Rangers clashed heads against Kilmarnock earlier tonight looking to bag all three points from Rugby Park. The Light Blues began the match on the front foot and took the lead in the 12th minute courtesy of Jermaine Defoe’s strike from close range. However, the home team came up with a response just 10 minutes later through Eamonn Brophy’s finish. Both sides fought hard but went into the half-time break with nothing to split them.
The second half was more of the same with Steven Gerrard’s men dominating the ball, but it was the Kille who took the lead in the 66th minute through Jordan Jones’ strike from long range. Rangers tried their best to push on in search of an equaliser, but their efforts were in vain as Kilmarnock snatched a hard-fought 2-1 win on the night.
Let’s take a look at how each Rangers player performed during the contest against the Killie.
GK: Allan McGregor – 5/10
He conceded two goals during the encounter which ultimately cost his team the game. McGregor will be hoping for better days in between the sticks.
RB: James Tavernier – 5/10
The Light Blues right-back worked hard for his team but lacked the cutting edge going forward.
CB: Gareth McAuley – 6/10
The centre-back hit the post with his goal-bound header early on. However, he also picked a caution in the first half which meant that he was always walking the tight rope for the rest of the contest.
CB: Joe Worrall – 5/10
The English defender was not afraid to make tackles and put in a good shift in central defence. However, it was his mistake that allowed Killie back into the game.
LB: Andy Halliday – 6/10
The Killie goalkeeper saved his first-half attempt. However, Halliday kept on trying and gave the Gers some width down the left flank.
CM: Ryan Jack – 5.5/10
He was wasteful with his attempt at goal just before half-time, but Jack did well to earn some freekicks inside the opposition half and put in a quietly effective display in midfield.
CM: Scott Arfield – 5/10
He was guilty of squandering a lot of chances during the match. He also gave away some cheap fouls which won’t please Gerrard.
CM: Steven Davis – 5/10
Davis had a pop from long range in the opening minutes of the game which was on target. Other than that, it was a mostly uneventful match from the on-loan Southampton player.
CAM: Ryan Kent – 7/10
The on-loan Liverpool winger was by far Gerrard’s biggest weapon going forward. He created a number of good chances for his team but lacked the finishing touch in front of the opposition goal.
ST: Alfredo Morelos – 6/10
The Gers top-scorer was unlucky not to score on the night. He struck the crossbar and also had a goal disallowed which on another day could have made the difference in this high stakes encounter.
ST: Jermain Defoe – 7/10
The English forward scored on his Rangers debut which was Gerrard’s only positive from this game.
Substitutes:
ST: Kyle Lafferty – 5/10
The centre-forward got two excellent opportunities to score an equaliser after coming off the bench, but he failed to find the back of the net with both of his attempts.
ST: Daniel Candeias – 5/10
He hardly got into the game after coming on for the final 20 minutes of this match.
