Abdallah Sima scored a stunning volley as Rangers responded to their Old Firm defeat with Scottish Premiership victory over Kilmarnock.
Ross McCausland fired the hosts in front after Kyle Vassell was denied when clean through on the Rangers goal, and Sima's inventive chest touch and volley added a quick second before the break.
Danny Armstrong converted a VAR-awarded penalty following John Souttar's handball - the first Rangers have conceded in 75 league games - but Todd Cantwell restored the two-goal advantage.
Rangers, beaten by Celtic on Saturday, reduce the league leaders' advantage to five points before they play St Mirren later. Kilmarnock, fourth, trail Hearts by five points.
Keep up to date with RangersThe latest Kilmarnock newsThe Vassell chance prompted Kilmarnock's best spell of the game, though that was their best opening.
And it was against the run of play that Rangers took the lead. Cyriel Dessers, having gone close with a shot and a header, swept a superb pass from halfway in behind David Watson for McCausland to chase and finish.
Then came Sima's moment. The winger received Connor Goldson's pass on the 18-yard line, controlled, spun away from Joe Wright and lashed a shot past the helpless Will Dennis.
The half-time scoreline was harsh on Kilmarnock and they needed a response early in the second period.
They probed and when Rory McKenzie's delivery struck Souttar's arm, referee John Beaton reviewed at the monitor and pointed to the spot - the first Premiership penalty Rangers have conceded since January 2022. Armstrong scored confidently.
But the reprieve was short lived. Ridvan Yilmaz's cross from the left perfectly met the near-post run of Cantwell and the midfielder applied the finish.
Rangers' first signing of the January transfer window, Fabio Silva, came on for his debut in place of Dessers and James Tavernier, twice, and Cantwell tested Dennis in the final half hour.
Player of the match - Abdallah Sima (Rangers)
Rangers' second scorer was a persistent threat on the left and lit up the game with his goalSima shows Rangers what they'll be missing - analysis
With his 15th goal of the season, Sima demonstrated what Rangers will be missing when he goes to the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.
That tournament runs from 13 January to 11 February, meaning Sima could be unavailable until Rangers' match with St Johnstone on 17 February.
The performance and result allowed Rangers to get their weekend disappointment out of their system and go into the winter break with a morale-boosting three points.
After winning the first meeting of the sides on the opening day of the season, Kilmarnock once again showed their ability to restrict Rangers for long spells.
If the passing from the hosts was not precise, there was usually a Killie boot or head in the way.
Going forward, the visitors were adept at getting into the right areas - particularly with the Vassell chance - but what will frustrate manager Derek McInnes is losing the third goal so soon after getting back into the contest at 2-1.
A late Liam Polworth shot would have made for an interesting finale had it not gone just wide.
What they said
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "It was an exceptional goal [by Sima]. The finish was really world class. I give [McCausland] a lot of minutes because he deserves it, he performs, he works for the team. He's growing and growing.
"I don't think that John Souttar can do much more or much less with his arm than he did. I hope there comes clarity for the second part of the season. It's important that there's clarity about what is handball and what is not handball."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "It felt so harsh for us [going behind]. The second goal came from nowhere. From a defensive point of view, it's difficult to be too critical of that.
"We just wanted to win the second half. We get ourselves a goal back. What we needed to do then was just be a wee bit more street-wise. The third goal is the goal where we've really not defended it well. We kept going and credit to them."
What's next?
Both sides are next in action in the Scottish Cup on 20 January. Kilmarnock host Dundee (15:00 GMT) and Rangers visit Dumbarton (17:30).
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-3-3
1Butland2Tavernier6Goldson5Souttar3Yilmaz20DowellSubstituted forSterlingat 71'minutes4Lundstram13CantwellBooked at 15minsSubstituted forRaskinat 89'minutes45McCauslandSubstituted forMatondoat 84'minutes9DessersSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 71'minutes19SimaSubstituted forWrightat 84'minutesSubstitutes
7Fábio Silva14Lammers17Matondo21Sterling23Wright28McCrorie38King43Raskin44DevineKilmarnock
Formation 4-5-1
1Dennis4WrightBooked at 63mins5Mayo17Findlay3NdabaSubstituted forDeasat 86'minutes11ArmstrongSubstituted forMackay-Stevenat 62'minutes7McKenzieBooked at 30mins22DonnellySubstituted forWatsonat 18'minutesBooked at 41mins31Polworth10KennedySubstituted forMurrayat 86'minutes9VassellSubstituted forWatkinsat 62'minutesSubstitutes
6Deas12Watson14Sanders15Murray19Davies20O'Hara21Dallas23Watkins39Mackay-StevenReferee:John Beaton
Attendance:49,250
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 3, Kilmarnock 1.
Second Half ends, Rangers 3, Kilmarnock 1.
Rabbi Matondo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Fraser Murray (Kilmarnock).
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Rabbi Matondo.
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by James Tavernier.
Substitution, Rangers. Nicolas Raskin replaces Todd Cantwell.
Attempt missed. Fábio Silva (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a fast break.
Foul by Connor Goldson (Rangers).
David Watson (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Robbie Deas replaces Corrie Ndaba.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Fraser Murray replaces Matthew Kennedy.
Attempt missed. John Souttar (Rangers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Tavernier with a cross following a corner.
Substitution, Rangers. Rabbi Matondo replaces Ross McCausland.
Substitution, Rangers. Scott Wright replaces Abdallah Sima.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Stuart Findlay.
Attempt blocked. Ross McCausland (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dujon Sterling.
Attempt missed. Liam Polworth (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Offside, Rangers. Abdallah Sima is caught offside.
Attempt saved. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Player of the match
ButlandJack Butland
with an average of 7.66
Rangers
Squad number1Player nameButland
Squad number19Player nameSima
Squad number45Player nameMcCausland
Squad number3Player nameYilmaz
Squad number21Player nameSterling
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number20Player nameDowell
Squad number4Player nameLundstram
Squad number13Player nameCantwell
Squad number5Player nameSouttar
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number7Player nameFábio Silva
Squad number43Player nameRaskin
Squad number23Player nameWright
Squad number17Player nameMatondo
Squad number9Player nameDessers
Kilmarnock
Squad number5Player nameMayo
Squad number1Player nameDennis
Squad number17Player nameFindlay
Squad number11Player nameArmstrong
Squad number10Player nameKennedy
Squad number7Player nameMcKenzie
Squad number3Player nameNdaba
Squad number4Player nameWright
Squad number9Player nameVassell
Squad number31Player namePolworth
Squad number22Player nameDonnelly
Squad number6Player nameDeas
Squad number15Player nameMurray
Squad number23Player nameWatkins
Squad number12Player nameWatson
Squad number39Player nameMackay-Steven