Kilmarnock ended Rangers' unbeaten Scottish Premier League home record with a deserved win at a packed Ibrox.
Maurice Edu's header was cleared off the line by Killie's Liam Kelly before Dean Shiels slotted home on 12 minutes.
Ben Gordon shot over and James Fowler wide as Kenny Shiels' team dominated Rangers, who had defender Sasa Papac sent off for a lunge at Kelly.
The
hosts,
who are
in
administration,
could
not
muster a
goal and
Mo
Sissoko
should
have
added a
second
for
Killie.
As Rangers manager Ally McCoist pointed out on the eve of this match, fans have lost their lives in disasters at Ibrox, which puts the club's entering administration into perspective.
However, at the end of a harrowing week for Rangers and a rallying cry from McCoist, the home fans turned out to fill Ibrox, a heaving, emotional cauldron when the teams emerged.
There was no Daniel Cousin in the Rangers line-up after the SPL declined to register the Gabon striker, a penalty for administration.
Kilmarnock manager Shiels had in midweek spoken sympathetically of the SPL champions' predicament, suggesting having McCoist at the helm was "like the man from above when he sends Jesus down".
But, in the opening half hour, the Ayrshire side proved they would be no meek lambs to the slaughter, instead slicing through Rangers at will.
A
Sone
Aluko
Rangers
corner
was
headed
on
target
by Edu
only for
Kelly to
hoof the
ball off
the
line.
But,
after
that,
Killie
had the
upper
hand and
soon
took the
lead.
Dean
Shiels
eased
past a
few
Rangers
defenders
and
clinically
placed
the ball
to
goalkeeper
Allan
McGregor's
right to
give
Killie
thoughts
of
ending
the day
in the
top half
of the
table.
Moments later, Killie's Liam Kelly won a telling tackle and set up striker Paul Heffernan, who blazed over the bar.
A Carlos Bocanegra effort from an Aluko cross flew narrowly over Cammy Bell's crossbar before the visitors wasted another chance when Ben Gordon powered a shot high over the bar from 10 yards.
While Shiels was surely fizzing at such profligacy, McCoist was forced to withdraw the injured Dorin Goian for 22-year-old Ross Perry, then winced as David Healy's "goal" was ruled offside.
Kirk
Broadfoot,
in for
Kyle
Bartley,
blocked
a
Heffernan
effort
then the
Irish
striker
pulled
the ball
back for
James
Fowler,
who shot
inches
wide.
It took Bell two attempts to keep out an Aluko squiggler from outside the box before things worsened for Rangers when Bosnian defender Papac was red-carded for a crude challenge on Kelly.
After the break, Rangers tried to be more assertive, aided by the substitution of David Healy for Mervan Celik.
But Killie remained dangerous and claimed for a penalty when Gordon's cross hit Bocanegra's arm in the box. Referee Iain Brines decided the contact was accidental.
Killie squandered another chance when Sissoko hooked the ball over from six yards, Garry Hay and James Fowler involved in the set-up.
As chances became scarce, McCulloch was punished for a foul on Bell just as the home fans thought he had equalised.
Shiels withdrew former Hearts midfielder Lee Johnson in favour of James Dayton to further stretch unconvincing Rangers.
The roar that met the players at kick-off had diminished by the end of the match.
Killie's wasted chances had not affected the destination of the three points, while, for the wounded hosts,








