Rangers headed up the M77 with all three points in a five-goal thriller at Rugby Park.
Dan Armstrong left Kilmarnock with a near-impossible task when he was sent off at 2-1 down, but a late fightback almost saw them nick an unlikely point.
Chris Stokes opened the scoring before Alfredo Morelos sent the sides into half time level.
Ryan Kent scored soon after half-time and Morelos looked to have sealed all three points with a 72nd minute strike to make it 3-1.
Joe Wright then fired home a stunning volley to give the home fans hope with six minutes to go, but the light blues prevented the Ayrshire side from nabbing a point.
Kilmarnock had a fast start and it was almost an early lead when Ash Taylor had a free header from a corner, though his bullet header went wide.
But a minute later another free header for Killie, and this time it was Stokes who won it and smashed a header past the helpless John McLaughlin.
Connor Goldson had a good chance to equalise for the visitors when he was unmarked at the back post, but thankfully for the hosts Sam Walker was on high alert and parried away the header.
Michael Beale’s side fired themselves level in the 23rd minute when Fashion Sakala burst into the area and laid a cross on a plate to Morelos who was only happy to fire home from six yards.
Kyle Vassell had a decent chance three minutes before half-time as he picked up the ball on the edge of the box, but he failed to pick a side and smashed a shot straight into McLaughlin’s gloves.
Killie’s defence couldn’t clear their lines in the 51st minute and Kent capitalised when he curled an effort into the corner in front of the Rangers supporters.
Killie’s task was made even more uphill when in-form winger Dan Armstrong was sent off on the hour mark for a second yellow card offence when he collided with Borna Barisic.
Morelos all but sealed the points for Rangers in the 72nd minute as he leapt highest to fire a header into the corner and send his fans into euphoria.
Morelos looked sure to bag his hat-trick five minutes later but Taylor was on hand to clear his effort off the line.
Wright offered the hosts a lifeline when he smashed home a wonderful left-footed volley and it lifted the Rugby Park crowd.
Kyle Lafferty tried his luck from 30 yards in the 90th minute, but McLaughlin saw it all the way and kept the effort out.
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