Kris Boyd has defended Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers, and his striking counterparts, amid the wider squad's lack of goals this season.

Speaking to Sky Sports, the Ibrox legend acknowledged the trials facing Philippe Clement and his players while travelling to away grounds in the Scottish Premiership, but said Rangers must be more vicious in front of goal.

For Boyd, that's not just about laying blame on Rangers' forward-facing players, but also the deeper-sitting players providing service. Boyd told Sky: "It's not been great, four games in the league, one goal scored. I get that [there are] difficult venues to go to, but the rates have got to be better.

"Even at home, Aberdeen and Celtic are the top two right now, but Dundee and Dundee United, who have just been promoted from the Championship, have scored more goals than Rangers in the league this season.

"So I think that is an area that Rangers have to improve in, there's no getting away from it. In terms of, it's easy to look at the strikers and say they've got scoring, but they don't get anything created for them.

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Boyd added: "And I think that in terms of that it's slow, the build-up, and even if it does go long, by the time the striker gets it down, there's no movement off them, everything just seems to be pedestrian.

"And it needs to be a lot sharper. I think that, if you look at the weekend, Kilmarnock just wanted it more."