Kilmarnock 0 Rangers 3 – Christmas miracle at Rugby Park as Bojan Miovski breaks goal drought in late Saturday showdown

RUGBY Park witnessed a Christmas Miracle.

Two goals in one game from the same Rangers striker.

Bojan Miovski hadn’t found the net since October 5.

He’d scored just twice since joining Gers in a £2.6million deal in the summer.

In truth, he’s looked a shadow of the player Aberdeen fans fell in love with.

But a deadly double against Killie broke his 11-game Gers drought before Mikey Moore came off the bench to add a late third for the Light Blues.

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Surely football wasn’t meant to be played at 8pm on a Saturday night?

Not in Scotland. Not in December.

But such is the power of the TV companies, it was Rugby Park’s turn to play host to this crazy kick-off slot.

While most people were looking forward to a cosy night at home, fans of Killie and Gers were wrapping up and stepping outside in preparation for a late one.

It didn’t half dampen the Christmas spirit.

Not that there’s much in the way of festive cheer among both sets of supporters.

Kettlewell’s Killie hadn’t won in the league since October 4 – losing six of their last eight.

Back-to-back draws against Dundee United and Hearts had stopped the bleeding at least.

Rangers, meanwhile, had drawn their last three, leaving Rohl’s side languishing fourth in the table at the start of the night.

The German had guided Gers to a win over Killie in his first game in charge.

Successive league victories against Hibs, Dundee and Livingston suggested a corner may have been turned.

But against Falkirk and United, the players he inherited reverted to type.

A squad not fit for purpose.

But until the January transfer window opens for business, the Gers boss must make do.

There’s no doubt Rangers showed resilience at Tannadice in midweek.

Yet also on display was that unique ability to shoot themselves in the foot, both in defence and attack.

Danilo was axed in favour of Mohamed Diomande, while James Tavernier – who hadn’t been feeling well all week – also dropped to the bench.

Max Aarons was brought in at right-back, making up a very inexperienced Gers back four.

Killie made four changes from midweek with strikers Bruce Anderson and Marcus Dackers among those returning.

At the break, Rangers were ahead.

Miovski had gone close after only eight minutes – his close range header too close to Killie keeper Tobi Oluwayemi.

Dackers came within inches of the opener at the other end, heading just over after rising highest to meet Scott Tiffoney’s cross.

Djeidi Gassama should have done so much better after creating a chance out of nothing with 15 minutes gone.

Nico Raskin had initially done well and Gassama found himself in behind the Killie defence after racing onto a pass from Aarons.

After turning back inside he had a clear sight of Oluwayemi’s goal but blazed over.

Then a major let off for the visitors.

With Emmanuel Fernandez pole-axed inside the Kilmarnock box, Kettlewell’s side played on.

Dackers’ pass spilt the Gers defence and Bruce Anderson was in the clear.

He lifted the ball over the advancing Jack Butland, but Connor Barron got back to clear off the line.

The linesman’s flag had gone up, but the goal would have stood with replays showing the Killie striker was onside.

Rangers were forced into a change when Nedim Bajrami limped off to be replaced by Findlay Curtis.

With 33 minutes gone, Gers made the breakthrough.

Dackers gave the ball away and initially the chance seemed to have gone when Miovski and Curtis both dithered.

Killie couldn’t clear, however, and Diomande found himself surrounded by three defenders.

The midfielder somehow managed to lay the ball off for Miovksi who sent a left foot shot past Oluwayemi and into the net.

Killie responded well to the setback and Anderson again went close after he collected Liam Polworth’s pass.

There was plenty of needle from both sides and referee Kevin Clancy needed eyes on the back of his head.

Killie were still very much alive as the second half got underway – and they began on the front foot.

Rangers were sitting far too deep for Rohl’s liking, but just as the home side were beginning to ask questions, Gers raced downfield and doubled their advantage.

There were 53 minutes on the clock when Raskin broke from midfield.

Looking up he picked up Miovski who danced inside Dom Thompson before wrong footing Oluwayemi with another fine finish. 

Two big saves from Butland preserved Gers’ lead.

First, he showed tremendous reactions to beat away Anderson’s shot which had taken a wicked deflection off Jayden Meghoma.

Then, from the resultant corner, he produced another fine save to deny Thompson at the back post.

It was better from the home side who’d looked lost after Mivoksi’s second.

With 72 minutes gone their manager was shown a red card.

Kettlewell had been in the ear of the fourth official for most of the match and after kicking away a plastic bottle he was sent to the stands.

The Killie manager’s misery was complete when Gers sub Moore leapt off the bench to score his side’s third.

Moore has been sidelined for over a month and he showed Rangers exactly what they’d been missing with a superb goal.

The on-loan Spurs star thought he’d also got a fourth, but his quick-fire second was ruled out for a foul by Fernandez on Watson in the build up.

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