Rangers Manager Left Puzzled by Ibrox Atmosphere Despite Comprehensive Victory
Rangers head coach Danny Rohl has admitted he was left thoroughly bemused by the nervous atmosphere that permeated Ibrox Stadium during his side's emphatic 5-1 triumph over Kilmarnock. The German tactician found himself perplexed by sections of the home support who audibly expressed their frustration, with the team being booed off at half-time despite holding a narrow lead.
A Challenging Encounter Against Ten Men
The match took an early dramatic turn when Kilmarnock's Dom Thompson received a straight red card for a foul on Djeidi Gassama within the opening five minutes. Rangers captain James Tavernier promptly converted the resulting penalty, giving the hosts what many assumed would be a straightforward advantage. However, the anticipated goal rush failed to materialise immediately, with the visiting side demonstrating remarkable resilience despite their numerical disadvantage.
"I have to be honest with you, I could not understand this reaction," Rohl stated candidly in his post-match reflections. "I love our fans, really, but today I was really surprised. We got the lead very early in this first half. It is not always easy against 10 men. Anyone who knows football will tell you this."
Late Flourish Seals the Points
The tension inside the stadium only began to dissipate after the hour mark, when Bojan Miovski finally doubled Rangers' advantage. This breakthrough sparked a late flurry of goals that ultimately reflected a more convincing scoreline. The impact of Rohl's substitutions proved particularly decisive in the final half-hour, with Andreas Skov Olsen marking his introduction by scoring his first goal for the club. Further strikes from Oliver Antman and Mikey Moore, added to Miovski's effort and Tavernier's early penalty, completed the comprehensive 5-1 rout.
"To win 5-1, even with the red card, is pleasing," added Rohl, whose team moved three points clear of Celtic in the table after their rivals' fixture was postponed. "We have come from 13 points behind to now be only three points behind [Hearts]. Maybe this deserves a little bit more positive energy."
A Plea for Unity and Understanding
Rohl extended an olive branch to the supporters, acknowledging the unique pressures at a club of Rangers' stature while appealing for collective spirit during the tense title run-in. He suggested that anxiety over a slender 1-0 lead might have contributed to the restless mood.
"I learned a lot in the last three months about the club, about the demands," he reflected. "In some moments I can understand, in some other moments I can’t agree, but let’s do it together. We finished strongly. I think then the fans recognise, sometimes maybe they are a little bit scared by a 1-0 scoreline that something happens. Let’s go in one direction together until the end."
Kilmarnock Take Pride in Defiant Display
Despite the heavy defeat, Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann insisted his team could derive significant encouragement from their performance. Playing virtually the entire contest with ten men, his side displayed commendable organisation and energy for long periods before eventually succumbing to Rangers' superior quality and fresh legs.
"I am so proud of them. I have no criticism of them whatsoever," McCann affirmed. "We hung in there and showed brilliant energy for a long time. We can take a lot from this moving forward despite the final scoreline."
Rangers now turn their attention to the Scottish Cup, where they face Queen's Park at the weekend, aiming to maintain their positive momentum across all competitions.
