On the evening Andreas Skov Olsen scored his first goal for Rangers in a victory that moved the Ibrox club within three points of the Scottish Premiership leaders, it was the winger on the opposite side who made the strongest case to become a regular starter under Danny Rohl.
After Sunday’s goalless draw with Hibernian, Rangers’ struggle to create chances from open play once again came under scrutiny.
Teenager Mikey Moore, who joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer, was the lone standout performer in a blunt attacking display in Leith.
His short appearance prompted many Rangers fans to question why the 18-year-old had not started, and he was handed that chance against Kilmarnock just three days later.
Inside three minutes, Moore delivered a perfectly weighted through ball for Djeidi Gassama to win a penalty, which led to an early red card for the visitors and a goal from captain James Tavernier.
Tormenting the Kilmarnock back line all night, the Spurs loanee later provided a second-half assist for Skov Olsen before rounding off a superb display with a goal of his own to complete a dominant 5-1 win.
“It’s exactly what he deserves,” former Rangers striker Steven Naismith said after Moore’s left-footed finish found the far corner.
A masterclass in movement
One goal, one assist and five chances created.
Those numbers alone reflect an outstanding night for Moore, whose midweek outing at Ibrox marked only his 13th league start of the campaign.
The winger is developing a promising partnership on the left side with full-back Jayden Meghoma, while Rohl will also take encouragement from how he linked up with January arrivals Skov Olsen and Tuur Rommens during their lively appearances.
Former Rangers forward Rory Loy was especially impressed by Moore’s off-the-ball movement.
Whether driving to the byline, cutting inside from the left, or drifting into central positions, Loy described Moore’s movement as “nothing short of sensational”.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he said: “Two or three passes before he even gets the ball, defenders have no idea where he is.
“It’s been a masterclass in how to receive the ball in tight spaces. He can go both ways, which makes defenders unsure how to deal with him.”
BBC Scotland pundit Naismith added: “He’s so direct, full of confidence, taking defenders on and clearly enjoying himself.”
Consistency the next step for Moore
Rangers created just seven chances as a team against Hibs on Sunday.
Moore alone produced five on Wednesday, and his seven successful dribbles were also more than any other player on the pitch.
Of course, the context matters. At the weekend, Rangers faced 11 men away from home against a top-six side. On Wednesday, a struggling Kilmarnock team were reduced to 10 men and went behind within minutes.
Moore’s goal in last month’s Old Firm derby victory over Celtic appeared to be the moment that would truly launch his Ibrox career, but it was followed by seven matches without a goal or assist.
Even so, Rangers look sharper and more unpredictable when Moore is included in the starting line-up.
An injury midway through the season and rotation within the squad have meant Moore has missed 12 of Rangers’ 25 league games, but Rohl is now calling for greater consistency as his team chase down Hearts.
“We know Mikey – that has to be his standard every time,” the Rangers head coach told BBC Scotland.
“This is the next stage for him: consistency. But I don’t want to focus on individuals, it’s about the whole team.”
