Killie goal leaves many thinking it's all over

his supposed backing for Rangers, referee Bobby Tait allowed the last Ibrox game of the season to drag on into injury time when Kilmarnock scored and seemed to end the remaining dreams Rangers had of keeping their title.

Tait, of course, had been pilloried by Celtic fans for playing injury time at Tynecastle which permitted Hearts time to equalise - and then for failing to do the same when Celtic were chasing a victory against the Edinburgh team at Celtic Park.

Yet, at the weekend, after a game he handled without a hint of controversy, it was Tait's timing which gave the Rugby Park team the opportunity to score the winner through an Ally Mitchell shot which went into the net just short of the ninety-third minute of the game.

It may be remembered, down through the years, as the killer blow to Rangers' chances of winning their tenth successive championship - but, in reality, it was simply one of a series of defensive mistakes which have littered the Glasgow team's performances this season.

As manager Walter Smith pointed out afterwards: ''Obviously, it was a disappointing result and it points up our inconsistency this year.

''It has been up and down all the way, going from good performances to bad performances. From playing well, for example before going to Aberdeen, then playing badly there and recovering last week. Today that inconsistency reared its head again.

''We have to congratulate Kilmarnock, of course, because they have had a very good season and they have been able to make it hard for teams as they did this afternoon.''

It was clear that Smith had been hurt by the fact that in his last home game as manager of Rangers his team had lost at a still critical time of the season for the club.

But he added: ''The players have known a lot of success over the years and this time round we did not even look as if we had a chance six or seven weeks ago.

''Then we dragged ourselves back in only to fall at the second-last hurdle. All of that was dis-appointing.''

The players, some of whom end their Ibrox years along with their manager after the Scottish Cup final against Hearts, were also hurt by what happened - but they could have few complaints. On the day Kilmarnock limited Rangers to few scoring opportunities, defending in numbers and then attempting to hit them on the break.

As Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson stressed: ''We worked very, very hard to get this result and I think, in the end, we deserved the win.

''We had several chances before we did score. Gus McPherson was right through and forced a good save out of their keeper early in the second half.

''The more Rangers pushed forward the more we began to find gaps when we broke out of defence ourselves.

''Now we look as if we can be going back into Europe which is tremendous for this club and the players and supporters.

''We had a little taste of it last season, of course, after being away from that level for a long time. Here we are with the chance to return and it would be nice if we could make this a little bit of a habit.''

Mitchell, who had appeared as a substitute after 68 minutes, moved into the Rangers penalty box to accept a deep inviting cross from Pat Nevin and strike his shot out of the reach of Antti Niemi.

Alarming gaps had been appearing at the back for Rangers and Kilmarnock had threatened to punish them earlier.

This time Mitchell made no mistake and the Kilmarnock fans were celebrating victory and a glimpse of involvement in European competition when the game ended and some of the Ibrox

players were left in tears as they thought their dream of a record tenth title had disappeared.

The team skipper, Richard Gough, summed it up for himself and for the other players who will now leave, when he said: ''This could be the first time in 10 years that we have not won a championship and that hurts.

''I hope that it will hurt the newer lads as much as it has hurt those of us who have been here winning these titles. It will let them know what they have to do next year when we have gone.''

''Today it seemed as if we could have played forever without being able to get a goal. It was terrible for us.

''Sentiment didn't affect us, we just did not play well enough after pulling ourselves back into a good position. We knew we had to win to put some pressure on Celtic at Dunfermline and we didn't do it.

''But we still have the cup final to come and we will have to be ready for that match. It would be a disaster if we were to lose it now.''

Rangers did have some scoring chances but, in the main, Kilmarnock's defence, admirably organised by Ray Montgomery, stood firm.

With Brian Laudrup continuing to perform only on the fringes of the game, the Ibrox team had no-one with the guile to find a way through.

And so an era ended and Rangers will build a new team for next season under the guidance of a new coach, the Dutchman Dick Advocaat.

Richard Gough, Andy Goram, who did not play on Saturday, Alex Cleland, Ian Durrant, and Ally McCoist will all leave Ibrox with manager Smith and his assistant, Archie Knox, after the final, which takes place at Celtic Park on May 16.

After the weekend tears they will want to depart on a high but the players whose form has see-sawed since the season began must get themselves into winning mode again if they are to stave off the challenge which will come from Hearts.

Next league games: Rangers - Dundee United (a). Kilmarnock - Hibs (h).

Talking Point

The Rangers support knew that they were seeing the end of a period of sustained success which their club had never enjoyed before. The banner which was unfurled at the end by some of those who stayed behind to salute their heroes said it all - ''Thanks for the memories, lads'' - it read on a day when nostalgia was almost able to nudge defeat into the background.

We have a chance to return to European competition, and it would be nice if we could make it a habit

BOBBY WILLIAMSON

This hurt, and I hope it will let the newer lads know what they have to do next year when we have gone

RICHARD GOUGH