match thread (image) [FT] Kilmarnock 2 - 1 Rangers (Defoe 12)

[26th of foot 6,082]

With my big Kilmarnock bunnet?

 

Ne'erday'68 was hugely exciting, Rangers new Manager, Davie White had the team playing open, expansive football. It was just as well, Rangers dismissal of Scot Symon the previous month had been controversial. Thirteen successful years were not enough, Jock Stein had arrived and his brand of winning football was perceived as modern. It was a stark dichotomy, Symon was blazer and flannels, Stein was strictly track suit; Symon blended players, Stein annotated blackboards and fitted players into his system. Rangers needed a modern manager to compete with Big Jock. White had coached Clyde to a third place finish the previous season, he had been appointed Rangers Assistant Manager just four months previous.

 

After the Bells, Davie White's ten game tenure was brought to focus. Eight league games won, including a ten-2 demolition of Raith Rovers, and Cologne knocked out the Inter City Fairs Cup by a 6-1 aggregate. The day before, Rangers had journeyed to Pittodrie and won convincingly, 4-1. Goals were flowing, Our summer signing, (Sir) Alex Ferguson had notched nine in the period, Persson and Johnston achieved the same total between them. The next afternoon, Partick Thistle were battered 5-2, and the three games in four days culminated in a 2-2 draw at Celtic Park.

 

Looking back, I blame my Uncle Eddie. He had been doing missionary work in Newmilns, Ayrshire for a dozen years. The deepest, darkest Lanarkshire/Ayrshire cross pollination downside, was having to listen to dear Eddie's Ne'erday interpretation of, 'My big Kilmarnock Bonnet'. Killie, under Wullie Waddell's tutelege, had won the League Championship two and half years before. Uncle Eddie was a convert. We would receive our comeuppance at Rugby Park at the penultimate game of the season.

 

We traveled down to Ayrshire in sunshine. It was the last week of April and a New Year run of 14 games had seen 13 wins and a draw. We were level on points with Celtic, their goal average was better. The draw had occurred the previous midweek, a 3-3 draw at Cappielow, and Celtic were playing at the tail o' the bank whilst we took on Killie. Comparatively, the Rugby Park surface was deemed the best in the UK. The previous year, the then world cup holders, Brazil had based themselves in Troon, utilising the Juniors pitch in morning fitness sessions, but doing afternoon ball work at Rugby Park. I was excited, the pitch was akin to a bowling green, in those days Ibrox was a sand pit after Christmas. Primary school was finishing, and I knew I would begin Secondary supporting the Champions. 

 

Kilmarnock had a team of household names, King, Queen, McInally, McLean, McGrory, .... etc and 25,000 Bears had a quick intake of breath when Killie took the lead on the eleventh minute. Dave Smith and Andy Penman took control, both Henderson and Persson on either flank were seeing a lot of the ball. Our Swedish world cup semi-finalist scored a typical Orjan goal, working along the bye-line before shuffling the ball on to his weaker foot and slotting into the far corner. Drawing level before half time had everyone smiling, but Persson was clearly injured as he hobble off. The substitute was Alec Willoughby, cousin of Jim Forrest and a fine player. He scored the winner with a dozen minutes left to play. We turned our attention to the numerous Bears cradling large radios, 'what's the score at Cappielow'? It was 1-1 and remained so when the referee blew at Rugby Park. We were a point ahead with Aberdeen to play at Ibrox. We invaded the pitch, whooped in the sunshine for a few minutes; then news arrived that Lennox had scored a winner in injury time. The wailing began and continued the following Saturday when Rangers lost their only league game that season, the Dons winning 2-3.

 

Uncle Eddie's party prophecy was wrong, we had triumphed in Kilmarnock. Another attendee at my parents' Hogmanay party was a near neighbour who played a significant part that day. The referee at Cappielow was John Paterson of Bothwell, he allowed a couple of injury time minutes and Lennox reportedly scored with the last kick of the ball. I suspect it is the fate of all ten year old lads to both whoop and wail within a few minutes, I cannot help but think a more timeous Mr Paterson should have possessed greater awareness?

 

Celebrating a title win that never was, continues to live with you. I offer tomorrow night's game has the same importance? Our last game saw a first victory over the dominant Brendan Rodgers, the first in thirteen games. There is a momentum to be garnered, it's difficult because the fixture fates have Rangers visiting both Killie and Livi on two plastic pitches in the space of four days. Rugby Park's surface these days is arguably the worst in the top flight? We have had two players(Waghorn and Murphy) sustain long term injuries at the venue. We have to get on with it, we won handsomely in the league cup earlier in the season, courtesy of an Alfredo hat-trick. Tomorrow, we must take the game to them, right from the first whistle.

 

Killie's offensive threat is diminished by the loss of Greg Stewart and Steve Clarke must be indecisive on playing Jordan Jones? Boyd and Burke might be obvious replacements, these days neither are going to run away from any defence. Thus, we must maintain a high press and line, do not allow them wide and the opportunity to throw the ball into our box. Clarke's success at Killie is well reported and much deserved; in the calendar year of 2018, he has accrued the most league points. I believe the foundation of Killie's continuing dominance lies with their midfield central pairing. Alan Power and Gary Dicker are real deal professionals. The Dublin born duo are the wrong side of thirty, but get around the pitch with purpose. They play on the legitimate side of legal, tough tackling, winning it, and feeding the ball wide. Opposition teams attacking, quickly have to find their defensive feet when hitting the Power and Dicker wall.

 

Our team will probably mirror the starting eleven against Helsinki? The evidence was Morelos pushed wider, mostly left and Kent abdicating width for the front point of the diamond. Attacks broke down and two quick passes wide and back in, found Helsinki on the edge of our box. I would hope we go with a more recognisable system and team : McGregor, Tavernier, Worral, McAuley, Halliday, Jack, Davis, Kent, Arfield, Candeias, and Morelos. I would leave Defoe to the final 20-30 minutes. 

 

I prefer whooping to wailing, 3-1 to the Bears; another Morelos hat-trick(four goals) would suffice. 

 

We MUST win it.  

   

[Scott7 6,010]

Let’s hope 26th is right. Let’s hope Defoe plays, scores at least once and comes off uninjured.

 

I have a memory, not too distant, of a fairly prominent Glasgow club going to Kilmarnock after the break with a new star striker, successful,in the EPL. The signing had just won them the league, apparently.

 

The new guy didn’t score and Kilmarnock won easily. A similar fate will not befall a much more prominent Glasgow club, will it?

[compo 7,045]

The bookies are being a bit mean at 

8/13 Rangers

7/2 kilmarnock 

5/2 draw

Lets hope we can pick up from were we left off against the tims  

[buster. 5,198]

26th's power of distant recall are almost as good and interesting as his writing 

 

Huge game in terms of momentum against a very organised and effective Kilmarnock side. Stewart may have gone but they still have Jones and Brophy as potent attacking threats.

 

We need to start consistently winning league matches so as to build on the win against Celtic. We have a better squad and SG&Co need to find the best formation(s)/starting XI as quickly as possible. Defoe, Davis and to a degree, Barisic will need to get themselves up to speed asap. Of the three, it might be that only Davis starts tomorrow, I don't think you can throw in all three at the sametime. 

 

Any kind of win tomorrow will do, just come home with the three points.

 

 

 

[Gonzo79 15,294]

Very enjoyable preview.  

 

I'm not interested in seeing us play lovely football at Kilmarnock or Livingston (I won't be in attendance, so that's by the by) - winning is all that matters.  Hopefully with no injuries.

[JFK-1 1,693]

 

I feel it's going to be a repeat of the same thing we have seen so many times this season. Killie will sit in, try to absorb the assault and catch us on the break for a narrow win. If they score first they will dig in even deeper. They have the third best defensive record in the top 6.

 

We will more than likely have the majority of the ball and need to break them down. Hopefully early to open it up. Davis and Defoe, this is exactly the scenario we brought you in for.

[DMAA 3,658]

Well we’ve caught Kilmarnock at the perfect time, Stewart who has carried them this season is away and they haven’t had a chance to replace him yet and Jones has a huge cloud hanging over him. Any shred of an excuse has been removed and nothing less than 3 points will suffice. 

[Gribz 850]

23 minutes ago, DMAA said:

Well we’ve caught Kilmarnock at the perfect time, Stewart who has carried them this season is away and they haven’t had a chance to replace him yet and Jones has a huge cloud hanging over him. Any shred of an excuse has been removed and nothing less than 3 points will suffice. 

Plus I think the break has actually help and came at a good time. Now its about rolling the sleeves up and just winning games. Its over the players now but if we get 3 pts from this game then the title is very much realistic. To be level at this stage is ahead of what we all probably thought.

[JFK-1 1,693]

If we were to take full points from the next 4 league matches my belief would begin approaching optimal level of expectation. The yahoos on the other hand have an upcoming league schedule almost designed to give them an easy time of it.

 

Of their next 5 league matches only 1 is away and that's at St Johnstone. Their next two are at home hosting 2 of the bottom 3. 

[Gribz 850]

7 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:

If we were to take full points from the next 4 league matches my belief would begin approaching optimal level of expectation. The yahoos on the other hand have an upcoming league schedule almost designed to give them an easy time of it.

 

Of their next 5 league matches only 1 is away and that's at St Johnstone. Their next two are at home hosting 2 of the bottom 3. 

I was just looking at the fixtures. They have St Mirren, Hamilton and St Johnstone all at home within 7 days. Youd expect they will get 9 pts therefore we have to take max pts from Kilmarnock and Livingston. It could be a defining week.