Rangers moved as much as second within the Scottish Premiership and lower leaders Hearts’ benefit to 3 factors with a 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.
The night began properly for Danny Röhl’s Gers, with the information Celtic’s recreation at Aberdeen had been postponed on account of a waterlogged pitch. That gave them the possibility to leapfrog their rivals into second and shut in on the Jambos.
It obtained higher inside 5 minutes, too. Killie’s Dominic Thompson clumsily introduced down Djeidi Gassama because the Rangers man appeared to regulate a neat cross to ft, resulting in referee David Dickinson awarding a penalty and exhibiting the left-back a straight crimson card.
James Tavernier made no mistake from the spot, but the storm anticipated to comply with didn’t materialise. Mikey Moore appeared shiny when he lower in from the left on quite a few events, however there was a definite lack of urgency or creativity in any other case.
James Tavernier opened the scoring from the penalty spot
Regardless of being all the way down to 10, the guests ought to have not less than been stage by the break. Greg Kiltie charged down the appropriate and lower the ball again for Bruce Anderson, who someway swept a shot throughout the face of aim and behind when it appeared easier to attain.
Bojan Miovski scored the essential second aim
Rangers breathed a sigh of aid when Bojan Miovski fired in a low shot, after an alternate of passes with Mohamed Diomande, to double their lead simply earlier than the hour, which appeared to take the wind from their opponents’ sails.
Oliver Antman was heading in the right direction for Rangers’ fourth aim
January signing Andreas Skov Olsen made it 3-0 with 16 minutes to play with a classy end after Moore’s sq. ball, however a contact of gloss was taken from an in any other case stable second-half efficiency when Jack Butland gifted Kiltie a comfort when his misjudged clearance was seized on.
Mikey Moore celebrates after scoring the fifth aim
However Rangers quickly made them want they’d by no means performed so.
Debutant Tuur Rommens teed up Oliver Antman to roll in a fourth within the ninetieth minute, earlier than Moore scored the aim his stellar efficiency greater than deserved when he stroked residence after Antman turned supplier.
Röhl nonetheless relaxed about Rangers’ title hopes
Rangers head coach Danny Röhl chatting with Sky Sports activities:
“Five nice goals. Also good to see that some players scored and got some minutes. I’m happy for the group. They work very hard to win games and games and games. We knew before the game it would not be an easy one.
“I am very constructive about this primary scenario, the pen, as a result of we spoke after the Hibs recreation precisely about these runs and, on this case, Gassama made precisely the aggressive run we want extra.
“Everyone who plays football knows what it means when 10 players are behind the ball; you have to break them, you need the patience, and then we created good opportunities, had a lot of possession, a lot of shots, created opportunities to score more. But 5-1, it’s a good step, not more.
“I am very on the bottom for the time being. I do know it is 13 video games to go, nonetheless a good distance, however my group is excellent they usually deserve lots of credit score.”
McCann: The result feels like an injustice
Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann speaking to Sky Sports:
“There was a lot to love about it [our performance]. I genuinely felt that we have been the higher facet within the first half, with 10 males. We gassed a wee bit within the second as a result of we have been nonetheless asking them to bomb ahead. There’s one or two gamers which have recovered from harm to enter final weekend’s recreation after which we requested them to go once more as a result of they deserved to, they usually simply drained.
“There’s a couple of pivotal moments in the match that I think have gone against us. Dom Thompson doesn’t see Gassama coming; Gassama probably slows up a little bit and initiates the contact. It’s so harsh because I don’t think every foul in the box should be a red card, but I understand the laws of the game. From then, we reacted brilliantly.
“However the huge second within the match for me is at 1-0, when James Tavernier is already on a yellow card and we have a ball excessive, the place our striker Tyreece John-Jules is in on aim – and he utterly shoves him. There’s contact there, with out query, and it is each bit as huge a contact as Thompson’s, but I am informed it is not sufficient contact. I can not perceive what which means.
“I spoke to the fourth official, who was excellent tonight, I have to say. I asked him why it’s not a red card and the explanation I got, coming from the referee, was that there’s not enough contact. It’s natural contact. It’s not – it’s coming from behind. James Tavernier has got himself in a position where we’re goal-side and the contact is made from a player who is on the turn and he’s in on goal. Whether it’s a yellow or a red, James Tavernier’s already on a yellow and he should’ve been sent off.
“I really feel it’s kind of of an injustice to take a look at that scoreline. I’ve stated to them within the altering room that they need to be pleased with themselves, when it comes to they by no means, ever gave up. They by no means, ever grew to become separated. They have been a whole group tonight. I feel there is a spirit in that dressing room, there is a bravery about them as properly that I am so inspired about shifting ahead.”
