Kilmarnock’s win over Rangers was just their second of the season and moves them up to seventh in the Premiership.
It has been a tough start to the campaign for Derek McInnes‘ side but they’ve shown on multiple occasions in the past they are capable of big performances and big results against both sides of the Old Firm – and did so again.
It was a big team effort but Marley Watkins was the Kilmarnock hero with a late winner as the visitors left a lot to be desired defensively.
Killie, on the flip side, were resolute at the other end and limited Philippe Clement’s side to very few chances.
Derek McInnes reacts to Kilmarnock win over Rangers
Derek McInnes was satisfied with his team’s efforts all over the pitch as they overcame Rangers at Rugby Park.
They haven’t been their usual selves in defence so far this season but finally earned the clean sheet that had eluded them. On top of that, they executed their press to perfection to disrupt their visitors.
And McInnes knew if they kept trying to get at Rangers’ high line they could get some joy, and he was proved correct.
He told Sky Sports: “Well it’s an important three points and equally pleased with the clean sheet, which we’ve been searching for. I thought it was far more a resilient performance than what we normally have.
“We said before the game ‘some games are a bit more difficult to win than others.’ But I think from our point of view we needed to respect Rangers in terms of nullifying their threat and trying to work the press.
“I thought the press was terrific throughout. I thought we were the far better team first half, just looking for the goal.
“Second half was a bit more even and tight but we never settle for a 0-0. We still thought there was that chance. Matty (Kennedy) went through one-one-one and never quite got there.
“But we knew that Rangers squeezing a high line, we could turn them and play on the shoulders and if we timed our runs right we’d get opportunities. And thankfully Marley gets the important goal, which he’s done so often for us.”
Kilmarnock had belief and dealt with Rangers’ ‘long ball’
Asked if his side always carried belief they could win, McInnes added: “Yeah. I didn’t really want to take Kyle Vassell off but our substitutes really helped us out last time out at Dundee. We spoke about keeping the energy, it’s difficult to keep the energy on the press for the whole game.
“But we did think the physical presence of Watkins and Vassell was causing problems. But I do think in general terms we dealt with Rangers’ directness, that longer ball. We were physical with that, got to second balls and we were very competitive throughout.”