Rangers treated their fans to a 5-1 thrashing of Kilmarnock but still left the field to a chorus of boos.

The cat calls were aimed at one man however - Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson, whose crime was not to give the Ibrox faithful one last look at Ally McCoist.

McCoist is about to retire and this was his last chance to play at the stadium where he became the club's all-time record goalscorer.

But Williamson kept him on the bench all game although that did not stop him coming on afterwards to milk applause and hug his former team-mates who he left three years ago to join the Ayrshire men.

The result meant little for Rangers who had already secured second place but was a big blow for Killie who are still hoping to secure a Uefa Cup spot. They must now hope Hearts slip up on Sunday in the Edinburgh derby.

A flurry of goals midway through the second half settled this match in the home side's favour although for the main part there had been little in it.

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat understandably has his eyes on next season and restored two players who had been hardly seen for months - Ronald de Boer who started for the first time following a knee operation and young Danish winger Peter Lovenkrands, who came on as a second-half substitute.

De Boer notched the opener in the 19th minute with a header from a Jorg Albertz corner, which had been Rangers first meaningful attack of the game.

It was hacked away off the line by Mark Reilly, but a quick consultation between referee Mike McCurry and linesman Neil Brand ruled the ball had already crossed the line.

Tore Andre Flo had a goal disallowed for an early infringement by Rod Wallace in the 55th minute but 11 minutes later the goals began to flow.

Lovenkrands' speed caught Freddie Dindeleux in possession in his own area and the Dane squared the ball to Wallace for a simple tap-in.

De Boer's match-fitness was lacking, understandably as he had played just one reserve match since the operation, but he still had enough power to fire in a magnificent long-range effort that was destined for the top corner until goalkeeper Colin Meldrum, who was being watched by an English First Division club, tipped it over acrobatically.

But no matter, from de Boer's corner Lorenzo Amoruso leaped highest at the near post to make it 3-0 with a header.

Kilmarnock's reply was instant with Alan Mahood supplying Craig Dargo for a clipped finish in off Stefan Klos's underbelly and at 3-1 the stage was perhaps set for McCoist.

But Williamson ignored the home fans' pleas for their former hero and instead was forced to watch two more goals end up in the back of his team's net.

Wallace netted the fourth, his second, when he blasted past Meldrum after a clever head down by Flo.

Amoruso saw a header cleared off the line by Riley again but there was still time for Flo to make it 5-1 when he turned Chris Innes in the box and fired through Meldrum who should have done better.