Rangers maintained their pursuit of Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership standings with a thrilling 4-1 comeback victory against 10-man Kilmarnock. The match at Ibrox began with an unexpected own goal by skipper James Tavernier, followed by a missed penalty as Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright was sent off. Despite the setbacks, Rangers rallied back with Portuguese forward Fabio Silva finding the net in added time of the first half.
The momentum shifted in the second half as substitute Ben Davies opened his scoring account for Rangers in the 62nd minute. Tom Lawrence added a stunning third goal, with John Souttar sealing the win with a header in stoppage time. With only three games left to play, Rangers are still three points adrift of Celtic, setting the stage for an intense Old Firm showdown at Parkhead.
Meanwhile, Celtic managed to maintain pressure on their rivals by securing a solid 3-0 victory over Hearts. The win guaranteed European football for fourth-placed Kilmarnock, despite the setback against Rangers. The match was not short of drama, with early VAR controversies and missed opportunities on both ends showcasing the competitive spirit of the contest.
Ultimately, Rangers’ resilience and attacking prowess proved too much for Kilmarnock as they secured a crucial win to stay in the title race. As the season approaches its climax, the race for the Premiership crown promises to deliver more excitement and suspense for fans of both Glasgow giants.
Davies replaced Leon Balogun in his first appearance since December, injecting energy into the Rangers side as they resumed their offensive tactics. Despite an early miss by Sterling from 14 yards out, the Light Blues persisted with relentless attacks against Kilmarnock’s solid defense.
Persistence paid off when Dennis could not handle Lundstram’s powerful shot, allowing Davies to pounce on the loose ball and tap it in from close range. The Rangers continued to press forward, with Dessers and Diomande coming close but failing to find the net, hitting the bar with long-range efforts.
Lundstram and Lawrence kept the pressure on with their attempts before Lawrence’s skillful finish, set up by McCausland, provided some much-needed cushion for the Light Blues. However, their focus now turns to the upcoming challenge at Celtic Park next week, where they will face a much tougher test.
In the final moments, Souttar capitalized on a rebound following a Lawrence strike to head in from close range, sealing a well-deserved victory for Rangers.