Kilmarnock 2-3 Rangers: Morelos scores twice in hard-fought win
Kilmarnock 2-3 Rangers: Alfredo Morelos scores twice and sets up another as Michael Beale’s men come from behind to seal win at 10-man Killie to stay nine points behind Celtic
- Kilmarnock took an early lead when Chris Stokes scored in the sixth minute
- Rangers hit back through Alfredo Morelos, and Ryan Kent put them in front
- Morelos scored his second to wrap up the victory for the visitors
- Kilmarnock were reduced to 10 men when Daniel Armstrong was sent off
- Joe Wright pulled a goal back for Kilmarnock in the closing stages
No matter the surface that’s beneath their feet, Rangers are steadily moving in the right direction under Michael Beale.
Whether on a quagmire in Mount Florida, the plastic of Rugby Park or their own expanse of land in Govan, the team has remembered how to chalk up the victories.
In seven league games to date under the new manager, a home draw with Celtic remains the only blot on the copybook.
Alfredo Morelos celebrates after scoring twice to hand Rangers an away win at Kilmarnock
Morelos’ first goal was a tap-in after a fine cross by Rangers winger Fashion Sakala
Kilmarnock (4-4-2): Walker; Alebiosu, Taylor, Wright, Stokes (Robinson 80); Armstrong, Power, Polworth, McKenzie (Alston 37); Vassell (Lafferty 80), Doidge (McInroy 64)
Goals: Stokes, Wright
Booked: Power
Sent off: Armstrong
Manager: Derek McInnes
Rangers (4-2-3-1): McLaughlin; Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic; Kamara (Sands 83), Lundstram; Sakala, Arfield, Kent; Morelos (Tillman 78)
Goals: Morelos (2), Kent
Booked: Morelos, Kent
Manager: Michael Beale
The 19 points accrued from that sequence is five better than the sum gleaned from the equivalent run in the final days under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
There remains much room for improvement but the signs are certainly promising. Beale will believe incoming transfers and an improving injury list can only strengthen the might of his side.
He has yet to see a true 90-minute display from his side. Off the pace in the first half yet again here, they seized control in the second, coming from a goal down to go three-one ahead, but were forced to ensure some anxious closing moments when Killie reduced their lead to a single goal.
The night could hardly have started better for the visitors with Chris Stokes crashing home an early header.
Alfredo Morelos squared the game midway through the first half but Ryan Kent marked his recent renaissance with a well taken strike early in the second period to edge his side in front.
Kilmarnock’s fading hopes of an unlikely point seemed to last until Danny Armstrong walked for a second booking, with the winger adamant that Borna Barisic had deceived referee Kevin Clancy.
Morelos’ second of the night looked to gave wrapped up the points until Joe Wright struck with five minutes remaining. Again, however, Rangers prevailed.
Morelos celebrates with Ryan Kent (centre) after the latter’s goal put Rangers 2-1 in front
Morelos’ second goal in the 74th minute sealed all three points for the visitors
Derek McInnes was unable to field Lewis Mayo against his parent club and opted to keep another former Ibrox favourite in Kyle Lafferty on the bench.
With Liam Donnelly and Ben Chrisene injured, the door opened for Stokes, Ryan Alebiosu, Liam Polworth and Christian Doidge.
Beale made only three changes to the side which won against Aberdeen over 120 minutes at Hampden. Out went Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack and Malik Tillman with Jon McLaughlin, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield stripped to start.
The Rangers manager had expressed his concerns about how his side may perform on this surface but no excuse could have covered the way they started here.
With Kilmarnock dominating the ball, and Barisic miles off the pace, Armstrong had the run of the place. He fired a string of crosses along the six-yard box. Rangers just about survived.
Chris Stokes headed Kilmarnock in front before Rangers mounted their fightback
Ash Taylor issued a warning shot by climbing to win Polworth’s corner. His header drifted just wide.
Another set piece was immediately conceded when Connor Goldson was forced to stick out a keg to tidy up some messy defending. Armstrong took this one from the far side. Stokes just seemed to want it more and beat McLaughlin with a thumping header.
It was the fifth time in Beale’s eight games in charge that his side had conceded.
Rangers just couldn’t get started. Another Armstrong delivery picked out Doidge. McLaughlin saved this header but it was all too easy. The same applied when the winger dropped a shoulder, cut inside and let fly with a curler to work the keeper.
McInnes will be dismayed at the way his side allowed the visitors a road back onto the game. A cheap concerned conceded, his defenders were static at Goldson claimed Barisic’s deep corner. Fortunately for his side, Sam Walker was right behind it.
Daniel Armstrong (centre) was sent off for Kilmarnock for two bookable offences
It was all the encouragement Rangers needed. With their next surge, a clipped pass over the top got Killie facing their own goal and struggling to make up the ground. Fashion Sakala’s pass was accurate and perfectly weighted. Lurking at the back post, Morelos applied an excellent finish.
The Colombian seemed to be involved in anything. Having seen Armstrong join Alan Power in the book for catching him late, he became the next recipient of Kevin Clancy’s yellow card for a touch of retribution.
Rangers grew into the first half but were still thankful that Kyle Vassell’s strike was straight down the throat of McLaughlin.
It only required six second half minutes for the visitors to turn the game on its head. With Killie pressing, James Tavernier’s long punt up the park turned defence into attack.
Kent gathered but didn’t seem to know whether to cross or shoot. With Morelos coming into the shot, he took the former option. Morelos tried to find Arfield but inadvertently returned possession to Kent. The winger worked the ball onto his right foot and beat Walker with a low strike at his near post.
With each passing week, Kent looks more like the player who thrived when Beale was a coach under Steven Gerrard.
Having failed to get enough on a header at Hampden on Saturday, Wright repeated the trick after meeting a free-kick there.
Rangers are steadily building momentum under manager Michael Beale
Within seconds, Barisic went down in a heap clutching his face after a challenge from Armstrong. The player protested as he made his way up the tunnel but it seemed like Killie’s chances of taking something from this game left with him.
Making the pitch as big as possible and retaining possession, Rangers dominated the game thereafter.
Seemingly removing any doubt as to where the three points were heading, the third goal arrived on 73 minutes. Barisic had time and space to pick out a cross on the left. Morelos held his ground – and his nerve – to plant a header past Walker from six yards.
The Colombian was only denied the match ball by the outstretched arm of Walker then made way for Tillman.
It felt like the game was petering out until 10-man Killie came again with five minutes remaining. Power’s cross was header on by Taylor to Wright. The defender flashed a volley past McLaughlin.
Belatedly introduced, Lafferty’s attempted to equalise drew a decent stop from the visiting keeper. At this moment in time, it seems that Rangers just won’t be denied.
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