Even for a Sunday lunchtime kick-off, there was a particularly flat atmosphere at Ibrox after a few weeks in which Rangers’ charge for the title has taken several blows.
The opening half hour got pulses racing, but perhaps not the way Rangers’ fans would have liked.
There was a VAR check on a Corrie Ndaba handball. David Dickinson came across to have a look, but the referee stuck with his on-field decision of no penalty.
Then John Lundstram had the ball in the back of the net after Cyriel Dessers had gone down in the penalty box.
Dickinson pointed for a penalty, then an offside, then we all waited while VAR Steven Kirkland confirmed that the Nigerian striker was two yards offside.
Kilmarnock scored from their only foray into the Rangers box. A deep, seemingly unthreatening, cross was knocked back towards goal by Matty Kennedy, with the ball hitting Tavernier’s arm and bouncing in slow-motion into the goal.
Ibrox was stunned, but there was almost an immediate response. Lundstram picked out Silva, who flicked at goal, but it was blocked on the line.
VAR intervened to show Wright had saved the ball with his arm and Rangers had their 21st penalty of the season.
Wright marched off as Tavernier stepped up, but the Rangers skipper saw his low effort well-saved by goalkeeper Will Dennis. Cue the groans and grumbles.
There seemed to be no way through the Kilmarnock rearguard until the last kick of the first half. Lundstram picked out Silva again and this time the on-loan forward tucked the ball into the corner.
Timing is everything and it let out a lot of the tension around the stands and, probably, in the dressing room. Level at half-time, Rangers came out after the break with all the momentum.
The hosts were relentless in their bombardment of the Kilmarnock goal and eventually went ahead when Lundstram’s low drive was spilled by Dennis, with Davies – on at half-time for his first league appearance since October – knocking in from close range.
Rangers made the points safe when another substitute, Lawrence, shimmied on to his right 20 yards out and curled in a fantastic finish.
The hosts’ fourth – scored in the 92nd minute – might be crucial to their goal difference as Souttar was on hand after Lawrence’s effort from distance was parried into the air by Dennis.
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