IT was perhaps quite fitting that at the time of year when the television schedules are full of repeats and re-runs that Rangers fans should watch a game they have seen so often at Ibrox. Thankfully for Steven Gerrard, this one had a happy ending thanks to a familiar hero.

Afternoons like this have been commonplace during Gerrard’s tenure as teams have set up to stifle and frustrate and shown little intention of winning as they play for a draw. The occasions last term where they were successful in that aim proved costly for Rangers.

This had all the hallmarks of such a fixture but Kilmarnock didn’t get the point they wanted as Gerrard’s side earned all three. Not for the first time, Alfredo Morelos was the man that won them for Rangers.

When boss Gerrard spoke about the challenge he expected from Kilmarnock earlier in the week, he reckoned that Alex Dyer would adopt the Steve Clarke blueprint and look to put in place the kind of plan that stood the stand-in gaffer and his former manager so well last term. Rangers weren’t to be denied this time, though.

Kilmarnock arrived at Ibrox without a win in five and it only took a glance at the team-sheet to confirm that Dyer was aiming to stop the rot rather than shock the Light Blues in their final home game of the year.

That winless run continued for the visitors, while Rangers will now travel to Parkhead on Sunday aiming to add another win to their tally and record a victory that would be a statement of intent in the title race.

Gerrard stuck with the same side that were so impressive at Easter Road on Friday evening but Rangers couldn’t replicate that quick start that allowed them to put the game to bed inside the opening minutes against Hibernian.

Jermain Defoe was denied by a timely block from Gary Dicker inside four minutes and Nikola Katic pulled a tame effort wide seconds later as Rangers came out with intent. But they would return to the dressing room having huffed and puffed and with nothing to show for their efforts.

The first time that Kilmarnock ventured up the park was their only real threatening attack of the opening 45 minutes. Nicholas Hamalainen’s strike was deflected off James Tavernier and wide of target as Rangers survived their only scare of the half.

The rest of the action went in the other direction as Gerrard’s side tried time after time to find a way through the yellow wall – more often than not made up of ten members of the Killie side – only to find it too well structured and well packed.

When the Gers did breach it, as they did in the 20th minute as Ryan Kent picked out Joe Aribo, Kilmarnock survived. Alex Bruce was the one that would deny the hosts on that occasion as he made a crucial intervention to deny the midfielder from six yards.

Ryan Jack would fire just wide of target minutes later before Rangers started to find the going tougher as mumbles and moans began to become more audible around Ibrox.

Gerrard’s side would continually press and probe but crosses were cleared and creative players were snuffed out as Kilmarnock defended in numbers and hunted in packs.

A Glen Kamara effort that clipped the top of the bar on the whistle summed up a frustrating spell for Rangers. Dyer, though, would have been content at that stage.

He would have been even happier had Allan McGregor not got down smartly to save a strike from Alan Power on a rare foray forward for the visitors. They then retreated deep into their own territory.

By the 57th minute, Gerrard had decided it was time to change as Morelos replaced Defoe. The roar that greeted his arrival was the loudest of the afternoon to that point but he soon raised the decibel levels.

A low shot from Barisic was held, just, by Laurentiu Branescu and Tavernier skewed a shot high and wide from a promising position as Rangers had picked up where they left off but the introduction of Morelos gave Ibrox a much-needed lift.

Just eight minutes later, the Colombian had his 28th goal of the season and Rangers had the breakthrough they had waited so long for.

Jack slipped the ball through to Aribo and he shuffled it to Morelos. The appeals for offside looked worthy from Kilmarnock but they were dismissed as the striker beat Branescu from close range and wheeled away with his name ringing around Ibrox.

The chance to make sure of the points was soon spurned as Morelos collected a Tavernier pass and looked to skip round the Killie keeper. He should have scored.

The closing stages were still poised to be tense for Rangers. A Morelos strike was deflected wide, Aribo couldn’t convert at the near post and Greg Stewart came close from range.

Kilmarnock eventually showed some urgency but the clock ticked away and time soon ran out. Rangers had what they wanted, and what they more than deserved.