Killie's first game of the new season could hardly have been more daunting than to open their account against the champions at Ibrox, but after a very difficult first 20 minutes, the Ayrshire side acquitted themselves well. Rangers went two ahead with a goal in each half, but a penalty converted by Jamie Hamill in 59 minutes kept Killie in the frame, and the game finished much more evenly than it started.
For the first 20 minutes of the first half, Rangers completely dominated the play, got the opening goal, were denied another by an excellent Bell stop, as they continually funnelled forward towards the Killie goal. Gradually though, Kilmarnock shook off the rustiness, the nervousness, or whatever, and started to make a game of it. Miller's goal came in 15 minutes when a Kirk Broadfoot shot was blocked on the line, but the Scotland striker was on hand to turn it into the net. New signing James Beattie almost got his first goal for the light blues with a volley from a Miller knock down, but Cammy Bell dived to save at point blank range.
By that time though, Killie were coming back into it, and Danny Invincibile would be very disappointed that he didn't get to a Hamill cross that fired across the goal line. Before that, Invincibile had got in a cross that Silva was just squeezed out of, and Pascali had had a header saved by McGregor, as Kilmarnock realised that there was more than one team on the park. Silva did show some flourishes, one drag back and lob being an example, but the Portuguese should have more to give.
A Wright slip soon after half time left Beattie with only the keeper to beat, but Walter Smith's new signing looked less than match fit, and the Killie defence were able to get back and steal the ball off him.
Rangers did get their second goal after 57 minutes and it was ex-Killie man Steven Naismith who crashed the ball home from a cute Kenny Miller dink over the defence. Two minutes later though Killie got a goal back. Garry Hay, who had come on for David Silva, released young Ben Gordon down the left, and his long cross was falling to James Dayton when the ball-watching Sasa Papac tumbled him over in the box. Jamie Hamill made no mistake from the spot.
For the last half hour, the game was very even, and with both sides tiring, all the players would be pleased that there was only three minutes injury time played by Mr Collum. So no points for Killie, but a difficult fixture was well handled, and they might even be a bit disappointed to be going home with nothing.
Kilmarnock: Bell, Fowler, Wright, Bryson, Hamill, Invincibile (Sammon), Silva (Hay), Gordon, Kelly, Dayton, Pascali
Referee: Willie Collum
For interviews with Mixu Paatelainen and Danny Invincibile, listen to www.kicktalk.co.uk
