Kilmarnock 2-3 Rangers: Alfredo Morelos scores twice in hard-fought win

No matter what surface is under their feet, the Rangers are constantly moving in the right direction under Michael Beale.

Whether in a quagmire in Mount Florida, the plastic at Rugby Park or their own tract of land in Govan, the team has remembered how to score wins.

In seven league games to date under the new manager, a home draw with Celtic remains the only blemish on the book.

The 19 points accumulated from that sequence are five better than the sum obtained from the equivalent race in recent days with Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Much room for improvement remains, but the signs are certainly promising. Beale will believe that incoming transfers and an improving injury list can only strengthen the power of his side.

He has yet to see a true 90-minute display from his side. Out of the rhythm in the first half once again here, they took control in the second, coming from a goal down to go three-one ahead, but were forced to secure some anxious final moments as Killie cut their lead to a only goal.

The night could hardly have started better for the visitors with Chris Stokes crashing an early header.

Alfredo Morelos squared the game midway through the first half, but Ryan Kent marked his recent renaissance with a well-taken shot early in the second period to put his team in front.

Kilmarnock’s dashed hopes of an unlikely point appeared to last until Danny Armstrong was booked for a second booking, with the adamant tip that Borna Barisic had misled referee Kevin Clancy.

Morelos’ second of the night seemed to end the points until Joe Wright struck with five minutes to go. Again, however, the Rangers prevailed.

Derek McInnes was unable to field Lewis Mayo against his parent club, opting to keep another former Ibrox favorite in Kyle Lafferty on the bench.

With Liam Donnelly and Ben Chrisene injured, the door was opened for Stokes, Ryan Alebiosu, Liam Polworth and Christian Doidge.

Beale made just three changes from the team that won against Aberdeen over 120 minutes at Hampden. Out were Allan McGregor, Ryan Jack and Malik Tillman with Jon McLaughlin, Glen Kamara and Scott Arfield stripped to start.

The Rangers coach had expressed concern about his team’s performance on this surface, but no excuse could have covered the way they started here.

With Kilmarnock dominating the ball and Barisic miles off the pace, Armstrong was in control of the venue. He fired a string of crosses along the six-yard box. The Rangers almost survived.

Ash Taylor issued a warning shot climbing to gain Polworth corner. His headbutt missed just wide.

Another set piece was immediately conceded as Connor Goldson was forced to bring out a barrel to fix a messy defense. Armstrong took this from the other side. Stokes seemed to want more and beat McLaughlin with a forceful headbutt.

It was the fifth time in Beale’s eight games in charge that his team had conceded.

The Rangers just couldn’t start. Another Armstrong installment chose Doidge. McLaughlin saved this header but it was too easy. The same thing happened when the winger dropped a shoulder, cut inside and let fly with a curl to work the goalkeeper.

McInnes will be appalled at the way his team allowed the visitors to get back into the game. A cheap concern conceded, his defenders were ecstatic on Goldson claiming Barisic’s deep corner. Fortunately for him, Sam Walker was right behind.

It was all the encouragement the Rangers needed. With his next surge, a clipped overhead pass saw Killie face his own goal and fight to regain ground. Fashion Sakala’s pass was accurate and perfectly weighted. Lurking at the far post, Morelos applied an excellent shot.

The Colombian seemed to be involved in anything. Having seen Armstrong join Alan Power on the book for catching him late, he became the next recipient of Kevin Clancy’s yellow card for a retributive touch.

The Rangers grew in the first half, but were still grateful that Kyle Vassell’s drive went straight for McLaughlin’s throat.

It only took six minutes of the second half for the visitors to turn the game around. With Killie pressing, James Tavernier’s long clearance turned defense into attack.

Kent rallied but didn’t seem to know whether to cross or shoot. With Morelos coming into the shot, he took the first option. Morelos tried to find Arfield, but he inadvertently returned possession to Kent. The winger moved the ball with his right foot and past Walker with a low shot to the near post.

With each passing week, Kent looks more like the player who thrived when Beale was Steven Gerrard’s coach.

Having missed a header at Hampden on Saturday, Wright repeated the trick after being awarded a free kick there.

Within seconds, Barisic crumpled clutching his face after a challenge from Armstrong. The player protested as he made his way up the tunnel, but Killie’s chances of taking anything from this game seemed to be slipping away.

Making the field as big as possible and retaining possession, the Rangers dominated the game from then on.

Seemingly removing any doubt as to where the three points were headed, the third goal came in the 73rd minute. Barisic had time and space to snap a cross down the left. Morelos stood his ground, and courage from him, to plant a header past Walker from six yards.

The Colombian was only denied the match ball by Walker’s outstretched arm and then made way for Tillman.

It looked like the game was winding down until the 10-man Killie showed up again with five minutes to go. Power’s center finished off with a header by Taylor to Wright. The defender volleyed past McLaughlin.

Presented late, Lafferty’s attempt to equalize led to a decent save from the away keeper. Right now, it looks like the Rangers just won’t be denied.