Ryan Naderi bags brace as Rangers beat Kilmarnock to move top

Ryan Naderi scored a double as Rangers moved top of the William Hill Premiership with a 3-1 win over Kilmarnock.

The German striker twice headed home in the first half to take his tally for the season to six goals.

Kevin Kelsy was also on target before the break as Rangers leapfrogged Celtic, who will move back top if they get a result at Motherwell on Sunday.

It was a sixth consecutive league win for Rangers, and a seventh overall, but they missed out on a fifth successive clean sheet when Kilmarnock substitute Nicky Clescenco netted on a last-minute counter-attack.

Rangers manager Derek McInnes would have been less than impressed with their second-half performance in general as bottom club Killie passed up a series of chances before finally getting their reward.

The visitors ended the game with six efforts on target to Rangers’ four but home goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was only seriously troubled once before being beaten.

Djeidi Gassama looked dangerous running with the ball for Rangers in the early stages but the visitors had the first chance when Tyreece John-Jules played the ball in behind for Joe Hugill, who took a poor first touch and a worse finish.

Rangers opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Naderi headed James Penrice’s first-time cross through goalkeeper Calum Ferrie, who conceded eight goals at Ibrox last season on a Scottish Cup visit with Queen’s Park.

Kelsy doubled the lead nine minutes later after taking down Kim Min-su’s pass, twice feigning to shoot before sending the ball home via a deflection.

Gassama was denied by an excellent block from on-loan Hearts full-back MJ Kamson-Kamara before Kilmarnock squandered two good chances.

Hugill volleyed over from John-Jules’ knockdown before Erik Ring turned Penrice on to his left foot and fired well over.

Rangers put themselves further in command a minute before the interval when Naderi stooped to head Gassama’s effort past the wrong-footed Ferrie.

On-loan Aston Villa right-back Kosta Nedeljkovic came on at half-time for Dujon Sterling and he and his fellow Rangers defenders soon found themselves under the cosh.

Pandur made comfortable saves as John-Jules and Hugill failed to make the most of good chances.

John-Jules did have the ball in the net but midfielder Greg Kiltie was flagged offside after cutting the ball back, and the striker then hit the outside of a post.

Pandur produced a brilliant diving save to tip Aaron Tshibola’s long-range curler over the bar and Kiltie steered the ball wide from Ring’s return pass with Rangers stretched.

Pandur made comfortable saves from Tshibola and Hugill as Killie continued to pass up opportunities.

Rangers created some half-chances of their own in the final 20 minutes but could not test Ferrie again.

The hosts were caught on the break following a corner and Clescenco slotted past Pandur after being set up by Hugill.