Barry Ferguson made a dramatic start to the Rangers as they came from two goals down to Kilmarnock to secure the victory in his first game of the Scottish Prime Minister as the temporary chief.
The former captain said the chance to lead his club was a dream, but the early goals by Joe Wright and Brad Lyons threatened to turn him into a nightmare.
Clinton Nsiala was fixed after only half an hour and was an inspired change after visitors gathered with Vaclav Cerny in front of the break.
It had the usual chances lost by the Cyriel Dessers early, but double double the striker turned the fans of the Rangers’ Jeers to cheer with Nedim Bajrami coming out of the bench to complete the win with a fourth late.
Rangers are back to Celtic trailing with 13 points, Kilmarnock are 10th.
Ferguson breathes fighting for Rangers
It was a case of new faces, old weaknesses for Rangers as they watched to dance from a few troubled days after the Philippe Clement’s departure.
The local team forced a series of corner and from an 11th minute Fraser Murray Delivery, Wright not marked a bullet to the past, with marker Robin Propper relieved aside.
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Joe Wright’s title set kilmarnock 1-0 against Rangers
And three minutes later, Lyons tapped a short pass by Gers Nicolas Raskin midfielder, moved forward and bent the ball from 20 yards in front of Butland.
Visitors were all over the country.
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Brad Lyons’s excellent finish placed Kilmarnock 2-0 against Rangers while Barry Ferguson’s first match on top at a bad start
Killie Marley Watkins striker lost two excellent chances before Ferguson brought Ridvan Yilmaz to NSIALA, with the Turkish left moving to the right and Skipper James Taernier moving inside the proportion partner.
Dessers should have reduced the deficit in the 34th minute, but his four -yard shot was blocked by defender Lewis Mayo.
But moments later Cerny slipped the ball under O’Hara after competing in a Mohamed Dodel and Rangers crossing were again in the game.
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Cyriel Dessers title turned back to the game against Kilmarnock
Killie shook until the rest came back to re-energy, only to accept a second in the 53rd minute when dessers headed beyond O’Hara from the submerged Skipper Taverner corner.
And the Nigeria striker put the renewed visitors forward in the 62nd minute, when he received a pass in search of Yilmaz and retired from 16 yards, competing with Gers fans after the goal of celebrating.
The Ayrshire side responded and in the 76th butland minute he did well to push a jump from Corrie ndaba away from the danger, with O’Hara beating a speculative car from Igamane on the other end.
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Nedim Bajrami got the fourth night of the Rangers to place them 4-2 against kilmarnock
A few minutes after leaving the bench and with a wide open house, Bajrami received a pass from Dudo and led to O’Hara to seal the points that had seemed impossible after half an hour.
‘Many things we need to improve’
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Barry Ferguson discusses his first match on top of the Rangers after returning from 2-0 down to defeat Kilmarnock.
Rangers head Barry Ferguson Talking about Sky Sports:
“I won’t be excited. It was fine, but there are many things we need to improve and boys know it too.
“They have been under that control, but they have taken the heart and desire.
“I wouldn’t have got the job if I didn’t think I could get out of them. They showed another side tonight.
“I’m not going to take over. It’s just a game. They should now take it on Saturday because they are home and if it’s like after 10 minutes the crowd begins to take over you a touch.
“They have to learn to deal with these situations. By spending the last 24 hours with them, I think they understand that situation now.”
‘Bad decisions and protection’
Kilmarnock Derek Mcinnes manager
Kilmarnock manager Derek mcinnes:
“I just thought we became a little teasing in the game.
“We did everything I hoped to do in the first period that the first 35 minutes.
“I love the personality. I love the team aggression. I loved how we played the game.
“We got a guidance. We didn’t make the rangers indecisive and made that type of play that was supposed to be.
“But I just feel we’re caught a little in the game and we got a little teasing.
“I don’t think we reacted well to 2-2. Rangers smelled blood. We have to learn from this, but we gave it a move.
“Some bad decisions and protection allowed us to leave with nothing.”
What did the experts say
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Barry Ferguson’s Rangers turned 2-0 down to get all three points against Kilmarnock in his first match at the top.
Sky Sports Pundites discussed Ferguson’s debut at Dugout Rangers:
Former Rangers Captain Steven Davis:
“Absolutely brilliant, I think the first half of an hour he would be really disappointed, but of course after that there was a big reaction from the team.
“They will be absolutely pleased to win victory. It’s not easy coming from two goals back here in Kilmarnock, so he will go home a happy man.”
Former Rangers Cris Boyd:
“I think after that first half hour. You’re thinking, ‘Where will this go?’ And, all of a sudden, it turns out that there are the same problems that the Rangers have faced throughout the season.
“You have to give credit to the players Barry Ferguson undoubtedly replaced, brought to Yilmaz, moved some players around, and then you saw the Rangers click and get a good purpose shortly before half the time.
“The second half, they fully dominated it and I think you can be satisfied with the performance after 30 minutes, but the same questions will still be asked, the rangers are very, very vulnerable to the established shows.”
Former Scotland striker James McFadden:
“He’s been brought inside to try and restore the team with supporters and remove all moods. The way the planned game actually could not be better to come from two goals down.
“As much as he wouldn’t have wanted to come from two goals down, these fans have probably enjoyed it.
“We talked widely how little time the training staff of Barry Ferguson had to work with the players and then Barry spoke about how he wanted his team to play, and the ultimate goal of him is to win games.”
