Tore Andre Flo fired a first-half brace to all but seal Rangers' place in next season's Champions League qualifiers.

Garry Hay grabbed a late consolation goal for the home side, but it could have been so different had former Ibrox favourite Ally McCoist not had a first-half penalty saved by Stefan Klos.

The victory puts Rangers nine points clear of third-placed Hibernian - but that is scant consolation after a disappointing, trophy-less season in which great rivals Celtic march on towards the domestic clean sweep.

Rangers might have left it late, but Norwegian striker Flo is finally proving to the doubters that he will be worth the £12million Rangers paid to Chelsea for his services as he bagged his 13th goal in 17 games.

But it was a night to forget for a Rangers striker of the past as McCoist - in probably his last match against his former club before retiring - had a penalty saved which would have put his side level at a vital time.

But it was not to be and now Kilmarnock's own hopes of a European place look to be in the balance as they fight it out with Hearts for the last UEFA Cup spot in the final stages of the season.

Rangers, in contrast, can afford to relax and it was ironic tonight, considering all their injury problems this season, that manager Dick Advocaat was able to select the same side for two successive games.

And they proved what a settled side could achieve when they took the lead after just 45 seconds through Flo.

Claudio Reyna found Barry Ferguson in space and he played the ball into the Norwegian, who evaded a poor challenge from Chris Innes before drilling a low shot into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Rangers were clearly fired up to put on a show for their big travelling support and in the fourth minute Rod Wallace fired past the post from the edge of the area.

The home defence were living dangerously and almost fell further behind in the 11th minute when Billy Dodds brought down Reyna's long ball before dragging his effort just wide.

But Kilmarnock were gifted the opportunity to draw level in the 14th minute when referee Eric Martindale controversially pointed to the spot after Kevin McGowne had gone down as Rangers tried to defend Mark Reilly's free-kick.

Justice was done, however, moments later when Ibrox legend McCoist, who is set to hang up his boots at the end of the season, stepped up.

Rangers goalkeeper Klos pushed his effort onto the post and he even got up to make another great stop to deny Andy McLaren's follow-up shot.

Rangers skipper Ferguson was booked for dissent after the decision and Scott Wilson followed him into the book later for a clumsy challenge on McLaren.

The referee was upsetting both sets of supporters and in the 27th minute went about trying to even things out after booking Antonio Calderon for a innocuous foul on Wallace in the centre circle.

But in the dying seconds of the half, Rangers deservedly doubled their lead when Fernando Ricksen sent the ball across the face of the goal, and Innes again failed to put the ball behind, leaving Flo with the easiest of tap-ins for his second of the night.

Kilmarnock manager Williamson threw caution to the wind at the break by replacing the disappointing Innes with striker Christophe Cocard.

McCoist attempted to make amends for his penalty miss in the 50th minute when he rose above the Rangers defence to head McLaren's free-kick just wide, but Klos had it covered.

Rangers seemed comfortable with everything the visitors could throw at them, but Sergio Porrini's poor timing cost him a booking in the 55th minute after bringing down Cocard.

Kilmarnock snatched a goal back from nothing in the 74th minute when Frederic Dindeleux found Garry Hay in the box and he drilled an unstoppable drive past Klos.

That goal seemed to wake Rangers and in the 81st minute Killie were lucky not to concede another goal.

Substitute Kenny Miller had replaced Dodds and with his first touch looked to have found the net from close range, but Hay cleared off the line and then Meldrum got back to save his second attempt.

Rangers continued to press for the killer goal and moments later Flo almost bagged his hat-trick when Wallace crossed to the far post and the tall striker fired just wide.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, McGowne, Innes (Cocard 46), Dindeleux, MacPherson, Calderon (Mitchell 62), Mahood, Reilly, Hay, McCoist (Di Giacomo 83), McLaren.

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Canero.

Booked: Calderon.

Goals: Hay 74.

Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Wilson, Konterman, Numan, Ricksen, Ferguson, Wallace, Reyna, Dodds (Miller 79), Flo.

Subs Not Used: Christiansen, Albertz, Tugay, Fernandes.

Booked: Ferguson, Wilson, Porrini, Numan.

Goals: Flo 1, 44.

Att: 14,385

Ref: E Martindale (Scotland).