How Derek McInnes and Kilmarnock shut down Rangers for a deserved win
The manager said he felt 'comfortable' during the game and no wonder - he had a plan and his players executed to perfection
As we noted before the match, Rangers do not like coming to Rugby Park.
A late Marley Watkins goal gave Killie a 1-0 win over Phillipe Clement’s side, making it six games unbeaten and lifting the hosts to seventh in the Premiership.
Derek McInnes said after the match: “There were no real scares. I felt quite comfortable throughout the game.”
Unusually for a game against Glasgow’s big two, the feeling in the stands was much the same, and for that enormous credit must go to the players, and also to the manager who had a perfect game plan to beat Rangers.
Here’s how McInnes and his players secured a fully deserved three points.
Read More:
Derek McInnes Q&A: Killie boss ‘comfortable’ in win over Rangers
Kilmarnock 1 Rangers 0: Instant reaction to another famous scalp
The three key things Killie have to do to get a result against Rangers on Sunday
Killie started in a 4-4-2 with Brad Lyons and Liam Donnelly in central midfield, with Rangers in their usual 4-3-3/4-2-3-1.
On paper that creates a potential mismatch in midfield with Rangers having an extra man, but out of possession Marley Watkins was asked to drop in on the deepest of their midfielders, Connor Barron, to create more of a 4-2-3-1.
As we highlighted before the match, Rangers like to build the play down the right, James Tavernier receiving the ball and getting it forward quickly to Václav Černý before joining the attack himself.
To combat that McInnes was willing to risk a potential 3 vs 3 at the back by having Corrie Ndaba press high on the visiting captain when they looked to build from the back, as can be seen in the rather aggressive press Kilmarnock deployed inside the first minute.
