Kris Boyd has voiced his frustration with the current state of Rangers, bluntly stating, “this isn’t working” after the team squandered a critical chance to close the gap on Celtic and Aberdeen in their disappointing defeat to Kilmarnock.

With the top two sides in the Scottish Premiership drawing at Parkhead earlier in the weekend, Rangers had the perfect opportunity to apply pressure in the title race.

A win at Rugby Park would have put Philippe Clement’s men firmly back in contention.

However, Rangers faltered on the artificial surface, producing a below-par performance that failed to meet expectations.

Despite knowing how vital three points were in Ayrshire, the Ibrox team struggled to find rhythm.

Their lack of creativity and defensive fragility ultimately cost them dearly, with Marley Watkins capitalising late in the game to secure a valuable win for Derek McInnes’ Kilmarnock - taking their own unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

Boyd’s comments reflect growing concerns within the Rangers fanbase, who have heard their manager repeatedly claim that his squad should be hitting top gear by this juncture in the season and he’s trying to find solutions as Rangers risk falling further behind their rivals.

Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Boyd said: "Some of the players put more effort into clapping at the end and saying sorry to the fans. People will think you are a broken down record, but it has not been good enough.

“You might be winning games of football, but there is no intensity to the play, there is no sharpness, they don't create anything.

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"It's more hope that they are going to score a goal. The substitutions don't impact games, they are miles off it.

“Everyone thinking 'oh here he goes again, another rant' - it's the truth. The sooner that people realise this ain't working the better."

Probed on what Rangers could do better and why their levels were so far off it, Boyd replied: “I don't know. You got a lifeline yesterday. You look at it and you think there is a chance to get yourself back in a title race; it's not a surprise that result today.

“We said it at the top of the show, Kilmarnock are a physical team and they will cause you problems. Rangers; there is just nothing.

"You look at Cyriel Dessers, and I know it will always fall back on the striker when you're not scoring goals, you are going to be the one that is criticised, but he doesn't really get anything created for him either.

“We speak about Bajrami - there is glimpses where he comes in and looks good, Cerny might look good but they don't create anything."