On a night when Andreas Skov Olsen grabbed his first goal for Rangers and helped drive the club to within touching distance of the Scottish Premiership summit, it was a teenage winger on the opposite flank who truly stole the spotlight.
While Skov Olsen’s strike capped an emphatic victory, it was Mikey Moore who made the most compelling case to become an automatic starter in Danny Rohl’s Rangers side.
Just days earlier, Rangers’ lack of creativity had once again come under scrutiny following a goalless draw at Hibernian. The performance in Leith was flat, predictable and short on inspiration, with little produced from open play. Amid the frustration, one player stood out.
Moore, the 18-year-old loanee from Tottenham Hotspur, offered brief flashes of imagination and directness during his cameo appearance. His willingness to take risks and attack defenders immediately raised questions among sections of the Rangers support about why he was not trusted with a starting role.
Three days later, Rohl handed the teenager that opportunity against Kilmarnock — and Moore seized it emphatically.
Inside the opening three minutes, Moore showcased his vision and composure by sliding a perfectly weighted through-ball into the path of Djeidi Gassama, who was fouled in the box. The resulting penalty brought an early red card for the visitors and allowed captain James Tavernier to open the scoring from the spot.
It was the ideal start for Rangers — and the opening act in what became a standout individual display from Moore.
Throughout the contest, the youngster tormented the Kilmarnock defence with intelligent movement, sharp acceleration and fearless dribbling. His influence only grew as the match progressed, and he went on to supply a second-half assist for Skov Olsen before adding a goal of his own late on.
Moore’s finish — a composed left-footed strike into the far corner — was the final flourish in a commanding 5-1 victory, drawing widespread praise from pundits and supporters alike.
“It’s exactly what he deserves,” said former Rangers striker Steven Naismith after the teenager’s goal. “He’s been the best player on the pitch.”
A performance backed by the numbers
The statistics from Moore’s night at Ibrox underline just how influential he was.
One goal, one assist and five chances created paint the picture of a player constantly at the heart of Rangers’ attacking play. That contribution was particularly striking given that the match marked only his 13th league start of the season.
Moore also showed promising chemistry with left-back Jayden Meghoma, repeatedly combining down the flank to stretch Kilmarnock’s defensive shape. His link-up play with January arrivals Skov Olsen and Tuur Rommens further highlighted how well he fits into Rohl’s evolving attacking system.
However, it was Moore’s off-the-ball intelligence that most impressed former Rangers forward Rory Loy.
Describing the teenager’s movement as exceptional, Loy noted how Moore repeatedly found pockets of space defenders struggled to track.
“Two or three passes before he even receives the ball, defenders have already lost him,” Loy said on BBC Sportsound. “It was a masterclass in movement and how to receive the ball under pressure. He can go inside or outside, and that uncertainty makes him incredibly hard to defend.”
Naismith echoed that assessment, praising Moore’s confidence and direct approach.
“He’s fearless,” Naismith added. “He wants the ball, he wants to take people on, and you can see he’s enjoying his football.”
A contrast to recent struggles
The contrast between Moore’s impact against Kilmarnock and Rangers’ struggles at Easter Road could hardly have been clearer.
In the draw against Hibs, Rangers collectively created just seven chances across the entire match. Against Kilmarnock, Moore alone was responsible for five chances, while his seven successful dribbles were more than any other player on the pitch.
Of course, context matters. Rangers faced a full-strength Hibs side away from home, whereas Kilmarnock were reduced to ten men and fell behind early at Ibrox.
Even so, Rangers simply look a more dangerous and unpredictable team when Moore is involved.
His goal in last month’s Old Firm derby victory at Celtic Park appeared set to be the spark that launched his Ibrox career. Yet, seven games without a direct goal contribution followed, tempering expectations and highlighting the challenges young players often face in maintaining momentum.
Despite that dry spell, Moore’s presence has consistently added energy, pace and invention to Rangers’ forward line.
The next challenge: consistency
Injuries and rotation have disrupted Moore’s season. A mid-campaign setback, combined with competition for places, has seen him miss 12 of Rangers’ 25 league matches so far.
Now, with Rangers chasing down Hearts in the league standings, Rohl is demanding that Moore builds on this performance and delivers the same level week after week.
“We know Mikey’s ability — that’s the standard he has to reach again and again,” Rohl told BBC Scotland. “The next step for him is consistency. But I don’t want to focus too much on individuals; it’s about the team.”
For Moore, that message is clear. The talent is evident, the confidence is growing, and the opportunity is there. What comes next will determine whether this performance marks the beginning of a sustained run in the Rangers starting XI.
If he can reproduce this level regularly, Rangers may well have found the creative catalyst they have been searching for.
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