Rangers moved up to second in the Scottish Premiership, cutting Hearts’ lead to three points, with a convincing 5-1 victory over Kilmarnock at Ibrox.
The fixture offered Rangers a chance to gain ground after Celtic’s match at Aberdeen was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. The home side took full advantage inside five minutes when Dominic Thompson brought down Djeidi Gassama while denying a control of a pass. Referee David Dickinson awarded a penalty and showed Thompson a straight red card; James Tavernier converted from the spot to give Rangers an early lead.
Kilmarnock remained a threat even with ten men. Greg Kiltie fashioned a clear opportunity for Bruce Anderson in the first half, but Anderson dragged his chance wide. Rangers’ tempo was inconsistent early on, but they grew into the game and extended their lead just before the hour. Bojan Miovski finished low after a neat exchange with Mohamed Diomande to make it 2-0 and sap some of Kilmarnock’s momentum.
With 16 minutes remaining, January signing Andreas Skov Olsen produced a stylish finish from a square ball by Mikey Moore to make it 3-0. Kilmarnock responded when Jack Butland misjudged a clearance and Greg Kiltie capitalised to reduce the deficit to 3-1, but Rangers reasserted control late on. Debutant Tuur Rommens set up Oliver Antman for a 90th-minute strike to make it 4-1, and Mikey Moore, lively throughout, added a fifth after Antman created the chance, sealing a comprehensive win.
Manager Danny Röhl praised his squad for their work and balance, highlighting that several players contributed goals and minutes. He stressed the importance of patience against teams who defend deeply and described the 5-1 scoreline as a positive step while remaining grounded with 13 games still to play.
Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann was encouraged by his side’s first-half display with ten men but questioned key decisions. He argued Thompson did not see Gassama arrive and felt the red card was harsh, and he also pointed to an incident when Tyreece John-Jules went through on goal and believed an off-the-ball shove on Tavernier should have warranted a sending-off.
Key moments: an early penalty and red card for Thompson, Tavernier’s penalty, Miovski’s strike before the hour, Skov Olsen’s first Rangers goal, Kiltie’s rebound finish after a Butland error, and late goals from Antman and Moore. The result moves Rangers up to second, three points behind Hearts, while Kilmarnock left Ibrox frustrated but buoyed by parts of their display despite being reduced to ten men.
Fixtures and next matches are available for both clubs as they continue their league campaigns.