
But the away end at Rugby Park was jammed to the brim as the travelling faithful greeted their team with a giant red, white and blue tifo. Yet all the colour and noise came from the home support as Killie exploded out the traps.
Nsiala – whose double blunder gifted Saints both their goals at the weekend – was carrying on where he left off. It was a shaky, frightened display from the former AC Milan kid but he wasn’t the only one appearing out of his depth.
It took just eight minutes for Ferguson to dish out one of his trademark rollickings. But he’d have genuine reason to let rip soon after as Killie struck first. Wright thudded home with a free header from Fraser Murray’s corner as his marker Propper took a tumble after colliding with Robbie Deas.
Ferguson could barely believe what he was watching from a team that was a poor shadow of the hard-as-nails outfit he once led. And it was powderpuff stuff again as Kilmarnock deservedly grabbed a second goal three minutes later. As Nsiala and Nico Raskin both failed to deal with a bouncing ball, Lyons grabbed control of the situation, snatching possession before driving forward to sweep past the helpless Butland.
The rampant hosts could very well have had a couple more had Marley Watkins not snatched at two more huge opportunities before the game had even reached the second quarter. Ferguson finally took pity on Nsiala, whipping the Frenchman off after 30 of the most head-scrambling minutes any Rangers player has suffered.
Yilmaz didn’t quite get the instruction he’d been handed on the touchline, racing on to fill his usual role at left-back before being pointed to the opposite flank as skipper James Tavernier moved inside. But the switch did at last gave Rangers some stability – and from that foothold they snatched one back. Killie had just survived one scare when Wright made a heroic block on the line to deny Dessers.
But Cerny wasn’t to be denied, rolling home from a defence-splitting Mohamed Diomande pass after Killie stopped playing just as referee Don Robertson looked set to blow for a Wright foul on Hamza Igamane.
Ferguson and his players would’ve been relieved but delighted to reach the dressing room only one down. Half-time was a chance for Fergie to implore his side for a reaction – and they gave him one within eight minutes. Killie were furious as Rangers were awarded a corner for a Ianis Hagi shot that appeared to go straight out of play.
It was a gift that Dessers was happy to take, stooping to squeeze a header through keeper Kieran O’Hara’s legs. Fergie roared with joy as McInnes kicked the turf in frustration. And it was a sight that was repeated in 62 minutes as Rangers raged in front.
Yilmaz’s ball drifted over Deas’ head as Dessers drifted into space. He had to watch the ball drop but when he did, the striker unleashed a sensational finish to edge the visitors ahead. And the Ibrox faithful were left to sign Ferguson’s name as Rangers sealed it, sub Bajrami lashing home as Diomande cut through the Killie defence.