A STING IN THE TALE
Pedro pays the penalty as late equaliser heaps on more misery
AS a former bullfighter, it can safely be assumed that Pedro Caixinha is practised in the art of extricating himself from tight corners. He’ll certainly have to move nimbly now to get himself out of this one.
As the clock struck 90 minutes at Ibrox last night, it appeared that the man from Beja had just about danced away from trouble and lived to fight another day. Perhaps we ought to have known better.
Leading through Jason Holt’s first-half strike, Rangers needed Daniel Candeias to convert a penalty to assure them of three points.
That the winger failed to do so was damaging enough. That Kilmarnock were immersed in unbridled celebrations just 60 seconds later after Chris Burke’s equaliser was almost impossible to fathom. In such moments, the messy divorce between Rangers and Caixinha appears ever more likely.
This was a game they had to win — and should have done so. Yet the manner of this failure, untidy and angry, will not help the healing process so badly needed after Sunday’s loss to Motherwell.
Again ill-discipline played a part. Ryan Jack was initially booked for flooring Kirk Broadfoot prior to the late spot-kick only to find that upgraded to a straight red before Candeias stepped forward.
At full-time, the Rangers fans vented their spleens at referee Alan Muir and his team for their displays, but those believing they were the villains of the piece are deluding themselves.
Their side showed spirit and desire but not the required quality to see off a Kilmarnock side determined to impress their new manager Steve Clarke.
The emphatic victory and flawless performance demanded after Sunday’s letdown simply did not materialise. And the fallout could be nuclear.
Caixinha’s stated ambition of fielding the same side which failed so dismally against Motherwell was compromised by injuries to Jak Alnwick, Fabio Cardoso and Carlos Pena. Wes Foderingham, Ross McCrorie and Holt slotted in.
Unsurprisingly, Clarke’s first selection as Killie boss was a carbon copy of the side which won at Partick Thistle last time out, meaning Broadfoot and Kris Boyd formed the spine of the side at their old stomping ground.
Given his withering rebuke of his players on Monday, the attitude of Caixinha’s players from the off was always going to be telling.
If some may privately have taken umbrage at being described as ‘embarrassing’, there was no evidence of a petted lip among them. He got the high-tempo start he had demanded.
Declan John epitomised it with a slalom from the left touchline into the box which evaded three opponents. Alas, the Welshman’s angled strike was wayward.
It didn’t take long for Kilmarnock to underscore Rangers’ vulnerability to being exposed by a long ball. Broadfoot’s thump up the middle found Jordan Jones, whose deft first touch opened up the target but his second was a poor shot that didn’t trouble Foderingham.
A sensible advantage played by referee Muir gave Rangers the benefit of Adam Frizzell’s mistimed tackle on Candeias on the edge of the Killie box. John’s left foot seemed well suited to the position but he floated the ball over.
Rangers’ concerns increased at the midway point of the first half when Graham Dorrans’ failure to shake off a knock saw him replaced by Eduardo Herrera. Alfredo Morelos was tasked with linking the midfield and attack.
Resolute and organised, Clarke’s men were content to sit in and soak up the pressure while awaiting their opportunity. It came through slackness from James Tavernier. Frizzell motored into space before slipping in Greg Taylor. The midfielder threatened to shoot, then did, but Foderingham gathered on the stretch to his left as Boyd waited to pounce.
Herrera, it’s fair to say, hasn’t lived up to his billing since his summer switch from Pumas. But he showed lovely awareness shortly after entering the fray to pick out Josh Windass. The winger smashed a shot towards the bottom corner only for Jamie MacDonald to pull off an outstanding save.
But Rangers would not be denied the half-time advantage they just about deserved. For once, Tavernier’s cross from the right was not dealt with by the men in red. As the ball bobbled about on the sixyard line, Morelos considered an opportunist shot on the turn.
Seeing Holt in a far more promising position, though, he rolled the ball backwards and took cover as his team-mate returned the ball with interest high into the net.
The points could have been as good as in the bag three minutes after the restart. John’s surge into enemy territory saw him check back on to his right foot to pick out Herrera on the six-yard line. With the cross lacking accuracy, the striker improvised with a nonchalant flick. MacDonald’s superb reflexes kept Killie afloat. Standing with his arms folded on the touchline for the duration, Clarke’s impassive demeanour changed only when his side needlessly conceded possession. As diligent as Killie were defensively, their first ball out from the back was frequently found wanting. On the rare occasion they broke through, they were guilty of sloppiness. Boyd’s shot across goal on 70 minutes was a case in point. Jones would have tapped home the rebound had he not needlessly been flagged offside. It was Rangers’ lack of cutting edge, as much as anything else, that kept the contest alive. Bruno Alves met John’s corner with a meaty header that would have found the net had Broadfoot not nicked it round the post. Several other shots by men in light blue met with similar fates and that kept a spirited Killie side believing. When Boyd squared the ball to Rory McKenzie with 17 minutes left, the home fans held their breath but Foderingham’s right arm kept the scores level. The keeper couldn’t lay a glove on Jones’ stinging angled strike across his goal soon after but fortune favoured him as the ball flew beyond the far post. Then, as the clock ran down, with Killie going for broke, he fielded McKenzie’s header.
The game ended in tempestuous fashion. With one minute of regular time remaining, Broadfoot’s dithering saw him concede a ludicrous penalty for clipping Herrera’s heels.
But as Candeias placed the ball on the spot, all hell broke loose. Broadfoot hit the turf and both he and Jack were initially cautioned only for the Rangers man’s punishment to be upgraded to a red on the advice of the fourth official.
Once a degree of calm had been restored, MacDonald threw himself to his right to save.
We hadn’t had the last of the late drama, though. Sent on as a late sub for Frizzell, Burke’s fresh legs allowed him to outstrip the Rangers defence and turn home Stephen O’Donnell’s cross at the far post. Cue bedlam all around Ibrox.
For Caixinha, such a moment may have huge repercussions. RANGERS (4-5-1): Foderingham 6; Tavernier 6, Alves 7, McCrorie 6, John 7; Candeias 6, Jack 6, Dorrans 5 (Herrera 22), Holt 8, Windass 6 (Nemane 64); Morelos 6 (Barjonas 75). Subs not used: Kelly, Hodson, Wilson, Dalcio. Booked: Tavernier.
Sent off: Jack. KILMARNOCK (4-4-1-1): MacDonald 7; O’Donnell 6, Broadfoot 6, Greer 6, Findlay 6; McKenzie 6, Power 6, Taylor 6, Frizzell 6 (Burke 65); Jones 7; Boyd 6 (Erwin 79). Subs not used: Bell, Thomas, Boyd, Waters, Brophy. Booked: Power, Findlay, Broadfoot. Referee: Alan Muir. Attendance: 47,981. Man of the Match: Jason Holt.