Mols double puts Rangers on road back to summit

Rangers got their noses back in front of Celtic again, as they conjured up a stunning performance at Ibrox yesterday that saw them reclaim the title lead by the slender margin of two goals.

Two goals from Michael Mols, along with others from Shota Arveladze and Claudio Caniggia, restored Alex McLeish's team to the top of the Scottish Premier League amid the kind of fervour few have ever seen at this stadium.

Rangers were unrelenting in the pursuit of goals, but so too were their fans. How can it be called a bad day at the office when your side has scored four times? Well, if the championship is decided on goal difference then some misses yesterday could come back to haunt McLeish and his players.

A 38-game marathon has now come down to a sprint. Only it will not be fractions of seconds that separate the Old Firm, but goals. Celtic and Rangers each have two games left, and, if they cannot be separated on goal difference, a post-season play-off looms on the horizon.

"That was the best I have seen Rangers for a long time," sighed Jim Jefferies, the Kilmarnock manager. "They could have saved themselves the hassle of a play-off today because we were lucky to get away with 4-0."

McLeish admitted that Rangers had been "off the boil" recently but accepted this rousing performance cleared away the cobwebs. "We know what is at stake. I think the title will go right to the last day."

Rangers flew out of the blocks and had the contest killed off after just six minutes, thanks to two swift, and ruthless, pieces of finishing from Mols. The Dutch striker opened his account after five minutes, gathering a sublime pass from Mikel Arteta and thrashing a fierce angled shot that crashed in off Gordon Marshall's post. The Kilmarnock goalkeeper felt he was fouled barely a minute later when Ronald de Boer thumped into him as he cleared the ball. Mols did not wait about to argue, lofting the loose ball over Marshall from 30 yards.

Barry Ferguson ought to have added more goals, but missed two glorious chances before the interval and it took the arrival of Arveladze as substitute to contribute the third goal just before the hour, cutting in from the left and finding the net with a dipping 20-yard shot.

Caniggia also came off the bench to effect. The Argentinian striker ran on to de Boer's threaded free-kick in the 80th minute and rounded Marshall to guide in the fourth goal.

Goals: Mols (6) 1-0; Mols (7) 2-0; Arveladze (59) 3-0; Caniggia (80) 4-0.

Rangers (4-3-3): Klos; Ricksen, Moore, Amoruso, Numan; Hughes, Ferguson, Arteta; De Boer (McCann, 88), Mols (Caniggia, 76), Lovenkrands (Arveladze, h-t). Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Malcolm.

Kilmarnock (4-4-2): G Marshall; Fowler, Dindeleux, McLaughlin, Shields; Di Giacomo, Mahood, Fulton (MacDonald, 72), Canero; McLaren (Boyd, h-t), McSwegan (Locke, h-t). Substitutes not used: Stewart (gk), Hay.

Referee: A Freeland .

Bookings: Kilmarnock: Shields, McLaren, Mahood, Fowler, Di Giacomo.

Man of the match: Mols.

Attendance: 49,056

* After Celtic had beaten Hearts 1-0 on Saturday to top the table temporarily, Parkhead's new penalty king, Alan Thompson, said he believes he is the man to stand up and be counted if they are awarded another in the Uefa Cup final. The Englishman has taken over the responsibility from Henrik Larsson and John Hartson by being successful with his last three. His goal saturday gave Celtic their home victory over Hearts. Now with one game to go – Dundee at home – before facing Porto he says he wants the ball again if the referee points to the spot in Seville. "I wouldn't say I'm enjoying them," he said. "Once they go in you enjoy them. I will carry on taking them until I miss one."