Gordon Durie was rushed to hospital tonight as Rangers were forced to settle for a point in a night of high drama at Rugby Park.

Ibrox striker Durie was taken by ambulance, flanked by a police escort, following a sickening collision with Gary Holt at the start of the second half.

The two players both went for the ball on the edge of Rangers' penalty box in the 48th minute but both reappeared on the pitch after a matter of minutes.

However in the 53rd minute Durie suddenly collapsed and was surrounded by anxious players from both sides.

Medical staff were joined by Rangers doctor Donald Cruickshank as concerns grew for Durie's condition.

He was immediately taken from the ground to Glasgow's Southern General Hospital which specialises in brain surgery.

Durie had replaced Paul Gascoigne in the 35th minute and the England midfielder is also expected to visit hospital for X-rays after being hurt in a challenge with John Henry in the first ten minutes.

Gascoigne continually rubbed his right shin after the clash before manager Walter Smith decided to take him off.

It was a frustrating night all round for Smith, celebrating his 50th birthday and hoping to bow out at the end of the season with Rangers securing a record 10 successive titles.

However his squad have a nasty habit of shooting themselves in the foot as happened again tonight.

The consolation for the manager is that they have now moved one point clear at the top of the table from Celtic and Hearts who both play tomorrow.

Kilmarnock, beaten 4-0 by Celtic last weekend, regained their pride in front of their home crowd, although the opening goal was somewhat fortunate.

Keeper Gordon Marshall booted a long ball forward and Andy Goram came racing off his line screaming at Joachim Bjorklund that it was his ball.

But the Swedish defender turned a deaf ear and nodded the ball back over Goram's head as the keeper collided with him.

Paul Wright was on hand to knock the ball into an empty net for the 100th Premier League goal of his career.

Marshall then did well to block a shot from Brian Laudrup after Sebastian Rozental had released him in the penalty area.

Rozental was making his first start in the league match for the club after being sidelined with a knee injury for more than a year.

But he struggled to make an impression and was left to Jonas Thern to secure a point for the champions with his first goal for the club in the 68th minute.

Marshall got a hand to Laudrup's cross but only pushed it as far as Rozental and his shot was scrambled away.

However Thern picked up the loose ball 20 yards out and curled his shot over Marshall's head and into the corner.

Teams

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Baker, Montgomerie, McGowne, Reilly, Nevin, Holt, Wright, McIntyre (Vareille 70), Henry.

Subs Not Used: Roberts, Mitchell.

Booked: Montgomerie.

Goals: Wright 15.

Rangers: Goram, Moore, Ferguson, Gough, Porrini, Bjorklund (Vidmar 46), Thern, Gascoigne (Durie 35), Negri, Rozental, Laudrup, Durie (Johannson 56).

Booked: Porrini.

Goals: Thern 68.

Att: 15,412

Ref: B Orr (Kilbarchan).