Barry Ferguson speaks for just about every Rangers supporter when summing up a player who can bemuse one minute and bamboozle the next.
The Rangers legend played with some pretty prolific centre-forwards during his two spells as a player at Ibrox.
And, say what you want about Cyriel Dessers, the Nigeria international’s strike rate is up there with some of the best of them. Dessers struck a brutal brace early in the second-half as Rangers came from behind to beat Kilmarnock 4-2 at Rugby Park on Wednesday night.
As such, the £4.5 million signing from Cremonese has now broken the 20-goal barrier in each of his two seasons at Rangers. Dessers also averages more than a goal every other start in the Scottish Premiership. He’s been included in the first XI on 42 occasions over the last season-and-three-quarters, scoring 26 times in the process.
Barry Ferguson credits Cyriel Dessers as Rangers beat Kilmarnock
This, meanwhile, was just about the quintessential Cyriel Dessers display.
Giving Ferguson the full Dessers experience, the Belgian-born bagsman gave the ball away needlessly, delivered a few scruffy touches, but then turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead while putting away his most difficult chance of the night with the sort of finish that would not look out of place in a compilation of one of Europe’s finest number nines.
Ferguson, as you might expect given his iron-clad personality, adores footballers who are willing to run themselves into the ground. Even on Dessers’ more misfiring days, he can never be accused of failing to provide the perspiration.
“I like him,” Ferguson says. “I’ve always said it, he’s got a brilliant work ethic.
“Sometimes, he frustrates you. He lost the ball a couple of times in the first-half. But, listen, what he brings you is he brings you a brilliant work ethic.”
Dessers got the nod to start up top, with Hamza Igamane lining up in behind alongside Ianis Hagi and Vaclav Cerny.
“I thought he led the line exceptionally well,” Ferguson adds. “There is a real player in there. I thought his goals tonight were great as well.”
Dessers and Vaclav Cerny both in Golden Boot race
Barry Ferguson is determined to get Rangers winning again. That, the interim boss says, is his ‘main objective’ between now and the end of May.
But while there are no domestic trophies to play for this term, Rangers could still console themselves with the Golden Boot gong.
Cerny’s 35th minute strike and Dessers double sees the duo move to within one and two goals respectively of the Premiership’s current leading marksman, Sam Dalby of Dundee United.
“If you see the way we reacted, with the mentality and character we showed, we can be happy with the win as this is a tough place to come to,” Dessers says during his own post-match grilling.
“At half-time, the gaffer told us that we were still in the game through Vaclav’s goal. We fought back in the last 15 minutes of the first half and then we had to continue that, which we did.
“It was a very nice second half.”
