Cuellar and Boyd claim Rangers win

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The striker netted from the penalty spot to seal the win after Carlos Cuellar had set the ball rolling at Rugby Park, with the victory allowing Rangers to restore their four-point lead over Celtic at the top of the SPL.

Rangers are badly in need of goals to keep their European dream alive following a drab goalless draw against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Cup in midweek, but only time will tell if Boyd will be given the nod for Thursday's return leg in Athens.

Boyd and Jean-Claude Darcheville were the preferred strike partnership against Killie, while the introduction of Chris Burke provided pace on the right flank.

Darcheville should have scored in the opening minutes. Boyd's flick-on released the striker through on goal with only Alan Combe to beat but Darcheville somehow contrived to lob over both the Kilmarnock goalkeeper and the crossbar with the gaping goal at his mercy.

Kilmarnock then produced some of their best football in weeks but failed to capitalise on their superiority and found themselves trailing with 24 minutes gone.

Burke punted a corner into the congested goalmouth and Boyd and Barry Ferguson both assisted with their heads to set up Cuellar, who nodded across goal and into the back of the net to claim his fifth goal of the season.

Rangers should have claimed a second before the break but Darcheville was profligate again. He collected a long ball from Cuellar and nodded past Simon Ford before charging into the box, only to screw his effort across the face of goal and wide.

Boyd was the main tormentor after the restart. He peeled off Jamie Hamill to glance Brahim Hemdani's free-kick wide, before seeing a set-piece of his own turned past the post by Combe. Allan Johnston then saw his volley cleared off the line by Sasa Papac at the other end before Boyd finally added his name to the scoresheet.

Hamill handled McCulloch's cross and referee Mike McCurry immediately pointed to the spot. Boyd stepped up to lash the resultant penalty high into the net with 62 minutes gone and there was no way back for the home side.