Rangers held by 10-man Kilmarnock as Kris Boyd frustrates former side

The former Rangers striker Kris Boyd caused his old side more early-season frustration as his goal helped Kilmarnock to a 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw at Rugby Park.

The frontman was part of a team the Rangers chairman, Dave King, claimed had “failed miserably” when they missed out on promotion a year ago.

However, the forward put in a vintage display as he scored his 250th goal in British football with the opener against Mark Warburton’s disjointed Rangers. James Tavernier did level after the break with a superb free-kick but, even though Killie played out the last half-hour a man light after Greg Taylor was sent off for a wild challenge on Joey Barton, the visitors could not find the winning goal.

That means Celtic can overtake their rivals before next month’s Old Firm battle if they beat Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday.

Lee Clark – still searching for the perfect Kilmarnock blend after making 15 summer signings – made another six changes for the visit of Rangers, with Gary Dicker, Greg Kiltie, Adam Frizzell, Jonathan Burn, Taylor and Dean Hawkshaw all recalled.

Rangers were forced into a last-minute swap, with Clint Hill coming in for Danny Wilson after the centre-back picked up an injury in the warm-up. The late change did nothing to harmonise a team who have struggled for fluency this season and that only encouraged a fired-up Kilmarnock.

The hosts had a decent claim for a penalty eight minutes in when Hill stopped a Frizzell strike when he raised his hands to protect his face, while Dicker rifled just wide.

The travelling Rangers supporters, disappointed not to see the new signing Joe Garner in the starting lineup, were made to wait only 15 minutes before the £1.5m striker was introduced for the injured Joe Dodoo.

The former Preston poacher’s first touch resulted in him lashing wildly at a Barrie McKay corner and he was high again as Harry Forrester picked him out soon after.

He was soon shown how it should be done as Boyd did what he does best. The 33-year-old had come close with a volley soon after Garner’s introduction but that effort lacked belief. However, his strike on 29 minutes was reminiscent of the days when he used to score on an almost weekly basis during his first stint at Ibrox.

Jonathan Burn cut out a McKay pass and immediately fed Kiltie, who in turn slotted through for Boyd, leaving Hill in his wake; and Boyd turned back the years as he drove the ball past Wes Foderingham.

Tavernier should have equalised 10 minutes later but blazed over after better work by Garner.

The striker threw himself down theatrically looking for a spot-kick early in the second period after tangling with William Boyle but the referee, Kevin Clancy, was not impressed. The official did, though, sanction a free-kick on 59 minutes when Hawkshaw tripped McKay and the result was a superb Tavernier set piece, the right-back sweeping the equaliser over the Kilmarnock wall into the top corner.

Clancy then had another decision to make three minutes later when Taylor dived in dangerously high on Barton but there was no hesitation as he reached for the red card.

With Niko Kranjcar thrown on for Jordan Rossiter, Rangers were finally finding their rhythm. But Jamie MacDonald did better second time round as he pushed away another Tavernier set piece before keeping out a late McKay effort as Rangers dropped points for the second time in four games.