Sizzling Sima leaves Rangers with stunner ahead of AFCON duty as Premiership penalty run finally ends - 3 talking points

Rangers bounced back from their derby defeat to Celtic to beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Ibrox and get their new year off to a winning start - as they finally conceded a penalty in the Scottish Premiership, ending a run of almost two years.

Philippe Clement’s side were hurting from the 2-1 loss at Parkhead and the heat was on to pick up three points in the final game before the top flight winter break. Ross McCausland and an Abdallah Sima stunner inside three minutes at the end of the first half put the Light Blues in control at the break. Danny Armstrong pulled one back for the visitors from the penalty spot just before the hour mark but Todd Cantwell restored the two-goal advantage shortly after.

Rangers started like a team desperate to bounce back from that derby loss and Cyriel Dessers was one player with a point to prove and he went closest with an effort that struck the outside of the post after good work from McCausland to set him up. Abdallah Sima, on the eve of heading to the African Nations Cup with Senegal, then had an effort deflected off Joe Wright which almost crept into the bottom corner but Will Dennis got down to touch it past the post. Kilmarnock’s aim to frustrate was clear to see with John Beaton, who flashed an early yellow card to Todd Cantwell for dissent, forced to give them a warning for time wasting after just nine minutes.

Dessers headed wide from a Ridvan Yilmaz cross as the home side pressed for an opener to ease Ibrox nerves which were heightened when Kyle Vassell exposed the Gers backline to race clear after a brilliant David Watson through ball caught out the home defence but Jack Butland made a huge save to keep the game scoreless.

The home fans were becoming restless as half time approached but