Report as James Tavernier scores 10th goal of the season to help Rangers move nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership table; Celtic have two games in hand but are not in league action this weekend
Monday 2 November 2020 08:43, UK
Rangers opened up a nine-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership after securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Kilmarnock on Sunday.
James Tavernier scored his 10th goal of the season when converting from the penalty spot (19) after Ross Millen's handball.
The spot-kick proved to be decisive with Steven Gerrard's side weathering a late storm from Killie in the pouring rain to record their ninth straight win in all competitions.
The victory for Rangers gives them a healthy lead at the top, though Celtic - in Scottish Cup semi-final action on Sunday - can reduce the gap with their two games in hand. Kilmarnock remain sixth in the table.
Rangers dominated the first half at a ground where they have struggled recently, losing the last meeting at Rugby Park 2-1 back in February.
As they did nine months ago Rangers took a first-half lead, with referee Andrew Dallas pointing to the spot after Connor Goldson's goalbound header hit Millen's hand.
Danny Rogers went the right way but he was unable to prevent Tavernier's well-placed penalty finding the goalkeeper's bottom-right corner.
After the break, Rogers denied Ryan Kent with a low stop before the Killie 'keeper then got a hand to Cedric Itten's attempt which looked destined for the far corner.
After Alfredo Morelos hit the side netting with a flicked effort, the hosts started to take control as they pushed for an equaliser, but the closest they came was a Eamonn Brophy free-kick which was well saved by Allan McGregor.
Rangers held on, with the clean sheet their 11th in 13 Premiership matches this season.
Alex Dyer: "First half, we weren't at the races. Especially the first 30 minutes. We got a bit more into it after that and ironed a few things out at half time.
"I think we showed them a bit too much respect at the start. But if you go hung-ho against them you will get picked off.
"It's important to try and find a balance and we did that in the second half. I enjoyed it more and the players did too, because they had more of the ball and passed it better."
Steven Gerrard: "That was a big win, a win that we had to work hard for. There were a lot of question marks in the build-up to this game, talk about how we'd failed miserably here before and lost after getting ourselves in front.
"Well, we got ourselves in front today and I thought we showed really good resilience and strength and a different side to Rangers.
"I'm extremely proud of the players' performance and I thought we fully deserved the three points. So we answered those questions today but we've got to keep on doing that.
"I've got players in that dressing room now who will roll their sleeves up, show resilience and strength, put their bodies on the line.
"Winning headers, stopping crosses - they are doing all the dirty side of the game that you need to do if you want to be successful."
Rangers were boosted ahead of the game when Morelos and Ryan Jack were passed fit, and the latter's quality was telling in the centre of the pitch as the visitors put in a dogged display late on to deny Kilmarnock a way back into the game.
Jack looked up for the scrap throughout, and he typified why Rangers now have conceded just three league goals so far this season.
Kilmarnock are in Friday night Premiership action on November 6 at St Johnstone, while Rangers travel to Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday, before hosting Hamilton in the Premiership next Sunday.
