While Rangers will delight in a nine-point lead in the Premiership should they complete the job at Rugby Park, they will no doubt have half an envious eye on events at Hampden later.

Steven Gerrard has yet to lift a trophy as Rangers manager and they are playing today against Kilmarnock because they failed to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals carried over from last season.

City rivals and holders Celtic take on Aberdeen later, with Hearts waiting for them in the final after beating Hibs yesterday.

James Tavernier's sixth penalty success of the season thus has Rangers on their way to a nine point lead at the top of the Premiership.

If Kilmarnock are to get anything out of this, they will have to end Rangers' run of five and a half games without conceding a goal.

Image source, SNS

A late Kilmarnock flurry apart, Rangers are well worth their half-time lead.

Captain James Tavernier's 10th goal of the season separates the sides.

However, it took a silly hand ball from defender Ross Millen to give the right-back the chance to break the deadlock from the penalty spot.

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Kilmarnock end the half on top, but another Chris Burke free-kick is defended well by Rangers.

Chris Burke has scored a few spectacular free-kicks in his time and the winger gets plenty of pace on this one, but it is straight into the arms of Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor as we enter a minute of stoppage time.

A yellow card flashed in Rangers' direction this time.

Left-back Borna Barisic clatters Chris Burke to concede a free-kick.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

The pressure continues on Kilmarnock, who are second to most balls and midfielder Aaron Tshibola is booked for a late challenge on Ryan Jack.

Kilmarnock defender Scott Millen's volleyball-style block in front of goal handed James Tavernier the chance to open the scoring from the penalty spot.

Image source, SNS

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Rangers' hands are up for another penalty as a clearance strikes Kilmarnock centre-half Kirk Broadfoot.

A bit ambitious with that appeal.

More sighs of relief in the Kilmarnock defence as James Tavernier's whipped corner just evades the head of team-mate Connor Goldson and it evades everyone before curling wide of the far post.

Rory McKenzie has Kilmarnock's first shot on goal, but the sting is taken out of it by a deflection and it is safely into the arms of goalkeeper Allan McGregor.

Julie Fleeting
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

A fine passing move opens up the Kilmarnock defence again and Joe Aribo's ball to the front post finds Cedric Itten at the front post.

But the striker is closely marked and his flick is over the crossbar.

More pressure on the Kilmarnock defence - and they are creaking.

Calum Waters goes into referee Andrew Dallas' book for pulling down Joe Aribo just outside the penalty box on Rangers' right. Fortunately for the Killie full-back, Borna Barisic makes a mess of the resulting free-kick.

Scott Arfield is next to threaten and the Rangers midfielder fires a powerful drive curling wide from 18 yards.

Who else but James Tavernier takes spot kick - and sends it clinically into the corner of the net.

That's the right-back's six spot kick success of the season - and it comes the day after his 29th birthday.

Image source, BBC Sport

Killmarnock had been dealing with Rangers' threat reasonably well but shoot themselves in the foot with a silly hand ball.

Connor Goldson rises to meet a free-kick. It flicks off the centre-half's head and into the hand of Ross Millen.

What the defender was doing with his arm up there only he knows.