Kevin Kelsy hailed as an ‘absolute beast’ after standout Rangers display against Kilmarnock

Kevin Kelsy earned praise for his physical presence and impressive hold-up play as Rangers secured a 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

The Venezuela international found the net during the Ibrox encounter on 10 October, while Ryan Naderi stole the headlines with a first-half brace that helped Derek McInnes’ side establish a commanding three-goal advantage.

However, Rangers were unable to maintain their dominance after the interval, with Nicky Clescenco scoring in the 90th minute to deny goalkeeper Ivor Pandur a clean sheet.

Despite Naderi attracting much of the attention following another productive performance, Kelsy also demonstrated why he is becoming an important part of Rangers’ attacking setup.

The two forwards have developed a promising understanding, with Naderi providing energy and pressing from the front, while Kelsy offers a different dimension through his strength and ability to hold the ball up under pressure.

McInnes has encouraged Naderi to lead the press and make life uncomfortable for opposition defenders. Although Kelsy may not possess the same level of running power, his physical attributes give Rangers another valuable attacking option.

Peter Lovenkrands blown away by Kevin Kelsy’s strength

Naderi was one of Rangers’ standout performers against Kilmarnock, but his strike partner also caught the eye with a moment that highlighted his qualities.

Former Rangers forward Peter Lovenkrands was particularly impressed by Kelsy’s ability to shield the ball during a passage of play around the hour mark.

Kilmarnock attempted to launch a counter-attack, only for Olwethu Makhanya to clear the danger. Kelsy then positioned himself intelligently against an opposing defender, using his strength and quick reactions to retain possession for the home side.

Discussing the incident on BBC Sportsound, Lovenkrands was full of admiration for the striker’s physical presence.

“He’s so strong. You look at him, he’s an absolute beast out there,” he said.

“He also reacts quicker than the defender does.”

Lovenkrands continued by explaining how Kelsy used his body to prevent the defender from winning possession before laying the ball off to a teammate.

The former Rangers attacker added that, despite the defender initially having the better position, Kelsy reacted first, got his body between his opponent and the ball, and used his strength to protect possession.

It was a small but significant contribution that demonstrated the Venezuelan’s value beyond scoring goals.

Why Derek McInnes will demand more despite Rangers’ victory

Although Rangers collected all three points, McInnes will have concerns about how his team managed the closing stages of the match.

Kilmarnock, under Neil McCann, caused problems by adopting an approach that created an open and competitive contest. Rangers produced enough attacking quality to build a comfortable lead, but the game became increasingly stretched at certain points.

Had the visitors been more clinical with their opportunities, they could have made the scoreline considerably closer.

Rangers largely dealt with the threat, but their defensive concentration appeared to drop late on, allowing Kilmarnock to find a route through in the final minute.

The visitors exploited the space left behind by the Rangers defence to create a two-on-one situation involving Kosta Nedeljkovic and Pandur.

With the hosts already three goals ahead, McInnes will question why his players allowed themselves to be exposed in such a dangerous position so late in the game.

The late concession did little to change the outcome, but it offered the Rangers manager a reminder that his side must remain disciplined regardless of the scoreline.

Ultimately, the victory provided further encouragement for Rangers, with Naderi continuing to make an impact and Kelsy showcasing the strength, awareness and link-up play that could prove crucial as the season progresses.