Michael Stewart wowed by ‘wonderful’ Ryan Kent on BBC Scotland as Rangers win v Kilmarnock
Pundit Michael Stewart lavished praise on Rangers winger Ryan Kent after his “wonderful” goal against Kilmarnock on Wednesday night [18 January].
Kent and an Alfredo Morelos double inspired the Gers to a 3-2 victory at 10-man Kilmarnock as they continued their slim pursuit of catching Old Firm rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.
And the Oldham-born forward bagged his third goal of the league campaign following a swift Rangers counter-attack to put them 2-1 up after they conceded an early opener. It was a brilliantly-taken goal by Kent and Stewart certainly agreed.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene Premiership Highlights [18 January, 40m00s], he said: “Just highlighting there where Kent was, it was an incredible goal from Rangers.
“That obviously is a ball that Tavernier means to play over the top for Kent, he’s on to it first, I think he probably should have done a little bit better initially there, but he doesn’t stop and again shows good composure to take that touch, and a wonderful finish just to guide into the bottom corner and use the defenders.
“When you see the angle from behind the goals, he just uses the defenders as a block, Sam Walker and the goalkeeper can’t see it, and just passes it into the bottom corner. It’s a wonderful finish, an absolutely brilliant finish.”
Gifted
It was indeed a wonderful finish from such a gifted performer. The way the 26-year-old used the defenders as a block to fool the goalkeeper and hit a silky finish into the bottom corner was just pure-Kent.
A player blessed with unerring technique, skill, dribbling qualities and creativity in the final third, Beale will certainly be expecting more from his star-man as they look to chase down Celtic.
The forward has only bagged just three league goals along with his seven assists so far this season, and for a player of his ilk and talents, he’s got to be finding the back of the net more.
It’s now two goals from his last three in the Scottish Premiership, after only bagging once in 17 games.
It’s arguably his inconsistencies in front of goal along with Morelos that have led to the Gers playing catch-up behind Celtic, but if Beale can return his star duo to top form in the coming weeks, there’s no reason why Rangers can’t end the campaign with a triumph of some sort – whether it be in the league or in the ViaPlay cup final against their rivals.
In other Rangers news, the Gers are expected to sign this “World Cup star” in January.