Gers narrow the gap

David Weir opened the scoring early in the second half, before Boyd claimed his 11th goal of the season - and Kenny Miller and Steven Whittaker both netted late on.

However, Boyd's tally - and the scoreline - could have been even higher had he converted a first-half penalty.

Rangers carved out the first real chance when Kevin Thomson flighted a long ball into the box which was nodded on by Madjid Bougherra for Boyd at the far post but the striker's header was blocked by goalkeeper Alan Combe.

But it was Kilmarnock who looked the brighter team early on and they had a decent chance of their own when David Fernandez's lay-off was collected by Willie Gibson who fired just wide of Allan McGregor's right-hand post.

Rangers should have been ahead when they were awarded a penalty with 28 minutes gone when Boyd was tripped by Grant Murray. Boyd stepped up for the spot-kick but was denied the opener by an excellent save from Combe.

Rangers made their first change of the game at the interval when Nacho Novo was swapped for Kyle Lafferty. But Weir was the unlikely goal hero five minutes after the restart when he threw himself in front of a Thomson corner and nodded home from a few yards.

Boyd then added his name to the scoresheet just four minutes later after meeting a great cross from Miller and slotting home from inside the box.

There was concern for Rangers when Thomson left the pitch on a stretcher but the travelling supporters were quickly celebrating again when Miller met a Steven Davis cross to nod home from a few yards with three minutes to go.

Thomson's replacement, Whittaker, then put the gloss on the victory when he volleyed home in the final minute.