This was a game that improved the longer it went on and will leave Rangers feeling good about themselves after trailing leaders Hearts and also Celtic by nine points at kick-off.
They are now within half a dozen of both, who meet in Glasgow’s east end on Sunday (15:00 GMT).
Some of Rangers’ build-up play was very easy on the eye, as was the quality of the second and third goals. They did, however, have a tendency to over-play at times rather than go for the killer blow.
There was also a familiar vulnerability at the back with the makeshift pairing of Manny Fernandez and Nasser Djiga continuing in the injury-enforced absences of John Souttar and Derek Cornelius.
As if those lossed were not bad enough, it looks like there’s another injury for the Ibrox medical team to attend to, with Nedim Bajrami barely lasting 20 minutes before clutching the back of his left leg as he limped off.
Kilmarnock will be kicking themselves for the sloppy concession of the first goal. They were also caught out by Rangers’ quick counter for the second.
The front three of Dackers, Bruce Anderson and Scott Tiffoney all looked dangerous on the break and got in behind the fragile Rangers backline several times.
The sobering fact remains, though. With Christmas less than three weeks away, Kilmarnock still have not won a game of football since 4 October. Hence the chorus of boos on the final whistle from the Rugby Park faithful who were still in the ground.
Their side has only won two league matches all season. It’ll be a long one if they can’t improve those stats and quickly.
