Alfredo Morelos reborn as Celtic flop rescues ex Rangers hero’s flailing career – El Bufalo turns mean in green

The bedsheets were returned as the Rangers fans vented their fury at Rugby Park.

However, Philippe Clement may forget about resting soundly anytime soon after seeing his sluggish squad miss up the opportunity to put pressure on Premiership pacesetters Celtic and Aberdeen. Saturday’s exciting four-goal thriller at Parkhead was an excellent advertisement for our sport.

It should have had Gers wide awake to the chance of trimming the deficit at the top back to three points. Instead, they suffered a nightmare in Ayrshire as Marley Watkins’ 87th-minute winner left them six adrift of Brendan Rodgers and Jimmy Thelin’s unbeaten leaders. It wasn’t quite a snorefest, but it was yet another drab Gers performance that will feed into the mood of discontent around Ibrox a year into Clement’s tenure as boss.

They’d managed just six wins on their 14 previous visits since the synthetic surface was first installed a decade ago It was immediately clear they weren’t going to relish this one either. Killie looked to apply pressure from the off and when Jefte was short with a headed backpass, the chance was on.

Kyle Vassell got a toe to the ball to nick it away from keeper Jack Butland, but before Watkins could prod into the empty net, Butland threw himself at the ball, getting a key touch before John Souttar could clear. There was another close call as Corrie Ndaba flashed a wicked ball across the face of goal but Matty Kennedy was a millisecond late in arriving.

The visitors had plenty of the ball but finding gaps in McInnes’ disciplined shape is like trying to find a likeable Tory MP. Vaclav Cerny had to resort to shooting from distance but former Ibrox keeper Robby McCrorie was equal to it. Robbie Deas had the ball in the net but his celebrations were immediately shut down by an offside flag.

Cyriel Dessers had spent the first half annoying his teammates and spectators with his trampoline skills, but his first contribution after the break was a clever turn and shot that forced McCrorie into a finger-tip save. The Nigerian came close again from Cerny’s deep corner, hitting the crossbar before Robin Propper hooked a great chance over.

Kennedy followed suit on the opposite end, and Gers’ backline appeared susceptible once more. It needed a last-ditch Deas tackle to keep Cerny from giving Gers the lead when he sprinted onto a lofted James Tavernier ball. The Gers captain was on corner duty seconds later and almost caught out McCrorie, who only barely swiped away the nasty in-swinger, which almost flew in at the near.

 

The Killie fans were on their feet seconds later as Jefte’s terrible touch sent Kennedy sprinting alone towards Butland’s goal. The winger took his time picking his area, but he eventually made it easy for the Ibrox No.1 by aiming his strike right into the keeper’s belly.

Souttar was Scotland’s hero in midweek, sending Cristiano Ronaldo home in a huff at Hampden. However, the Rangers goalkeeper was left looking downcast after Watkins outmuscled him to David Watson’s looped pass and bundled the ball past Butland for the lone goal. The addition of six more minutes rattled Killie nerves, but when Gers substitute Hamza Igamane fired a late attempt wide, the Ayrshire crowd could relax.

 

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