Gers extend SPL lead

Whittaker and Miller on target for Gers

Last updated: 10th March 2010  

Gers extend SPL lead

Whittaker: Opened the scoring

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Rangers are once again 13 points clear of Celtic after securing a 2-0 success over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Walter Smith's side were far from their best in the first half, but an improved second-half showing was enough to bag the points.

Steve Whittaker broke the deadlock in the 55th minute with Kenny Miller's first in five games sooner after settling the contest.

The win, which was Gers' game in hand, moves the league leaders a whopping 13 points clear of their arch-rivals in the table.

Rangers could have taken an early lead when Kevin Thomson released Miller down the right flank but his effort was smothered by Cameron Bell with DaMarcus Beasley waiting to stab home at the back post.

At the other end, Allan McGregor was tested by a shot from distance from Mehdi Taouil but the long-range effort failed to trouble the Rangers goalkeeper.

Lee McCulloch - who netted a double against Saints on Saturday - tried his luck from 30 yards but his goalscoring touch escaped him on this occasion and he rifled well over the target.

Rangers had another chance when Miller released Kris Boyd who bore down on goal before attempting to lob Bell but the striker, who has inflicted so much misery on his former team in the past, saw his shot dip just over the crossbar.

Killie almost surged into the lead when McGregor fumbled a cross from the left from Iain Flannigan and the ball fell for Taouil but he rifled against the prostrate body of the goalkeeper and one of the best chances of the game was lost.

Timely intervention

Steven Davis then tried to pick out Beasley at the back post but Jamie Hamill made a timely intervention to prevent the champions grabbing the advantage just before the interval.

Only some last-gasp defending prevented Killie from falling behind shortly after the restart when McCulloch flicked into the path of Boyd and his shot looked netbound only for Hamill to hook off the line to safety.

The breakthrough came with 55 minutes gone. Tim Clancy attempted to nod a Sasa Papac cross clear only for the ball to fall for Whittaker to drill into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Rangers doubled their advantage just six minutes later when Bell blocked from Davis only for Miller to pounce on the rebound and lash high into the net from close range.

Boyd squandered the opportunity to add his own name to the scoresheet when he collected from Miller in plenty of space only to balloon well over the crossbar to the jeers of the home crowd.

Whittaker then did just enough to prevent Chris Maguire from unleashing a shot and hauling the home side back into the game before McGregor was able to gather.

Boyd continued to push forward in search of a goal but only managed to ripple the side-netting, before seeing another effort smothered by Bell, as Rangers claimed all three points.

Scottish Premier Without Old Firm Win Outright: Hibernian 5/4