Of all the Rangers players to produce something like this, one of last summer’s additions is just about the last one in the ranking.
It is certainly not hard to imagine Vaclav Cerny picking up a loose ball on the left and swinging in a deadly cross to the far post. One which appeared to plead longingly through the Ibrox air to be converted into a goal at the back-stick.
Of course, the towering Leon Balogun was only too happy to oblige.
The veteran defender is certainly not the most prolific of Rangers players – in fact, this was only his third goal from 101 appearances across two spells – but on the rare occasions when Balogun does find the net, they usually come like this.
But the assist-provider – not Cerny, not Ianis Hagi or Nedim Bajrami but Clinton Nsiala – certainly did something a little out of character as Rangers finally doubled their advantage at home to a plummeting Aberdeen on Wednesday night.
After another fine performance at centre-half, Philippe Clement praised Nsiala’s display at Dundee six days earlier, the former AC Milan starlet chipped in with the first assist of his senior career.
And for a man more renowned for his ability to stop goals at the other end, the way Nsiala shifted the ball onto his left foot and picked out Balogun in a crowded penalty area gave the impression of a natural-born winger rather than a powerhouse centre-half.
Billy Dodds lauds Clinton Nsiala as Rangers cruise past Aberdeen
“Nsiala has done really well,” former Gers striker Billy Dodds told BBC Sport. “He’s got speed and he’s done well in the three games without being tested too much.
“He plays like a winger to get it on the left foot and Balogun knocks it into the bottom corner.”
While Aberdeen did threaten the home side on occasions – particularly through Kevin Nisbet as he missed a glorious chance late in the first half – Nsiala was not exactly stretched against a side who managed only six shots and two on target.
With Robin Propper added to Rangers’ walking wounded – the Dutchman ironically departing as Balogun made his long-awaited return – the emergence of 20-year-old Nsiala as a reliable first-team option really could not have come at a better time.
On only his third Premiership start, Nsiala not only provided an assist but also completed 91 per cent of his passes. Any defender at one of the Old Firm clubs – due to the fact they often come up against deep-lying backlines and have to play through the thirds – must be comfortable with the ball at his feet.
And Nsiala’s left-foot is certainly shaping up to be a useful weapon in Clement’s armoury.
Hamza Igamane and Cyriel Dessers score at Ibrox
As Rangers moved two points closer to runaway leaders Celtic, Hamza Igamane struck a ninth goal in just 12 Premiership starts to give the home side an early lead.
Aberdeen – now on a run of eight defeats in a dozen – could hardly have made it easier for the in-form striker either. After a mix-up at the back, and a kind deflection, a striker with Igamane’s dead-eyed ruthlessness was never going to miss the mark.
Rangers dominated the chance count from thereon in, despite a few nervy moments provided by Nisbet and Leighton Clarkson, but Clement could only rest easy once first Balogun and then substitute Cyriel Dessers put the game to bed in stoppage time.
“Aberdeen were passive,” former Dons defender Andy Consadine sighed after watching his team, title challengers not so long ago, swept comfortably aside. “As a team, there was no energy.
“It’s disappointing to watch. We lacked a lot of fight.”
