It happens as often as a blue moon over Ayrshire. Yet for well over an hour here Kilmarnock supporters had cause to question the judgment of Steve Clarke. By now they really should know better.
Starting Jordan Jones in this game was always a risky, contentious call. The Northern Irishman signed a pre-contract agreement with Steven Gerrard's side earlier this month, celebrating the realisation of a lifetime's ambition with the posting of a pro-Rangers slogan on social media.
While Kilmarnock supporters questioned his commitment, Clarke kept the faith. There was an inevitability to how the story ended.
Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones (L) scores past Rangers 'keeper Allan McGregor to secure 2-1 win
Jones celebrates after scoring the winning goal against Rangers on Wednesday evening
Jones celebrates with Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke after scoring in the second half
Jermaine Defoe's last start for Bournemouth came in a 2-1 win over Norwich in the English League Cup on October 30.
Questions over the likely form and sharpness of the former England striker were answered when he scored his first Rangers goal after 12 minutes. Questions over the Ibrox side's central defence continued when a personal disaster for Joe Worrall gifted Eamonn Brophy a Killie equaliser 11 minutes later.
The game was delicately poised at 1-1 after 65 minutes when the doubts and concerns over the commitment of Jones were resoundingly answered.
Once again Rangers were architects of their own demise. Under little or no pressure on the halfway line Ryan Kent surrendered possession to his future team-mate.
There was work to do yet. Head down making ground, however, Jones resisted the urge to play in Brophy, smashing a low 20-yard shot into the corner of the net past the despairing dive of Allan McGregor.
The night finished in a deserved, dogged win for Clarke's admirable team, a standing ovation for the Ibrox-bound matchwinner and the Ayrshire side going back above Gerrard's team in the Premiership table.
Rangers' Jermain Defoe scores on his debut to put Steven Gerrard's side 1-0 up in the first half
Striker Defoe celebrates after breaking the deadlock for Rangers against Kilmarnock
Defoe is surrounded by his Rangers team-mates after scoring in the 12th minute of the match
Make no mistake, this was a sobering return to earth for a Rangers team handed a stark reminder that a league has never been won by a single win over Celtic.
When Robbie Keane joined the Parkhead club in a high profile loan switch Kilmarnock punctured the balloon of euphoria on the Irishman's debut. So it was here as Defoe's stunning start to life in a Rangers jersey proved a false dawn. For Steven Davis it was an equally underwhelming return, the Northern Ireland midfielder's second debut lasting 70 minutes before he was replaced by Daniel Candeias as Rangers chased the game.
In two meetings with Killie this season Alfredo Morelos scored all four Rangers goals. Playing alongside the Colombian in a new-look forward line, former England international Defoe showed a willingness to share
