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 the load with a poacher's finish for his first Rangers goal. It was a triumph for perseverance over desperate defending. Kilmarnock had three attempts at keeping it out, keeper Daniel Bachmann pulling off a heroic double save from Andy Halliday, then James Tavernier. The home team's failure to clear their lines was always likely to cost them. Ryan Kent had a third go, Stuart Findlay blocking on the goalline before Defoe found a way through the chaos with an instinctive first time finish from close range. Eamonn Brophy equalised for the hosts 11 minutes later, with an emphatic strike Brophy celebrates after making it 1-1 in the first half of the Scottish Premiership encounter The early goal gave the visitors the shot of early adrenalin every team craves. In the opening 20 minutes it seemed Steve Clarke's team would do well to cling on and at that stage victory seemed unthinkable and unlikely. They escaped the loss of a second goal by the skin of their teeth when Morelos crashed a header from Ryan Kent's dangerous corner off the face of the upright. The first Rangers visit to Rugby Park since the Colombian claimed a hat-trick in a 3-1 win in the Betfred Cup in August, the last trip down the A77 was marred by an anterior cruciate injury to Jamie Murphy. Understandably, eyes were focused on the Ibrox winger's potential replacement Jones. Hardly overendowed with alternatives Clarke gambled on the Irishman's professional pride and commitment winning through. He was vindicated in the end, yet as Kilmarnock spent the opening stages repelling wave after wave of Rangers attack the winger's interest levels were queried more than once by home supporters. Nevertheless, Kilmarnock are a hardy football team. Unbeaten in four home Scottish Premiership matches against Rangers since a 5-1 defeat in May 2011 the home side gained their foothold in the game after 23 minutes thanks to a horrendous mistake from Joe Worrall. A personal embarassment for the on-loan defender unfolded at a time in the game when Rangers were under little or no pressure. The result saw Kilmarnock leapfrog Gerrard's Rangers side into second place in league table Exchanging passes with left back Andy Halliday inside his own half a moment of fatal hesitation gave Eamonn Brophy the encouragement he needed. Pressing hard as Worrall allowed the ball to stick under his feet Brophy nicked it into space and advanced on goal, slamming an emphatic equaliser past McGregor from the edge of the penalty area. Suddenly Kilmarnock looked more comfortable in their surroundings. Critical once again of the artificial surface Steven Gerrard's team suddenly looked anything but. A persistent thorn in Kilmarock's side first impressions suggested Morelos had done it again four minutes into the second half. A period of Rangers pressure saw captain Tavernier whip a vicious ball into the six-yard box. Throwing himself at the ball Morelos turned it into the net past Bachmann. Replays showed the South American used his right fist to do it and referee Don Robertson flashed a yellow card in the chilly Ayrshire sky. Panic over Kilmarnock resolved to deny Rangers any more free hits. Hand of God or otherwise. Snapping and pressing with feverish intent the home team refused to give he visitors a minute's peace. When Jones collected Kent's loose pass with 25 minutes to play there wasn't a great deal on. Seconds later Rangers were on their knees on the brink of defeat. It needed a fine double save from Killie keeper Backmann from a Worrall header and a Morelos follow-up to protect all three points for the home team. It might be some time before the home support make the mistake of querying their manager again. All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility