The winning habit shows no sign of leaving Scottish Champions Rangers as
Kilmarnock became the latest side with no answers to the questions posed of them
at Rugby Park.
Expertly crafted strikes from Claudio Reyna on 43 minutes and Jorg Albertz 13
minutes from the end secured another milestone for the Ibrox outfit in this
landmark season.
This latest victory confirms that even in the unlikely event of them losing
their two remaining fixtures their points margin over second-placed Celtic will
beat their own record.
The previous Premier League mark between top and runners-up was 15 points in
1994-95, but Rangers now lead the way by a commanding 22 points with no sign of
their awesome momentum relenting.
The Glasgow team were short of several major players today, but, as they gear
up for the Scottish Cup Final against Aberdeen on May 27, always had the measure
of a limited Kilmarnock side.
Sergio Porrini made his long-awaited return to the Rangers line-up after being
sidelined with an ankle problem since his last game, the 4-2 win over Celtic at
Ibrox back in November.
With a clutch of players injured or suspended, Rangers offered a surprise
debut to 19-year-old Robert Malcolm, while Finn Tero Pentilla retained his place
in central defence.
Kilmarnock had the first chance of the contest, former Ibrox star Ian Durrant
firing a shot high and wide after the ball broke kindly to him at the edge of
the area.
The home team came much closer in the seventh minute when Alex Burke's corner
was met well by Sean Hessey, but his firm header was pushed away one-handed by
Stefan Klos in the Rangers goal.
Neil McCann's deep cross after 14 minutes offered Andrei Kanchelskis an
opportunity at the far post, but the winger's looping header failed to trouble
Gordon Marshall.
A searching pass from Albertz picked out a Dodds run after 28 minutes only for
the Scotland striker to snatch at his 20-yard effort sending it well wide of the
mark.
On the half-hour mark Kanchelskis tapped the ball to the youngster Malcolm
whose drilled low cross was just missed by the sliding Dodds with an inviting
goal in front of him.
The match was by now proving an increasingly fitful affair with a series of
promising moves, from both teams, never quite coming off as the deadlock
persisted.
After 43 minutes, however, it was broken by Rangers with a superbly-crafted
goal finished in some style by Reyna's neatness of touch to put the visitors in
charge before the break.
The move started in Rangers' own half, Pentilla finding Albertz whose flighted
long ball picked out Reyna's diagonal run and the American had time to control
it before defeating Marshall.
Reyna almost doubled his and Rangers' tally on the eve of half-time with a
well-struck half-volley from the edge of the area, but this time he was just
off-target.
Rangers made a change at the interval supplementing their attack by replacing
Kanchelskis with a second forward, fit-again Finnish international Jonatan
Johansson.
Kilmarnock brought on Alan Mahood for the injured Innes and they had the first
opportunity of the half when Alex Burke blazed over from close range when
well-placed.
A Tugay Kerimoglu pass found Johansson on the hour mark, but while the
substitute turned well, his eventual shot was too close to Marshall who was able
to save low to his right.
McCann and Johansson combined well on the left moments later only for the
Scotland winger to be too casual in his finish with Marshall equal to his
attempted chip.
Johansson then tested Marshall again with a near-post effort, while at the
other end Smith's agonising dive could not meet a cross swept in from the right
by Jerome Vareille.
It was still proving a match with only sporadic incidents, a real end of
season affair, though Dodds almost lifted the occasion with a fierce strike
deflected wide.
Johansson was offered another clear opening on 73 minutes but his sharpness
has still to return and his weak effort was claimed by Marshall, albeit at the
second attempt.
Reyna set up the Finn again moments later and this time he struck the shot
better only for the redoubtable Marshall to push away the angled drive smartly
with one hand.
Seb Rozental joined the fray for McCann and at once made an impact setting up
a Rangers' second goal to seal yet another victory and maintain their unbeaten
away league record.
Chilean Rozental clipped the ball beyond a square Kilmarnock backline and from
fully 30 yards Albertz sent a first-time shot over the reach of the stranded
Marshall well outside his area.
It was Rangers' 95th league goal of the season and they will set their sights
on a rare ton in their remaining league games at home to Hearts and away to
Motherwell.
In the closing moments they almost got one closer when a Rozental shot struck
the inside of the post before rolling across the line before the same player saw
Marshall deny him at point blank range.
Teams:
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Innes (Mahood 46), Hessey,
McKinlay, Vareille (Fowler 74), Holt, Durrant, Burke, Wright, Smith (McCoist 82).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Mitchell.
Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Penttila, Malcolm, Vidmar,
Kanchelskis (Johansson 46), Reyna, Kerimoglu, Albertz,
Dodds (Gibson 88), McCann (Rozental 76).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Stone.
Goals: Reyna 43, Albertz 78.
Att: 13,284
Ref: Hugh Dallas (Scotland).
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