Kilmarnock coach Derek McInnes was left to rue Rangers superior ‘quality’ and the precision of Ryan Kent’s second-half goal following Wednesday’s topsy-turvy 3-2 defeat at Rugby Park, speaking to Sky Sports.
It’s never a dull day at the office with Mick Beale’s Rangers in town.
All those foibles and vulnerabilities were clear for all to see in Ayrshire, the Gers going behind yet again to an early goal, but the powers of recovery that have epitomised the Beale era so far eventually bore fruit.
A brace from Alfredo Morelos sandwiched a rare Kent effort as the visitors turned a one-goal deficit into a 3-1 lead during their most commanding and dominant period of the game.
“Probably from 20 to 60 minutes, (Rangers) were in charge of the game in terms of possession,” says boss McInnes.
“They took their chances. Some good finishes, particularly Kent’s goal. A very good finish. Sometimes, that quality shows.”
Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos score as Rangers beat Kilmarnock
Swept home with style and panache into the bottom corner; Kent’s third goal in 30 games across all competitions was a reminder of the quality Rangers’ £7 million winger possesses but showcases all-too infrequently.
Kent now has two in three Scottish Premiership fixtures under Beale. A purple patch, by his rather profligate standards. Beale, Steven Gerrard’s former assistant coach, has given the 26-year-old a more central role, Kent having struggled to exert any sort of a sustained influence out on the touchline under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Morelos, meanwhile, is starting to find some semblance of form under Beale too, even if the firebrand Colombian remains a long way off his irrepressible best.
“The results are good. We just need to tighten the screws in one or two areas,” Beale tells News Letter; celebrating his sixth win in eight games since taking Van Bronckhorst’s place in the Ibrox dugout.
“We can’t keep on going behind and coming back. It’s all right saying it shows a fantastic mentality, but we can’t keep doing it.”
Celtic’s 4-0 thumping of St Mirren, however, means the gap between the two Old Firm rivals still stands at a hefty nine points.
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