A second half comeback from league leaders Rangers ensured they would navigate a tough trip to Kilmarnock as a 2-1 win kept them two points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Danny Armstrong's 11th minute penalty had given the home side a deserved lead but second half strikes from James Tavernier (55) and Tom Lawrence (59) won it for Rangers after a poor first 45 in East Ayrshire had threatened to dislodge them on a wet night at Rugby Park.
Philippe Clement made a trio of changes for the trip to East Ayshire as he welcomed Borna Barisic, Ross McAusland and Fabio Silva back into his starting XI and it was the Portuguese forward who went closest to scoring first when he met a neat cross early on.
The Gers would go even closer from the resulting corner when Connor Goldson's bullet header was somehow kept out by Will Dennis in the Killie net. The home side would go ahead shortly afterwards though when John Lundstram was adjudged to have handled in the area and Armstrong made no mistake from 12 yards out.
A gritty performance from Derek McInnes' Killie side ensured Rangers struggled throughout the first 45 but they found themselves level through a familiar source of goals early in the second period when Tavernier whipped home a delicious from 25-yards out when Lawrence was felled just outside the area.
And the turnaround would be completed just moments later when a quick free-kick saw Dessers' strike deflected before it broke to Lawrence who smashed home with aplomb to send the vocal away support into ecstasy. From there on in, Clement's side would take full control and secure a vital three points in the title race.
The win keeps Rangers ahead of Celtic by two clear points despite their 7-1 home win against Dundee ahead of Saturday's visit of Motherwell.
Here’s our post-match Rangers player ratings:
5. Borna Barisic - 4
Struggled both offensively and defensively. Will have done little to convince Clement he should be first choice ahead of Yilmaz and was taken off at the break. Huge mistake that led to the opening goal. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
6. John Lundstram - 6
Saw a lot of the ball but wasn't quite as creative as the midfield duo beside him. Adjudged to have handballed it for Killie's opener. | Craig Williamson - SNS Group Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group
7. Mohamed Diomande - 6
Probably Rangers best player on the night. Not much came off for him but distributed well and tried to create - although a slack pass almost allowed Kilmarnock the easiest of goals had it not been for Butland. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
8. Tom Lawrence - 7
Not his usual creative self in the first period but was superb in the second period, winning the free kick for the leveller and scoring a superb second. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group