Rangers' new attacking tandem of Kevin Kelsy and Ryan Naderi produced a commanding display in Saturday's victory over St Johnstone, with Minsu Kim starring down the left flank in the storm-hit match.
The pairing, formed after Lawrence Shankland's injury, has quickly developed into a formidable force. Kelsy opened the scoring after latching onto a pass from Naderi, who had received the ball from Kim's break through midfield. Kelsy later added a second, nicking possession in midfield before a one-two with the Czechia striker set him up.
Complementary Skillsets Shine in Opta Data
The duo's effectiveness was clear in the match statistics. Kelsy led all players with eight shots, six inside the box, four on target, and four big chances, converting two goals. Naderi, meanwhile, was involved in more duels (21) and won more (11) than anyone else, while creating three chances—only Kim created more, with five.
Their partnership has also elevated others, particularly Kim. After being moved centrally against Dundee, Kim returned to the left flank and delivered his best performance yet, using his running power and line-breaking passes to devastating effect.
Direct Play Proves Too Much for St Johnstone
The trio's combination was most evident in the opening goal, with Kim cutting inside and feeding Naderi, who set up Kelsy for a tap-in. St Johnstone had no answer to the direct, effective style.
Interestingly, this was the first game since the partnership emerged that Kelsy had the higher average position, pushing further forward than usual—perhaps due to the conditions demanding a more direct approach. The ability to adapt is another sign the partnership is thriving.
With the front two performing so well together, there is no immediate pressure to rush Shankland back into the lineup.
