A first-half strike from Craig Moore and a first Rangers goal from substitute Hamed Namouchi were enough to down a stubborn but unimaginative Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

The win was achieved at a cost however as Nuno Capucho, who had been enjoying arguably his best game in a light blue jersey, was carried off injured midway through the second half.

Given that the two sides had met as recently as Sunday in a more meaningful encounter - a 2-0 win in the Tennent's Scottish Cup for the holders at Rugby Park - it was unsurprising that both managers made changes.

Home boss Alex McLeish swapped one veteran for another at the back by giving Frank de Boer a home debut at Henning Berg's expense and Michael Mols was back in up front in place of Sunday scorer Shota Arveladze.

And with Mikel Arteta unfit, Emerson was able to make his first appearance since early December after having been put on a fitness regime by McLeish to compensate for a lack of proper pre-season training, among other deficiencies.

Killie had to do without Gary Locke, who had been hurt on Sunday, and jettisoned former Ranger Gary McSwegan, Gary McDonald and Martin Hardie, with new signing David Lilley, youngster Rhian Dodds and new front pairing Kris Boyd and Colin Nish coming in.

Jim Jefferies' side defended in numbers throughout the first half but could not prevent the home team from creating chances.

Little went right for Mols despite his earnest efforts and when Barry McLaughlin appeared to have pulled him back by the shirt in the box he was dismayed to see referee Michael McCurry wave play on.

Capucho and Maurice Ross were both able to make inroads down the right flank with the former delighting the home fans with a couple of shimmies that dumped bamboozled defenders on the deck.

Emerson was also getting stuck in as McLeish's summer signings belatedly tried to win new friends in Glasgow.

But it was a tried and trusted combination that led to the opening goal after Lilley had earned himself a 22nd-minute booking for chopping Michael Ball down near the left corner flag.

Fernando Ricksen, who was fined by his manager on Tuesday after his elbow in the face of an opponent last week, fired the free-kick into the box.

And, after Ronald de Boer had added extra pace with a flicked header, captain Moore was able to turn the ball into the net from unmissable range despite the close proximity of two defenders.

Killie rarely retaliated before the break with a thumping drive from Boyd earning a corner via a deflection.

The half was allowed to peter out by the home side although Ball was only just over with a rising drive and Christian Nerlinger headed inches wide from a good Ross cross from the right.

Danny Invincibile gave Stefan Klos his first test in the Rangers goal with a low drive shortly after the restart but again it was the home side that was doing most of the attacking.

Capucho was prominent in most moves but Killie's massed ranks at the back were able to repel each raid eventually, with Emerson forcing goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau into a low save with a drive from inside a well-populated box.

There was a real let-off for the home side in the 63rd minute however when a corner was only cleared into a position where taker Garry Hay could retrieve it and he thumped a curling left-footer from distance that beat Klos but rebounded back into play off the crossbar.

Hay's next contribution was not so pretty however, a late tackle on Capucho that earned him a 71st-minute booking and forced the winger to be carried off, with young Namouchi replacing the Portuguese player.

The teenager lost no time in marking the occasion with his debut goal, a cool finish past Dubourdeau's right hand after he had accepted a defence-opening through-ball from Emerson and turned Hay to set up the shot.

That was game over once again for Killie and all that remained as the match was played out with little incident was for Emerson to be awarded a morale-boosting man-of-the-match accolade.

Teams

Rangers Klos, Ross, Moore, Frank de Boer, Ball, Ricksen, Emerson, Nerlinger, Capucho (Namouchi 73), Ronald de Boer, Mols (Ostenstad 66).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Vanoli, Hutton.

Goals: Moore 23, Namouchi 76.

Kilmarnock Dubourdeau, Lilley, McLaughlin, Greer, Hay, Fowler, Dodds (McDonald 85), Nish (McSwegan 64), Skora, Boyd, Invincibile (Murray 68).

Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Dindeleux.

Booked: Lilley, Hay.

Att: 46,900

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).