Michael Beale's new-look Rangers side crash to a damaging opening-day defeat in Ayrshire.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Well, full time here from Rugby Park, where it finished Kilmarnock 1, Rangers 0 on the
00:05 opening day of the 2023/24 Scottish Premiership season.
00:10 Certainly not the result Michael Beale was looking for from his new look side.
00:14 It was a disjointed display from Rangers all across the pitch in all honesty.
00:18 And they did get into some decent areas, but there weren't that many clear cut openings.
00:23 Cyril Dessers and John Lundstrom, the two of them going closest in the first half to
00:28 opening the scoring.
00:30 All credit to Kilmarnock, a really well deserved victory here in Ayrshire for them this afternoon.
00:36 In the second half in particular, when it seemed like Rangers would ring the changes
00:42 and push for a winner in the closing stages, it was Kilmarnock who had the better of it
00:46 in all honesty.
00:47 Kyle McGuinness, Kyle Vassell and Danny Armstrong all looking a real threat going forward.
00:56 The winner arrived in the 65th minute.
00:58 It was a horrendous mistake from Rangers defender John Lundstrom, who was caught on the ball
01:03 as he attempted to clear a corner kick.
01:08 He dilly-dallied and allowed Brad Lyons to nip in and he pounced to slot low past Jack
01:14 Butland into the bottom corner of the net.
01:17 And from then on, as I say, Kilmarnock had the better chances as Rangers looked to try
01:23 and frantically search for an equaliser.
01:26 Of course, Celtic earlier in the day had beaten Ross County 4-2, so the pressure was on Michael
01:31 Beale's side and they certainly failed to deliver.
01:34 Todd Cantwell and Kim Arruth did try to make a positive impression from the bench in the
01:40 second half, but they were unable to really force the issue.
01:44 And it's a hugely damaging, disappointing opening day defeat for Rangers.
01:49 Their first since 2014 and it's their first win for Kilmarnock over Rangers since April 2020.
01:56 So full time here from Rugby Park, it's finished Kilmarnock 1, Rangers 0.
02:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]