Barry Ferguson's Rangers pulled off a remarkable comeback against Kilmarnock to get the interim boss off to a winning start at with a 4-2 victory in Ayrshire.
The former skipper knew his team would be in for a tough night against Killie but could not have envisaged falling 2-0 down inside 15 minutes at Rugby Park. Killie defender Joe Wright was left free to head home from Fraser Murray's in swinging corner before skipper Brad Lyons pounced on a poor error from Clinton Nsiala to curl home a fine effort past Jack Butland from outside the box.
Ferguson then hooked Nsiala on the half hour mark, moving captain James Tavernier into centre back with Ridvan Yilmaz occupying his normal right back slot. And that change seemed to spark a revival with Vaclav Cerny pulling a crucial goal back before HT after being put through by Mohamed Diomande.
The Light Blues then came out for the second half a completely different team and deservedly netted three times with no reply to pull off an unlikely comeback. Cyriel Dessers helped himself to a brace, heading home from Tavernier's corner before putting his team ahead for the first time on the night with an excellent half-volley from Yilmaz's ball over the top.
Derek McInnes' Killie tired and Rangers sub Nedim Bajrami wrapped things up by hammering the ball past Kieran O'Hara after the hosts had been caught cold with men highy up the pitch.
A crazy first taste of life as Gers boss for Ferguson who will hope to make it two wins from two when Motherwell make the trip to Ibrox on Saturday.
Follow all the reaction from an enthralling encounter right here in our LIVE blog.
Key Events
Del blasts Rangers decisions
Derek McInnes reckons bad decisions and bad defending left Kilmarnock with nothing.
The Rugby Park boss was gutted after his team lost a 2-0 lead to be sunk by Rangers. McInnes’ men started superbly and could have scored more inside the opening 30 minutes than the two goals supplied by Joe Wright and Brad Lyons.
However, after Vaclav Cerny had halved his side’s lead before the interval, the gaffer was disappointed that referee Don Robertson awarded a corner kick from which the visitors levelled at the start of the second-half.
The official initially appeared to signal for a goal-kick after an Ianis Hagi shot drifted, but seemed to change his mind on the advice of assistant
Ross Macleod. McInnes was also unhappy at the defending from the subsequent James Tavernier delivery as Cyriel Dessers scored and also more moments in the backline which proved costly.
Boyd savages ropey Rangers defenders
A moment of ruthless decision making from Barry Ferguson turned his Rangers dugout debut from a disaster into a dream at Rugby Park.
The former Ibrox captain watched on horrified as Kilmarnock bullied his team into a 2-0 lead that could have been more. Young Clinton Nsiala was badly at fault during Philippe Clement's final game in charge against St Mirren, and was to blame for Killie's second after a soft header and weak attempted challenge on Brad Lyons, who curled a fine strike past Jack Butland.
Ferguson had seen enough and hooked the young Frenchman after less than half an hour, bringing on Ridvan Yilmaz to play right back and moving skipper James Tavernier to centre back.
It had the desired affect, with Yilmaz starting the move that saw Vaclav Cerny pull one back before half-time. But the analysis at the break was unforgiving, especially on Nsiala, as Kris Boyd got stuck in on Sky Sports.
Fergie on stunning comeback
Barry Ferguson admitted the character his players showed was the biggest positive after watching his team rally from two goals down to beat Kilmarnock on his Rangers dug-out debut.
And the interim Ibrox boss admitted almost seeing the home side score a THIRD was what sparked them into action as Vaclav Cerny's goal before half-time and a Cyriel Dessers double and strike from substitute Nedim Bajrami sealed victory in a thriller.
Ferguson ended a whirlwind 48 hours after replacing axed Philippe Clement by celebrating in front of the travelling fans in Ayrshire who chanted his name. And the 47-year-old legendary captain demanded his players show the same fight as they did after going behind to strikes from Joe Wright and Brad Lyons inside the first quarter of an hour in every game.
"It's not a corner in the first place"
A furious Derek McInnes has questioned why Rangers were awarded a corner kick that led to Cyriel Dessers making it 2-2 for Rangers in their thrilling comeback win against Kilmarnock.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said:
The second goal comes from a set play but it's not a corner. Don Robertson is 10 yards from it and actually gives the goal kick and I think his linesman has overruled him from 30 yards away which is madness and given them a corner.
We have still got to defend it better but it's not a corner in the first place, which is poor. That was an all-important goal in terms of giving them encouragement in the second half. From then on in it was difficult and Rangers' tails were up.
Tav rallies to Nsiala's side
James Tavernier says he has spoken to Clinton Nsiala after the youngster was brutally replaced after half an hour in their stunning 4-2 comeback victory against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The young defender endured a tough afternoon in last weekend's dismal 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren that cost Philippe Clement his job and was caught out again in Ayrshire when his misplaced header allowed Killie skipper Brad Lyons to fire the hosts into a 2-0 goal lead. Interim boss Barry Ferguson then reacted by hooking the former AC Milan kid just after the 30 minute mark, with Ridvan Yilmaz coming onto play at right back as skipper Tavernier moved into the middle alongside Robin Propper.
Rangers pulled a goal back before half-time through Vaclav Cerny and roared back in style to claim all three points after the break courtesy of a brace from Cyriel Dessers and a fourth goal from Nedim Bajrami. The away side jubilantly celebrated their win at full-time but Tavernier has revealed that he consoled Nsiala before speaking to the media.
Funny how history works..
Rangers have came from two goals down to beat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park for the first time since August 2000, where they also won 4-2.
Remarkably, Ferguson and two members of his new coaching team Neil McCann and Billy Dodds were all in the starting line-up that day, with Dodds bagging a brace alongside goals from Kenny Miller and Tugay.
Dessers details key half time team talk
Cyriel Dessers has shared what Barry Ferguson told the players at half-time that helped inspire them to overturn a deficit and come back to beat Kilmarnock 4-2.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:
Obviously he was not happy with the first 20 minutes. But we knew that already as we are a squad with experience. We found our feet at the end of the first half but he said 'we are still in the game, you have to match their intensity and fight and the quality will show'.
Talking points
Here are our main takeaways from a topsy-tutvy night at Rugby Park that ultimately ended in delight for new Rangers boss Barry Ferguson.
FULL TIME: Kilmarnock 2 Rangers 3
It's been extremely comfortable for them since levelling things up, but Ferguson will be overjoyed at hearing the final whistle goe in Ayrshire.
The ex captain won't have too much time to celebrate with Rangers welcoming Motherwell to Ibrox on Saturday before heading to Turkey for a huge clash with Fenerbahce in the Europa League.
Bajrami can't keep it down
The sub gets a couple of half-chances to bet his second since coming on.
His first shot is blocked but on the rebound he baloons it over the bar from just outside the area.
Hosts have ran out of steam
Rangers have been well worthy of their superb comeback.
But ever since they shipped the first goal to reduce their 2-0 lead, Killie haven't been able to command that level of dominance on and off the ball that served them so well in the first half an hour.
There are six minutes of additional time but it looks like it will be too much of an ask for McInnes' tired troops.
Final Gers sub
Ferguson has now handed a run out for youngster Ross McCausland.
He takes the place of Cerny, who is applauded by the travelling Rangers support as he walks off the pitch having bagged that crucial goal in the first half that kept his team alive.
GOAL! Killie 2 Rangers 4
And just like that the visitors wrap things up!
Killie are caught cold at the back and Diomande tees up sub Bajrami who lashes the ball past O'Hara.
A remarkable comeback from Rangers who looked all over the shop afer the first 30 minutes.
Lawrence carded
Lawrence is the latest player togo into the book just minutes after coming on.
Rangers are putting some passes together and will hope to keep Killie from mounting any late surge for a leveller by keeping the ball up the other end.
Killie double swap
It's McInnes' turn to roll the dice.
He brings on youngster David Watson and striker Innes Cameron in the place of Robbie Deas and Watkins.
More Gers changes
Ferguson has called on more reinforcements to try and help manage the last 10 minutes or so of the game.
Igamane and Hagi make way for Nedim Bajrami and Tom Lawrence.
Butland alert
Killie are having a bit more of the ball in attacking areas and do fashion a decent scoring chance.
A long throw into the box is only half-cleared and Corrie Nbada forces Butland to push a shot wide of the goal down to his right.
Propper cautioned
The Dutchman has not had a good night and gets himself into the book.
He takes a slack touch and has to bring Murray down who was bearing down on goal.
Can the Gers kill this off?
Ferguson will be urging his players to push forward for an all-important four goal to put them out of sight.
With 20 minutes remaining, Killie will be hoping that they can get back to the way they started the game and put the visitors under some serious pressure once more.
They've also introduced Liam Polworth in place of Kyle Magennis.
Home crowd stunned into silence
Killie's raucous home support can't quite believe what they have seen.
The Ayrshire side looked to be coasting at 2-0 but ever since then have been second best in pretty much every department.
McInnes has replaced Danny Armstrong with Liam Donnelly but the change has yet to have the desired effect with Killie losing out in the midfield battle.
GOAL! Killie 2 Rangers 3
The Gers have turned this game on it's head!
Dessers races onto Yilmaz's ball over the top to beat O'Hara with a superb half-volley to bag his brace.
What a game!
All Rangers
Killie are causing their own problems at the moment, giving up cheap possession and struggling to clear their lines, inviting Rangers to come at them with waves of attack.
McInnes may look to go to his bench to try and reassert themselves in the game.
Ferguson elated
It's been a rollercoaster of emotions for the interim boss so far tonight.
But his team have clawed themselves back into the game and are now hoping to complete the turnaround by going in front for the first time.
GOAL! Killie 2 Rangers 2
Rangers are level!
Tavernier's inswinging corner is met by the unmarked Dessers who somehow beats O'Hara with a header.
Not as frantic
The early stages of the second half are not quite as gung-ho as the first.
But Rangers know they need to up the tempo and start moving Killie's defensive structure around in order to break them down.
Cerny blazes wide
The Wolfsburg loanee shifts the ball onto his right foot just inside the box but can't hit the target.
Both sides are leaving a lot of space behind them when they commit men forward.
SECOND HALF: Killie 2 Rangers 1
And we are off again at Rugby Park.
Can Ferguson's team talk inspire a second half fightback or are Killie on course for a huge three points in their bid to get in the mix for the top six?
HT: Killie 2 Rangers 1
An action-packed first half draws to a close in Ayrshire.
Barry Ferguson's dugout debut threatened to start with complete disaster after Killie netted a quickfire double to go 2-0 up but Cerny's composed finish has given the men from Ibrox a lifeline.
Gers on top
Rangers have dominated proceedings since Cerny hauled them back into the game.
But Ferguson's men have been unable to fashion any more real openings in front of goal as the clock ticks towards the interval.
Four minutes of time added
We will have a minimum of four extra minutes at Rugby Park.
Does this pulsating first half have one more twist in it?
