Scotland coach picks out ‘best player on park’ in Rangers win vs Kilmarnock despite no goal involvements
Danny Rohl got his first Rangers win with victory over Kilmarnock, with one man singled out as the star of the show by Steven Naismith.
The new Gers boss equalled the number of league wins by his predecessor with a 3-1 result at Ibrox thanks to goals from Derek Cornelius, Danilo, and Youssef Chermiti‘s first on Sunday afternoon.
Rohl’s reign got off to an inauspicious start with a dismal 3-0 defeat at Brann in midweek, having ultimately been tasked with rescuing the season in the wake of the brief and disastrous Russell Martin era at Rangers.
But with just a second Scottish Premiership victory of the campaign recorded in his first game at home, the Bears come out of the weekend with some long-awaited positivity.
Thelo Aasgaard drives Rangers to win over Kilmarnock
While he didn’t register a goal or an assist, it was Thelo Aasgaard who Naismith credited with being the pick of the Light Blues in an improved team performance.
Arriving from Luton Town in the summer, the 23-year-old has been a regular starter but has been unable to prevent a nightmare set of results.
According to SofaScore stats, the Norwegian international completed all three of his dribbles successfully in 80 minutes, while making 34 out of 40 accurate passes from 50 touches before he was withdrawn 10 minutes from the end, and Naismith was highly impressed by his smart play.
“I think he’s been the best player on the park, I think he’s the best player of the day,” Steve Clarke’s Scotland assistant said live on BBC Sportsound.
“His intelligence, his runs forward, his intelligence to pick up space; he’s strong, he’s happy to take it when he’s got someone right on him.
“I think he’s been the best player on the park today.”
Youssef Chermiti strike adds to summer signings’ big day
Rangers supporters have been forced to get familiar with disappointing and inconsistent domestic form ever since the departure of Steven Gerrard as reigning league champion.
But while there were some good times initially under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale and Philippe Clement, there was nothing of the sort with Martin.
The Englishman was supposed to lead Ibrox into a long-awaited new era after the summer takeover was backed by a significant transfer spend, but his project never got off the ground and ended in toxic circumstances.
Recruitment has been a long-standing issue, and Rangers fan fury at Kevin Thelwell has followed another disappointing return, so positive performances from the likes of Aasgaard and, crucially, big-money ex-Everton striker Chermiti will need to be a sign of things to come.
Sitting fifth as November approaches, 13 points off leaders Hearts, is still no cause for celebration in Govan, amid a complete failure to capitalise on Celtic’s own struggles, but Rohl has to start somewhere, and this result could be a turning point.
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