Sport

Wallace finishes in style

Rod Wallace grabbed a hat-trick as Rangers opened up a 10-point lead over rivals Celtic with a comfortable win at Kilmarnock …

Mon Mar 01 1999 - 00:00

Rod Wallace grabbed a hat-trick as Rangers opened up a 10-point lead over rivals Celtic with a comfortable win at Kilmarnock last night. Wallace struck twice in the final three minutes to complete his treble as Rangers rubbed salt in the home team's wounds.

Rangers got off to the best possible start when Neil McCann scored in the fifth minute. The former Hearts winger grabbed his fourth goal in three games with a smart finish from Andrei Kanchelskis' cross.

Kanchelskis was in dazzling form throughout and with a bit of luck he might have had a couple of goals himself. It took a great save from Gordon Marshall in the 50th minute to deny him.

After McCann's opener, the visitors continued to pile on the pressure and Stephane Guivarc'h came close again from another Kanchelskis assist. Then McCann raced clear of the cover only to be foiled by Mark Reilly on the edge of the box.

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Ally McCoist tried to find Paul Wright at the back post but the ball ran out of play, as Kilmarnock fought back gamely.

Rangers continued to enjoy the bulk of possession and the Kilmarnock defence was under almost constant pressure. Gordon Marshall in the home goal had to race off his line to grab the ball after his skipper Ray Montgomerie mis-hit a clearance.

The home side's best spell came at the start of the second half and it took a good save from Stefan Klos to prevent McCoist scoring against his old team.

Wallace scored the first of his three goals in the 75th minute after being set up by McCann.

Substitute Jonatan Johansson made it 3-0 in the 85th minute and then the two goals in the dying stages from Wallace rounded off a perfect night for the Ibrox side.

KILMARNOCK: Marshall, Hamilton (Mitchell 73), Montgomerie, McGowne, Baker, Holt, Reilly, Durrant, Burke, McCoist (Roberts 83), Wright. Subs not used: Mahood, Lauchlan, Strain.

RANGERS: Klos, Porrini (Nicholson 83), Amoruso, Vidmar, Kanchelskis, Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Albertz (Hendry 70), McCann, Guivarc'h (Johansson 80), Wallace. Subs not used: Miller, Malcolm. Goals: McCann 5, Wallace 75, Johansson 85, Wallace 87, 90.

Referee: S Dougal (Glasgow).