Peter Lovenkrands silenced his critics on Sunday with a superb hat-trick and proved that he isn’t pants.
Pistol Pete revealed that he was spurred on by criticism from Ibrox legend Derek Johnstone who branded the Danish forward PANTS. The Radio Clyde pundit who was a hero at Ibrox in the 70’s made his feelings clear but ended up eating his words.
Lovenkrands is full of confidence after his brilliant strike against Inter Milan midweek in the Champions League and that confidence was carried in to this game against Killie and Pete bagged a sensational hat-trick.
Pete has showed the kind of form in the last couple of games that everyone knows he is capable of but hasn’t been showing of late. If he keeps putting in performances like this then he’ll soon have the fans back on side.
This victory is a welcome boost to the Ibrox side as it puts an end to the 10 game run without a victory and also lifts Gers back above Kilmarnock and heading in the right direction again.
Lovenkrands has Bob Malcolm and Barry Ferguson to thank for his hat-trick as the midfield duo supplied him with great passes all day.
It was Malcolm’s through ball that set up Lovenkrands for the opener in 16 minutes. There was calls for offside from the Killie camp but the goal was allowed to stand and Killie manager Jim Jeffries was sent to the stand for his trouble.
Gers doubled their lead in the 42nd minute and this time it was the superb Belgian Thomas Buffel that set Lovenkrands up to fire into the roof of the net.
Rangers continued to press in the second half but it was Kilmarnock who would score next and get themselves back into the game. McDonald had an easy chance from four yards out and slotted the ball home no problem.
Gers fans would have feared another game being thrown away like the Falkirk game last week but Lovenkrands completed his hat-trick and put their minds at ease. Buffel looked like he was going to score but Lovenkrands stole the ball from him and put it into the net.
It seemed like Gers were in easy street but Ibrox bound Kris Boyd showed why McLeish wants to sign him by grabbing Killie’s second with eight minutes to play.
Rangers managed to hang on for the win in an entertaining game.
Kilmarnock: Combe, Greer, Ford, Wright, Fowler, McDonald, Johnston, Invincibile (Murray 57), Hay, Boyd, Naismith.
Subs Not Used: Smith, Lilley, Dodds, Dillon, Di Giacomo, Campbell.
Rangers: Waterreus, Ricksen (Hutton 45), Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Burke, Malcolm, Ferguson, Murray, Buffel, Lovenkrands (Novo 73).
Subs Not Used: Klos, Thompson, Jeffers, Pierre-Fanfan, McCormack.
Manager Rating
Alex McLeish 7/10 – Things are starting to go his way.
Opponent Rating
Jim Jeffries 2/10 – Bad tempered fool sent to the stands!