Rangers bounced back to winning ways in style on Saturday (24 October) afternoon with a 4-0 dismantling of St Johnstone, but it was the creative brilliance of Minsu Kim that had Andy Halliday purring.

Derek McInnes’ side put on a dominant attacking show at a weather-beaten Ibrox, with Kevin Kelsy netting a brace alongside goals from Ryan Naderi and Tochi Chukwuani. Although Celtic’s 2-1 win against Hibernian on Sunday (25 October) saw them reinstate their four-point lead at the top, the victory over the Saints ensured the Gers maintained their momentum.

While Kelsy and Naderi grabbed the headlines for their growing strike partnership, winger Minsu produced a mesmerising individual performance on the left flank that proved pivotal in breaking down the visitors.

The crucial moment came in the 29th minute, when Minsu unlocked the St Johnstone defence with a sensational, disguised pass into the penalty area. Naderi gathered the ball and unselfishly squared it to Kelsy to slot home a simple tap-in.

Andy Halliday loves Minsu Kim’s pre-assist for Kevin Kelsy in Rangers win vs St Johnstone

Speaking live on BBC Sportsound directly following the opening goal, former Rangers midfielder Halliday could not contain his admiration for the South Korean winger’s technique seconds before the ball hit the back of the net.

Halliday said: “Again, Minsu, it’s excellent, the pass. He’s played two or three of them already so far this game. And the disguise on it, just to put it in full. St Johnstone’s back four, I think it’s Diabate that drops round Naderi. That’s the benefit of your two strikers, that you’ve got somebody alongside you just to unselfishly go inside the six-yard box for a tap-in. So it’s been coming, that’s for sure.”

Moments later, Halliday went on to wax lyrical about the overall threat Minsu was posing to the Saints’ backline throughout the half, while also reserving praise for Kelsy.

He said: “Minsu has been so lively on the left side. St Johnstone don’t know whether to go with him or drop back. He’s running riot here. He deserves a goal, he played a big part with the first, he has been very, very good and Kelsy has been as intelligent as I’ve seen him with his hold-up play.”

Remarkably, despite being widely recognised as the man of the match, Minsu technically finished the game without registering an official goal or assist. However, his footprint was plastered across Rangers’ first three goals.

Beyond his sublime pre-assist for Kelsy’s opener, Minsu also swung in the inviting corner kick that eventually fell for the Venezuelan to turn home his second of the afternoon. Similarly, he was also involved in Naderi’s 61st-minute goal.

According to FotMob, Minsu created the most number of chances in the game (5), while also registering an xG + xA of 0.87.

His ability to constantly break lines and manipulate space gave McInnes‘ side a completely new dimension in attack, proving that his true value to this Rangers team extends far beyond basic stats as the Light Blues extend their unbeaten run to nine games.