Rangers made a comeback from being two goals down to secure a 4-2 victory against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park while Barry Ferguson experienced a challenging first match as the interim manager of Gers.
The former Rangers captain was appointed on Monday together with other former Ibrox players Billy Dodds, Neil McCann, and Allan McGregor after the dismissal of Philippe Clement following a 2-0 loss at home to St Mirren.
However, it was a situation of fresh faces but familiar weaknesses as defender Joe Wright and captain Brad Lyons scored to put Derek McInnes’ team two goals ahead within 14 minutes. The Rangers side was fortunate not to concede more goals before teenage defender Clinton Nsiala was substituted in the 30th minute in an attempt to stop the opposition's dominance.
Vaclav Cerny netted a goal in the 35th minute and two goals from Cyriel Dessers after the halftime break were followed by a fourth goal on the counterattack in the 84th minute by substitute Nedim Bajrami. Despite the win, McInnes might feel that his team let the victory slip from their hands.
The night concluded with the Light Blues trailing behind leaders Celtic by 13 points in the William Hill Premiership standings, making it highly unlikely for them to win the title this season. However, they are still competing in the Europa League and are set to face Fenerbahce in the last-16 tie next month.
There was significant interest in this match due to Ferguson, who maintained the same lineup from the previous defeat against St Mirren, while Kilmarnock's Danny Armstrong replaced Liam Donnelly and Kyle Magennis took over from Liam Polworth.
Both goalkeepers made crucial saves early in the game, with Jack Butland denying a long-range shot from Lyons and Kieran O’Hara making a brilliant save from a volley by Gers striker Hamza Igamane.
The home team earned several corner kicks, and from a delivery by Fraser Murray in the 11th minute, Wright scored with a powerful header past Butland, outmuscling marker Robin Propper.
Shortly after, Lyons capitalized on a misplaced pass from Gers midfielder Nicolas Raskin, advancing and scoring with a curling shot from 20 yards out.
The Rangers side seemed disorganized.
Killie striker Marley Watkins missed two clear opportunities before Ferguson introduced Ridvan Yilmaz for Nsiala, with Yilmaz moving to right-back and captain James Tavernier shifting inside to partner Propper.
Dessers had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 34th minute, but his close-range shot was blocked by defender Lewis Mayo.
However, Cerny managed to score by slotting the ball under O’Hara after being sent through on goal by a pass from Mohamed Diomande, bringing Rangers back into the contest.
Kilmarnock struggled until halftime but came back stronger, only to concede a second goal in the 53rd minute when Dessers headed in from Tavernier’s corner kick.
Subsequently, the Nigerian striker put the visitors in the lead in the 62nd minute by volleying in a pass from Yilmaz from 16 yards out, celebrating with the Gers fans behind the goal.
In response, the Ayrshire team made efforts, and in the 76th minute, Butland made a good save to deny a shot from Corrie Ndaba, with O’Hara also keeping out a long-range attempt from Igamane at the other end.
Just after being substituted in, Bajrami took advantage of an exposed home defense, receiving a pass from Diomande and slotting the ball past O’Hara to secure the victory, which seemed improbable after the first 30 minutes.