It was fun while it lasted, but Rangers outlined their powers of recovery by turning a possible defeat by Kilmarnock into an improbable victory at Rugby Park.

Inside of 10 minutes, Kilmarnock, courtesy of an Andy McLaren brace, the first a fourth minute penalty, were two ahead as reward for a storming start to proceedings.

Rangers were slow to respond, but the turning point was created for them on 34 minutes when Kevin McGowne was dismissed for a second bookable offence on Rod Wallace reducing the home side to 10 men.

Before Kilmarnock's reshuffle was complete a comeback looked on the cards as Billy Dodds netted from the spot - and from then on the home side were always on the back foot.

They defended manfully, but Dodds is becoming used to salvaging matters for Rangers and once he struck on 75 minutes further Killie resistance was futile.

Substitutes Kenny Miller and Tugay capitalised as Kilmarnock heads dropped and from 2-0 down Rangers were a convincing 4-2 ahead to complete a truly dramatic match.

The Ibrox outfit face Denmark's Herfolge for a place in the Champions League in midweek, but very quickly had to shift their focus to this SPL contest after a thrilling opening.

McLaren won the spot-kick himself forcing Bert Konterman into a rash lunge just inside the area and then sent Stefan Klos the wrong way to offer Kilmarnock the ideal start.

Christophe Cocard almost doubled the home side's tally after seven minutes with a fierce low volley following a McLaren corner, but the ball flashed just wide of the mark.

Kilmarnock were without former Rangers midfielder Ian Durrant because of a hamstring injury, though Ally McCoist, who has agreed a new one-year deal, did make the bench.

From the sidelines neither will have believed what they were watching as in the 10th minute Rangers were incredibly two behind and again the scorer was the rejuvenated McLaren.

A Jerome Vareille pass was chested down by the winger, discarded by Reading because of drink and drug problems, who raced clear before slotting calmly under Klos for 2-0.

Rangers missed an almost instant chance to reply when the recalled Neil McCann burst clear on the left, but the Scotland international fired into the side-netting.

Kilmarnock were playing above themselves now and could have gone 3-0 up after 16 minutes when Martin Baker found time and space at the far post only to drag his effort wide.

Sporting an unfamiliar red third kit, Rangers were looking distinctly off-colour with Cocard's brilliant turn past Sergio Porrini typifying Kilmarnock's flair.

Tempers were rising. Kilmarnock's Kevin McGowne was booked for tripping Rod Wallace and then moments later Lorenzo Amoruso received a yellow card for a late challenge on Cocard.

The visitors should have pulled a goal back on the half-hour but from Giovanni van Bronckhorst's deflected cross, Wallace headed badly over from point blank range.

McGowne's earlier caution was to cost him on 34 minutes when he dragged back Wallace as he looked to break clear and was duly given a second booking and sent off by referee Tom Brown.

Circumstances suddenly conspired against Kilmarnock as, just two minutes later, makeshift centre-half Gary Holt's needlessly fouled McCann to give Rangers a penalty.

Cocard was booked for his protests before Billy Dodds stepped up to convert from the spot for his fifth goal of the season in only his fourth match to make it 2-1.

Rangers were in control for the first time in the game and a clever change of feet on the edge of the area by van Bronckhorst culminated in a powerful drive just over the bar.

Rangers made a positive switch replacing defender Fernando Ricksen with winger Andrei Kanchelskis in a bid to assert their one-man advantage as they sought to deprive Kilmarnock of victory.

In an increasingly bad-tempered game Peter Canero, himself booked before the break, was hauled down by Sergio Porrini earning the Rangers defender a 52nd minute caution.

Rangers continued to press, as firstly McCann beat two men before firing straight at Gordon Marshall and then the Kilmarnock keeper saved at the second attempt from a Barry Ferguson shot.

In a defensive move, Cocard was replaced by Garry Hay on the hour mark, though a van Bronckhorst booking for throwing the ball away showed Rangers' frustration persisted.

Amoruso flicked a header wide before Rangers brought off Porrini and Wallace for youngster Miller and Turkish international Tugay with 25 minutes remaining.

Veteran McCoist replaced Vareille on 70 minutes and within moments almost produced an instant strike as he found a way past Amoruso only to send a long-range effort wide.

Kilmarnock were defending in numbers now, Gus MacPherson flinging himself at a van Bronckhorst shot, but time ran out on them after 75 minutes as Rangers finally levelled.

Van Bronckhorst's corner from the left was met firmly by the head of the prolific Dodds who, not for the first time this season, had secured his side an unlikely reprieve.

It was the break Rangers needed. A mere two minutes later they were ahead. Ferguson's weaving run was halted and Miller pounced to drill in his first goal since switching from Hibernian.

Miller then headed over before his fellow substitute Tugay rounded Marshall and even had time to compose himself before smashing the ball into an empty net. Game over. But what a game.