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Torrential rain from Storm Boelo may have battered the Ibrox turf on Saturday (24 October) afternoon, but Rangers refused to let the elements dampen their attacking fire in a dominant 4-0 victory over St Johnstone.
Derek McInnes’ side bounced back from their frustrating 2-2 draw against Dundee at Dens Park, stretching their unbeaten run to nine games across all competitions with a display of ruthless efficiency.
While off-pitch safety took priority after the final whistle, leading to an official club announcement explaining that Rangers players would not stop for photos or autographs so fans could travel home safely, the performance on the pitch gave the Ibrox faithful plenty to analyse.
Kevin Kelsy netted a fine double alongside strikes from Ryan Naderi and Tochi Chukwuani, but the scoreline itself was not the sole focus among supporters following full-time. On TalkingPoints, supporters pointed out that the developing chemistry between Kelsy and Naderi was the single most encouraging takeaway from the afternoon.
TalkingPoints
It's raining goals! What stood out for you as Rangers brave the storm to smash St. Johnstone 4-0? 💪
Fans quickly noted how the understanding between Kelsy and Naderi provided a clear glimpse into how McInnes‘ frontline is evolving as they gain regular minutes together. Naderi showed great unselfishness to set up Kelsy for a simple tap-in for the opening goal, before executing the same combination minutes later, only for Kelsy to be denied on that occasion.
Reacting to Rangers News‘ full-time post on TalkingPoints, Dan Owen singled out Kelsy’s second goal for its classic centre-forward movement, while Naderi’s own goal earned praise for the sheer improvisation required to finish the chance.
James Lloyd pointed out how many fans were sceptical about spending £9million on Kelsy, before claiming that the Venezuelan has hit the ground running at Ibrox. That sentiment was echoed by Daz Clark and Marlin Steven, who believe the striker is forming a formidable partnership with Naderi the more they play together.
It makes one wonder if Rangers would have grabbed all three points against Dundee at Dens Park last weekend had McInnes not dropped Kelsy to accommodate Badredine Bouanani.
This was not an isolated spark either. The duo previously linked up during Rangers’ 3-0 League Cup victory over Celtic on 13 September, when Naderi set up Kelsy’s finish. Transfermarkt statistics highlight that the pairing has already yielded two joint goal participations in just 400 minutes together.
While both players have had more fruitful partnerships in their careers, their budding alliance is on course to top the charts if they continue combining as they have been in recent weeks.
| Forward Pairing | Joint Goals | Minutes Played | Mins Per Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Kelsy & Ryan Naderi | 2 | 400 | 200.0 |
| Grant-Leon Ranos & Ryan Naderi | 2 | 327 | 163.5 |
While the strikers finished the chances, winger Minsu Kim was another major talking point among fans, with many naming him man of the match ahead of two-goal hero Kelsy. Despite walking away without an official assist, Minsu’s footprint was all over Rangers’ first three goals, constantly breaking lines and driving into space.
Supporters highlighted how his value extends far beyond conventional statistics, noting that if he continues performing at this level and shows even greater bravery on the ball, the goals and assists will flow.
On the opposite flank, Bouanani made a bright start to the match, showcasing a direct dribbling threat that offers a completely different profile to McInnes’ other options. Fans noted that while his influence faded as the game progressed, getting more regular minutes under his belt will make the Stuttgart loanee an increasingly dangerous weapon.
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dazclark734
Minsu is looking good isn’t he. The goals are gonna come soon for him
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The burgeoning partnership between Kelsy and Naderi, combined with Minsu’s creative influence and Bouanani’s potential, has prompted fans to ask what this means when Lawrence Shankland makes his expected return from injury in November.
As supporters pointed out, having Kelsy and Naderi clicking so effectively in tandem means McInnes will not need to rush Shankland back into action, allowing the Scotland international to build his fitness without immediate pressure.
Having genuine competition up front provides Rangers with a scary depth of attacking options, but fitting all of these firing players into a balanced starting lineup will be McInnes’ most intriguing challenge in the weeks ahead.
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dazclark734
The goals will most certainly come. I have no doubt about it. We’ve got shankland to come back as well it’s scary to think 🤣
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marlinsteven1962
He will need to earn his place and because the front two are playing well together we can ease him back in rather than rush him back and let him build his fitness back also we have miovski for back up
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Nevertheless, it is safe to say that the Rangers captain faces the prospect of having to earn his place back when he returns from injury, with Kelsy and Naderi forming a formidable partnership up top.