Kilmarnock 1-0 Rangers: Rangers defeated at Kilmarnock while title-holders Celtic start title defence with victory
Kilmarnock #Kilmarnock
As the Scottish Premiership opened up for its 2023-24 league campaign, Rangers’ title challenge suffered an early setback as they started their season with a 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock.
Rangers have welcomed nine new signings this summer, including Brazilian forward Danilo from Eredivisie side Feyenoord who they are hoping will help defeat current title-holders Celtic this season.
Manager Michael Beale will be hoping to improve on last season’s trophyless campaign, though with a 1-0 defeat on the opening day, Rangers’ efforts must improve if they want to challenge rivals Celtic – who won their opening match against Ross County.
The opening match away at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park provides a unique challenge for the home team.
Boss Derek McInnes failed to beat either Old Firm side during the 2022-23 campaign, so Kilmarnock fans will be impressed early with their team’s performance.
Midfielder Brad Lyons secured the victory for Kilmarnock with a strike in the 65th minute
Despite just being the start of the new season, with Beale’s side already behind their Old Firm rivals – the loss will be damaging as they look to charge title-holders Celtic again this season
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman pounced inside the box to fire the home side ahead
Michael Beale’s disjointed side had laboured in the first half at Rugby Park and there was no improvement after the break before they were stunned by Brad Lyons’ 65-minute strike.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman pounced inside the box to fire the home side ahead and in the end it was enough to seal a famous win for Killie.
New signing Cyriel Dessers made an attempt in the first half along with John Lundstram, though even a John Souttar header in the second half was not enough to get a leveller for Beale’s side.
Despite just being the start of the new season, with Beale’s side already behind their Old Firm rivals – the loss will be damaging as they look to combat the trophyless memories of last season.
Celtic began the defence of their title with a 4-2 win over Ross County as Brendan Rodgers kicked off his second spell at Parkhead in style.
The champions raced into a three-goal lead before the break thanks to a brace from David Turnbull, the first a penalty after Greg Taylor was tripped by Josh Sims, and a neat first-time finish from Kyogo Furuhashi, before Jordan White pulled one back with a looping header for Malky Mackay’s side on the hour mark.
Matt O’Riley lashed home from Kyogo’s set-up to put the hosts 4-1 up shortly afterwards, a cushion they held until James Brown struck a deflected effort past Joe Hart with the last kick of the game for County.
Frankie McAvoy’s first game in charge of Hearts ended in a 2-0 victory away to St Johnstone but it took two late goals to finally finish off their hosts.
Matt O’Riley lashed home from Kyogo’s assist to give the hosts a 4-1 lead against Ross Country
The champions sped into a three-goal lead before half-time thanks to a brace from David Turnbull
Yutaro Oda scored with a smart turn and clinical finish 15 minutes from time to reward the visitors for their pressure, before Lawrence Shankland tapped home in the sixth minute of added time, with Saints goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov pulling off a string of saves to keep his side from going down by a wider margin.
Dundee marked their return to the Premiership with a second-half equaliser from Lyall Cameron to deny Motherwell victory in the rain at Dens Park.
Theo Bair had scored on the stroke of the interval to give the visitors the lead, but they were fortunate to escape with a point after Dundee twice struck the post after levelling.
It means Stuart Kettlewell’s Well remain unbeaten away from home since the manager took charge in February.
Livingston and Aberdeen shared the spoils after playing out a drab goalless draw in West Lothian.
MATCH FACTS
Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy, Watkins.
Subs: O’Hara, Sanders, Davies, Donnelly, Polworth, McKenzie, Murray, Cameron, Vassell.
Goal: Lyons 65
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Barisic, Dowell, Lundstram, Raskin, Sima, Lammers, Dessers.
Subs: McCrorie, Hagi, Jack, Cantwell, Cifuentes, Matondo, Roofe, Balogun, Danilo.
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