Alfredo Morelos rescued a point for Rangers at Ibrox as Kilmarnock held Steven Gerrard’s men 1-1 on Saturday. After the frustrating draw at home, Steven Gerrard’s Gers now risk falling 10 points behind Celtic if the Hoops can win at Dundee on Sunday.
Defeat in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals to Aberdeen on Tuesday had left Rangers rattled but the Ibrox crowd would have been expecting a reaction from Rangers and Gerrard made four changes to his side in a bid to get back to winning ways.
A slow start almost cost Rangers dearly after Eamonn Brophy was through on goal but fired a shot wide after just three minutes on the clock. Rangers dominated possession but couldn’t create enough chances. Andy Halliday fired a free-kick over the bar and a low effort from Ryan Kent was easily held by Daniel Bachmann.
Gerrard was left fuming when the referee waved strong penalty appeals after an Alfredo Morelos strike hit Kirk Broadfoot’s outstretched arm. And it proved a decisive call as Kilmarnock took the lead. Gary Dicker caught the Rangers defence napping with an over the top pass as McAleny rounded the on-rushing Allan McGregor before slotting the ball into an open net.
Rangers upped their game after the break as Gerrard introduced Barisic and Grezda. But the Gers found it difficult to pierce the well-drilled Kilmarnock defence. Gerrard put Jermain Defoe after the hour mark but it was Morelos who fired Rangers level seconds later as he collected James Tavernier’s pass and turned past Stuart Findlay before beating Bachmann at the near post.
Gerrard’s men looked for the winner but it quickly began to look like it was going to be one of those afternoons. Defoe had a good chance to make it 2-1 but he pulled a shot wide across goal as Ibrox showed signs of frustration.
Five minutes of stoppage time were added but instead of a finding a winner, Gers were lucky not to lose as McAleny tried to flick on a low free-kick from Chris Burke but couldn’t succeed.
Read more Rangers news, click here: Rangers latest news
Frustrated with the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, here’s how the Rangers fans reacted on Twitter.