STEVEN GERRARD handed debuts to his two marque January signings. It was the man that won’t join until the summer that had the biggest impact at Rugby Park, though.

Jermain Defoe marked his first outing in Scottish football with a goal, but it wasn’t enough to earn Rangers a victory. The match-winning honours went to Jordan Jones as he followed up Eamonn Brophy’s effort to clinch all three points for his current employers and against his future ones.

The Northern Irishman penned a pre-contract deal with the Gers earlier this month and then reaffirmed his commitment to the Killie cause. On a freezing night in Ayrshire, he showed just how important he is to Steve Clarke’s side.

The goal wouldn’t mask the disappointment for Defoe as Rangers lost ground in the title race and it was an equally unsatisfactory night for Steven Davis. On the park where he won the title in 2011, he saw the Gers suffer a major blow to their aspirations this term.

Gerrard needed his side to pick up where they left off after moving level on points with Celtic before the winter break. In terms of the performance and the result, this was nowhere near good enough.

Given how impressive and dominant Rangers were in that Old Firm win, Gerrard must have had a temptation to go with the same line-up three weeks on. The one to change it up was stronger, though.

Both of his high-profile recruits were handed their competitive debuts and the 4-4-2 system with a diamond midfield that was tried against Helsinki was also used in a proper match for the first time.

It is an approach that offers Gerrard a chance to get all of his main players on the park at the same time and any concern about Rangers being exposed defensively didn’t outweigh the positives in terms of their attacking capabilities for the Ibrox boss.

The Light Blues would start positively and their goal on 12 minutes was certainly deserved but it was Kilmarnock who would end the first half, and then the game, in relative control of proceedings.

Not only did they recover from the loss of the opener, but they changed the flow of the match as they quickly responded and settled into their rhythm.

For the opening stages, it looked like Rangers were on the right track and the strike from Defoe gave them a merited advantage.

Keeper Daniel Bachmann made a low stop to block a drive from Andy Halliday and then got up quickly to deny James Tavernier on the follow-up. The ball broke to Ryan Kent and his effort was cleared off the line by Stuart Findlay but Killie’s resistance was finally broken next time around.

Defoe found himself in the right place at the right time and, after the ball deflected off Davis, the striker prodded it home from close range to open his account for Rangers. It was his first goal since netting for Bournemouth last March and the 36-year-old was serenaded by a support that have quickly taken him to their hearts.

There were few other chances for the striker to impress, though, as Alfredo Morelos saw more of the ball and was involved in more of the play.

The Colombian was unlucky to see a header come back off Bachmann’s left-hand post as Rangers came within inches of doubling their lead and perhaps clinching the points.

That was as close as they would come to scoring again before the break, however. Kent forced Bachmann into a smart save with a well struck effort from the edge of the area but the first half would end level.

That was partly down to Brophy and partly down to Joe Worrall. This was one that on-loan Nottingham Forrest defender won’t want to see again.

He had the whole pitch to aim at and play into as he brought the ball out from the back but he dillied and dallied and allowed Brophy to nick in. From then, there only looked like one outcome and the striker kept his composure to fire beyond Allan McGregor.

Rangers never really recovered in what was left of the first period and they offered little, that Kent effort aside, as an attacking threat. Killie didn’t force McGregor into action too often, but they more than held their own as Worrall looked ponderous at the heart of the Gers defence.

While Clarke would have been happy with same again after the break, Gerrard had to demand and expect better from his side. It was poised for a hugely significant 45 minutes.

The ball was in the net shortly after the restart but referee Don Robertson went to his pocket rather than pointing to the spot as Morelos was booked for diverting a Tavernier cross into the net with his hand.

The 22-year-old was doing some decent work outside the box but it was becoming a frustrating night for his new strike partner. As Rangers aimed a series of hopeful balls long, Defoe was left on the fringes of the action.

There was no cutting edge from Rangers. Soon, the man that will add to Gerrard’s options next season showed them how it should be done.

Gerrard’s side were again complicit in their downfall as Kent gave away cheap possession but take nothing away from Jones. The break from Kilmarnock was incisive and the finish from the 24-year-old was clinical as his low shot was outwith McGregor’s hand and inside his post.

Jones’ name was cheered by the away support when it was read out pre-match but it was the home fans making all the noise now. This was the perfect way for the winger to silence his critics.

Rangers now had it all to do. Davis was replaced by Daniel Candeias before Worrall’s header was turned away by Bachmann and the keeper saved from Morelos from the resulting corner.

Defoe’s night came to an end with ten minutes remaining as Kyle Lafferty replaced him through the middle. His first effort was ballooned high over the bar and his second was easily held by keeper Bachmann.

As the clock ticked down, Jones was given a standing ovation by the Killie fans. The man Gerrard had described as the ‘enemy’ pre-match had gone from hero to villain and back again.