Kevin McGowne secured a point for Kilmarnock at Ibrox in the final round of Scottish Premier League fixtures but they now face an anxious wait to see if they can claim a spot in next season's UEFA Cup.

With St Johnstone moving into third place after defeating Dundee 1-0, the only route to the continent for the Ayrshire club is through the Fair Play League.

UEFA are expected to announce their final table by the end of the month with Scotland in pole position at the moment.

Kilmarnock were out in front at the last count on the domestic scene and will be keeping their fingers crossed that is still the case when the league is finally assessed.

Normally a draw at Ibrox would be considered a decent result but the Kilmarnock players looked shattered at the final whistle today as the St Johnstone result filtered through.

Kilmarnock are aiming to get into Europe for a third successive season and are seen as one of Scotland's more progressive clubs.

Scotland defender Colin Hendry gave Rangers a pre-Scottish Cup final boost by returning to the starting line-up after a groin injury, with Scott Wilson stepping down to the bench. Jonatan Johansson was recalled as striker Rod Wallace was suspended.

Ally McCoist was again missing from the Kilmarnock squad because of a nagging calf injury while Jerome Vareille was omitted from the starting side with Ally Mitchell getting the vote.

Kilmarnock's emergence this season as the third force in Scottish football has come on the back of a staunch defensive record which is the best in the Premier League - but their supporters were stunned into silence after just five minutes.

Goalkeeper Gordon Marshall went into the match with 19 clean sheets in the league behind him.

But he misjudged a header by Gabriel Amato following a cross from Johansson and the ball looped over his head and under the bar, although he got a despairing touch.

Losing such a goal at such an early stage was a body blow for the visitors. But Marshall reacted quickly in the eighth minute to gather a shot from Johansson after Lorenzo Amoruso had played the ball through.

McGowne sent a 30-yard free-kick whistling past the post and Dylan Kerr was also narrowly off target.

McGowne, one of Kilmarnock's outstanding competitors this season, grabbed the equaliser four minutes before the break.

He seemed startled by Ian Durrant's free-kick but somehow made a telling connection to flick a header past keeper Stefan Klos.

Rangers, who face Old Firm rivals Celtic in the Scottish Cup final next Saturday, hardly moved out of second gear all afternoon.

They strung a number of good passes together but their supporters became rapidly disheartened with their display.

Former Manchester United winger Andrei Kanchelskis was roundly booed in the second half after missing a succession of good chances.

Neil McCann played a neat one-two with the Russian winger but his shot was comfortably blocked by Kilmarnock defender Jim Lauchlan.

Kanchelskis then saw a shot beaten away by Marshall and another effort was cleared off the line by Alan Mahood.

Marshall made up for his earlier error with a string of good saves, including one outstanding block from Giovanni Van Bronckhorst in the 65th minute.

Kilmarnock hardly troubled Klos in the second half and their lack of a cutting edge leaves them anxiously awaiting news from UEFA.

Teams

Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Hendry (McCann 45), Vidmar, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Johansson, Reyna (McInnes 45),Amato, Albertz.

Subs Not Used: Wilson, Riccio, Brown.

Goals: Amato 5.

Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, McGowne, Henry (Burke 79), Holt, Durrant, Mitchell (McCutcheon 79), Mahood, Roberts (Vareille 45), Lauchlan.

Subs Not Used: Reilly, Meldrum.

Booked: McGowne.

Goals: McGowne 41.

Att: 48,835

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).