Rangers held in Killie stalemate

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Pedro Mendes was dismissed shortly before half-time - the third Rangers player to see red this season after Kevin Thomson and Madjid Bougherra - and Smith's complaints earned him a seat in the Rugby Park stand.

Manuel Pascali then followed Mendes down the tunnel late in a game, with neither side able to find the goal that would seal the three points.

Smith admitted in his pre-match press conference he was unhappy with Rangers' start to the season and had hoped their second-half efforts in Germany would act as the catalyst for their domestic campaign. He was wrong.

Mirroring last week's early kick-off at Motherwell, Rangers appeared lacklustre once again and it was Kilmarnock who carved out the first chance of the game when Craig Bryson picked out the towering figure of Conor Sammon in front of goal.

He tried his luck with a downward header from close range but the striker was foiled in his efforts to claim the opener by goalkeeper Allan McGregor, who comfortably smothered in the Rangers goal.

Mendes then picked up a harsh yellow card - which would prove costly later on - for clipping the heels of Bryson but Killie failed to capitalise on the resultant free-kick when McGregor came out to gather a curving shot from Tim Clancy.

The game erupted two minutes from the interval when Mendes picked up a second yellow card for another foul on Bryson. The red card prompted a furious response from boss Smith, who exchanged angry words with Sammon and was then sent to the stand by referee Steve Conroy as he continued to remonstrate in the dug-out.

Kris Boyd had boasted an excellent record of 13 goals in 12 games against his former club but this clearly was not going to be his day and Rangers made a double change with an hour gone when Boyd and Novo were withdrawn to make way for Thomson and Kenny Miller.

With nine minutes to go, Kilmarnock were also reduced to 10 men when Pascali picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Davis. The match ended devoid of goals but not without incident, with seven cautions plus the two dismissals.