AFTER a draw that felt like a defeat against Livingston, this victory at home to Kilmarnock was just the response that Rangers needed at the end of a difficult week.

Steven Gerrard and his players had come in for some unfriendly fire from their own supporters in the aftermath of the goalless draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena but the mood should be lifted this morning.

Kemar Roofe and Ryan Kent got the goals that earned the points and Rangers remain unbeaten in the Premiership. This was much more like it at Ibrox.

ALFREDO MORELOS FACES A LONG ROAD BACK

Even when he is not in the team, or in the squad for that matter, Rangers’ most high-profile player continues to grab the headlines and spark the talking points.

When Gerrard addressed the media on Friday afternoon, he admitted that Morelos ‘didn’t look himself’ amid continued debate and doubt about his future at Rangers. He gave no hints, though, that the Colombian would be nowhere to be seen on Saturday.

Having turned down a £16million approach from Lille earlier this month, Rangers now find themselves in an unenviable and difficult position. Morelos clearly wants to leave, but no other suitor has stepped up and put their money on the table.

The striker would certainly be a loss to Gerrard’s side but he is no use on the bench or in the stands and if his attitude isn’t right during the week then he certainly doesn’t deserve to play. Given what is at stake, Gerrard can’t take the chance Morelos starts to fancy it when the whistle blows.

Roofe marked his first start for Rangers with a goal on Saturday and deserves to keep his place against Hamilton this weekend. Morelos has a lot of convincing to do to show he wants to pull on the shirt again.

KENT DOESN’T TAKE HIS EYE OFF THE BALL

The situation with Morelos is clearly an issue for Gerrard but he need not, as it stands at least, have any concerns over the status of his other in-demand star man.

Leeds United had a £10million bid for Kent turned down last week and Gerrard has stressed how important the winger is to his side and how desperately he wants to keep him at Ibrox.

That, of course, could be easier said than done and there will be a number that will tempt the Light Blues board into doing business. For the sake of Rangers’ title aspirations, Gerrard must hope that Leeds, or anyone else, don’t hit that particular mark.

Kent’s strike here, a well-placed effort into the corner of the net, was his third goal in five Premiership games and he showed no signs that talk over his future will impact on his performances. That will encourage Gerrard and it needs to remain the case this term.

DEFENSIVE RECORD IS ONE TO BE PROUD OF

It is highly unlikely, with all due respect, that any of those that played on Saturday will go on to be remembered as fondly as the legends that made up the famous ‘Iron Curtain’ defence that made their names under the guidance of Bill Struth.

But the class of 2020 can at least be mentioned in the same breath in one regard after a fifth clean sheet from their first five Premiership games. If another is recorded against Accies, it will beat the club record from two decades previously to the Iron Curtain.

The opposition that Rangers have faced during this run – Aberdeen, St Mirren, St Johnstone, Livingston and Kilmarnock – may not be the most potent attacking teams in the league, but the shutout sequence is still an impressive feat and is certainly something to build on for the remainder of the campaign.

RANGERS DON’T PANIC WHEN THERE IS NO IBROX CROWD

Three games, three clean sheets and eight goals scored is as close to a dream start as Steven Gerrard could have hoped for at Ibrox this term. If Rangers are to challenge for the title, that run must continue.

Everyone at Ibrox is desperate for supporters to return to the stadium as soon as possible and fans could be allowed in next month providing that strict distancing and capacity regulations are adhered to.

Gerrard has so often spoken about the crowd being a driving force for Rangers but in all three games this term it can argued it has been an advantage to be playing in front of empty stands.

There are no moans and groans when passes are misplaced or chances missed and the added weight of expectation doesn’t seem to weigh heavily on Gerrard’s players.

The twelfth man will soon return but it cannot become a hindrance rather than a help as Rangers look to keep up their momentum at the top of the table.

OLD FIRM DOUBLE WAS NEVER ON THE CARDS FOR KILLIE

Having earned one of the two points that they have collected this term against Celtic, Alex Dyer would have hoped for a repeat performance and result from Kilmarnock That never looked like being the case, though.

Rangers dominated possession and created almost all of the chances on a one-sided afternoon as Killie put in plenty of effort but ultimately suffered a defeat without laying a glove on their hosts.

It shouldn’t be a huge cause for concern at present, but Dyer’s side now need to raise their game to avoid a sluggish start to the campaign becoming a real issue.