Ryan Naderi’s first-half double against Kilmarnock helped Rangers to a sixth straight Scottish Premiership win and took Derek McInnes’ side to the top of the table. The result came after the disruption of an extended international break and continued a revival that has followed a European exit and a start to the league season in which Rangers took just one point from their first two Premiership games. Rangers now lead Celtic by a point, with Celtic due to visit Motherwell on Sunday under pressure to regain first place.
Naderi, a previously unfancied striker, has been central to that improvement. He now has three goals in his past two league games, having scored the winner in Rangers’ 1-0 league win away to Celtic before the break, before his two goals against Kilmarnock proved decisive. His form has even drawn a comparison with Germany legend Thomas Muller. Former Rangers forward Peter Lovenkrands said on BBC Sportsound: “Naderi at times does things where you’re like ‘How did he do that?’ He reminds me a lot of Thomas Muller – he’s not nice on the eye at times, but he creates stuff because he’s so unorthodox.”
The 23-year-old’s impact marks a significant change from the early part of his Rangers career. He had struggled after signing from German third-tier side Hansa Rostock in February, managing just one league goal and two in a League Cup trouncing of Queen’s Park last season. Observers were unconvinced he had the attributes to be a starting striker at the club, and an initially sceptical support watched him struggle to make an impact. Those assessments have dissipated as he has surged to the fore in the absence of injured team-mates Lawrence Shankland and Youssef Chermiti.
His contribution has not been limited to goals. Naderi has six goals and three assists for Rangers, often making key interventions, as he adds end product to his physical prowess. A crucial assist in the late win over St Mirren, when Bojan Miovski scored a vital winner, was notable. Naderi has also netted winners against Motherwell and Celtic. McInnes said the striker, who made his Czech Republic debut last week, has stepped up at a good time. “Yes, and fair play to him,” McInnes said. “He’s always such an honest boy, he’s willing to put defenders under pressure. I’ve always felt as a striker that if the ball goes in the box, he’ll score his goals. He’s not the type of striker that creates a lot for himself, so he needs that service. If we put the ball in the box, as we did in the first half, then he looks a threat. He’s had such a good few weeks. Everybody’s so pleased for him. We need someone who would regularly be the goalscorer here at the club.”
Rangers’ run now stands at seven wins in a row in all competitions. The attacking return has been backed by defensive solidity; much of the focus had been on an excellent defensive record, with just one league goal conceded in their previous five Premiership games, a record blemished by Nicky Clesenco’s late Kilmarnock consolation. McInnes cited fatigue and the extended break as reasons for his side not kicking on from leading 3-0 by half-time against Kilmarnock, and the visitors were unfortunate to only pull one goal back as Rangers toiled in the second half. Even so, the sequence of results may have fans believing this could be the season for a first league title since 2021.
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has more faith now in McInnes’ side. Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he said: “A lot of my confidence doesn’t come from Rangers being brilliant, it comes from Celtic being poor. Rangers are definitely building. They are becoming a much more predictable side – you go into games fancying them to win. You’re starting to see a Derek McInnes side – really solid defensively and creating chances.”
McInnes admitted Rangers’ second-half performance against Kilmarnock was “far from where we needed to be”, but wanted the club to “feel good about ourselves” after topping the table for the first time this season. “There’s a bit of understanding for me where the players have been. This break’s been far too long,” he said. “But we’ve got the job done, and credit the players for digging deep and getting three points.”