Football Oct 27, 2026

Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock: Ryan Naderi scores two and Kevin Kelsy gets first league goal as Rangers go top above Celtic in Scottish Premiership

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock: Ryan Naderi scores two and Kevin Kelsy gets first league goal as Rangers go top above Celtic in Scottish Premiership

Ryan Naderi scored a double as Rangers moved top of the Scottish Premiership with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.

The German striker twice headed home in the first half to take his tally for the season to six goals.

Kevin Kelsy was also on target before the break as Rangers leapfrogged Celtic, who will move back top if they get a result at Motherwell on Sunday.

It was a sixth consecutive league win for Rangers, and a seventh overall, but they missed out on a fifth successive clean sheet when Kilmarnock substitute Nicky Clescenco netted on a last-minute counter-attack.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes would have been less than impressed with their second-half performance in general as bottom club Killie passed up a series of chances before finally getting their reward.

The visitors ended the game with six efforts on target to Rangers' four but home goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was only seriously troubled once before being beaten.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes:

"The fact we went top of the league, we shouldn't lose sight of that. There's a lot of positives, but the performance was disjointed at times.

"I was really pleased with how clinical we were in the first half. We put the ball in the box, we scored goals, we just didn't do it enough for whatever reason.

"But we have to be honest, for long spells we looked like a team that hadn't been together for the last three weeks. We spoke about it at half-time, about the need to stay on top of the game.

"Maybe a combination of not putting enough freshness into the team - I was reluctant to change it too much. I already had to change Dujon (Sterling) at half-time, he was feeling a bit under the weather. He's had a wee bit of tonsillitis.

"I felt that the second half was far from where we needed to be. There's a bit of understanding for me where the players have been. This break's been far too long.

"Whoever came up with this idea, it's such a long time for your players to be away. We pay their wages, we look after our players, and for them to be away for nearly three weeks is too long.

"But we've got the job done, and credit the players for digging deep and getting three points."

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann:

"I am really frustrated, a wee bit angry as well. We gifted Rangers the 3-0.

"I have a problem with the second goal; I think there was a handball involved in that. I do not even understand the handball (rules) any more.

"Even at 2-0 we had two gilt-edged opportunities and we didn't hit the target.

"There were a few words said at half-time. I don't want to walk out of Ibrox with a pat on the back saying 'you won the second half'. It means nothing.

"The disappointment and frustration comes from how good we were in the second half. We created four, five chances in the second half alone. We could have probably taken something from the game."

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