The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Rangers fail to respond as Killie earn point
Rangers failed to provide boss Steven Gerrard with the reaction he was looking for as they followed up their Betfred Cup semi-final disappointment with a frustrating Ibrox draw.
Gerrard had warned his squad he was ready to look for replacements if they continued to under-perform like they did during Sunday’s 1-0 Hampden defeat to Aberdeen.
Alfredo Morelos returned to the Rangers line-up after being suspended for the sorry cup exit to the Dons and quickly put them ahead.
But Greg Stewart, who was only cleared to play after Killie appealed a notice of complaint issued following an off-the-ball scrape with Hamilton’s Scott Martin at the weekend, swept home a stunning equaliser soon after to seal a share of the points.
The result was enough to see Gers climb above Livingston in to fourth spot on goal difference but it leaves Killie three in front as Steve Clarke kept up his remarkable record against the Old Firm, which now reads as just one defeat from nine league encounters.
Gerrard made four changes to the side who failed to perform at Hampden, with the dismal Umar Sadiq dropped as Morelos reclaimed his spot.
And the alterations looked to have had just the effect Gerrard was after as his side grabbed the lead inside nine minutes.
Scott Arfield, another of those recalled, quickened the tempo with a first-time ball to Ryan Kent, who slotted in Morelos to fire a deflected strike past Jamie MacDonald.
Killie equalised on the quarter-hour mark.
Joe Worrall missed a header before Jon Flanagan failed to clear his lines, leaving Stewart free inside the box.
Back-up keeper Wes Foderingham was another surprise starter but its doubtful number one Allan McGregor would have got any nearer to stopping Stewart’s stunning finish from wide on the right.
Rangers skipper James Tavernier came within a couple of inches of giving his side the lead a minute later as his shot clipped the top of the crossbar.
Gerrard introduced Ryan Jack and winger Glenn Middleton but Killie’s dogged determination continued to frustrate the hosts.
Kyle Lafferty was sent on to partner Morelos but there was no dramatic intervention as the Gers were booed off after the visitors came closest when Stewart forced Foderingham into a crucial last-gasp save.