KILMARNOCK 1, Rangers 1.

The Englishman's arrival just before the interval was greeted with polite applause from the more charitable Kilmarnock supporters, while the numerous unbelievers could be heard groaning as the fourth official, Kevin Toner, held up the number four on his electronic board.

Less than a half-hour later, however, the former Newcastle United and Fortuna Sittard striker was finally embraced into the collective bosom of his new football family after he scored a thoroughly deserved equaliser.

Jeffrey was one of manager Bobby Williamson's Bosman signings during the summer, but until Saturday afternoon, the shy Liverpudlian had failed to win over the demanding Killie fans, one goal in 12 appearances - half of them as substitute - hindering his settling-in period.

His header from Ally Mitchell's fine cross, though, was justified reward for a typically spirited performance by the Ayrshire side, who, indeed, perhaps deserved more than a solitary point against the somewhat bedraggled champions, and the goal will no doubt give Jeffrey some much-needed self-confidence.

While manager Dick Advocaat singled out Australian international defender Craig Moore as the only Rangers player who performed anywhere close to personal equilibrium, Kilmarnock had an entire team performing close to the peak of their powers.

Former Aberdeen goalkeeper Michael Watt finally erased those painful memories of encounters past against Rangers and, in particular, Mark Hateley, with an assured performance in his first competitive start since January, one that should get his phone ringing again.

The 28-year-old is only on a short-term deal at Rugby Park, but he proved that his once suspect temperament has been cured with experience.

Jim Lauchlan played a talismanic role in defence alongside calm Frenchman Fredi Dindeleux, one that suggests Kevin McGowne, who has an admirer in Scotland coach Craig Brown, will have to wait for his chance on returning from the suspension that kept him out of the match.

Jerome Vareille gave Rangers captain Lorenzo Amoruso an uncomfortable time with his darting forward runs (what a pity his shooting is so wayward), but the performance of the afternoon was that of Ayrshire's original Super Ally.

Prior to the match, Kilmarnock announced that Ally Mitchell would be rewarded for 10 years' sterling service to the club with a testimonial match against an as yet undecided English Premiership opponent.

The former East Fife winger, a #100,000 purchase by Jim Fleeting, responded by working himself almost to a standstill.

Along with Gary Holt, Ian Durrant, and Mark Reilly, he nullified Rangers' attacking threat from midfield but counterbalanced those somewhat negative chores by supplementing his own attack at every opportunity.

Sweat dripping off his brow like water from a leaky tap, an ecstatic but exhausted Mitchell gasped: ''Against teams like Rangers you always have to try to put in 110 per cent effort and we did that, although I think the atmosphere helped.

''I have loved my time at the club and, over the years, I have really developed a feeling for it.''

For the first time this season, Advocaat was able to start with squad members No.1 to 11, arguably his strongest team, perhaps with the exception of the injured Claudio Reyna.

That only the man in the No.5 jersey - Moore - played to form could be regarded as a major concern ahead of perhaps their most vital tie in the Champions League, against PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox on Wednesday.

However, it is not unheard of for a team to have a collective off-day and those success-spoiled supporters who sulked out of the stadium should be thankful that it occurred on league duty, where they still hold a four-point advantage over their Old Firm rivals, Celtic, and not in the European competition, which could prove ultimately fatal to their hopes of proceeding into the second group phase.

The suggestion that the players were not totally committed for fear of picking up a knock and thus missing out in midweek, though, is insulting to the hosts, whose relentless hounding knocked Rangers out of their smooth stride.

Advocaat sensed trouble after only 35 minutes, taking off right winger Andrei Kanchelskis and replacing him with the marginally more defence-minded Neil McCann as Kilmarnock threatened to over-run the midfield, even though 10 minutes previously Giovanni van Bronckhorst had given Rangers the lead with a delightful chip over Watt.

The tactical switch, though, left Rangers bereft of an attacking outlet on the right-hand side and congested the opposite end, where Jorg Albertz, van Bronckhorst, McCann, and Arthur Numan - until he went off injured at half-time - had no space in which to function properly.

Advocaat, who could again be without injury-plagued Numan for Wednesday, conceded that his team were lucky to escape with a point - ''it was not a game for the Rangers'' - while Williamson was understandably delighted with his players.

''We always work hard, but I think that we probably deserved a victory. I'm especially pleased for Mike. It takes time to settle in Scottish football, but I am sure he will be a good acquisition for us.''

Next league matches: Kilmarnock - Hearts (a); Rangers - Aberdeen (a).