Philippe Clement surprisingly singled out Jack Butland for praise despite an outstanding attacking display in Rangers’ 5-0 Scottish Premiership thumping of Dundee on Wednesday night.
This was certainly a fitting way to mark a new era at Ibrox. Sam Lammers assisting Cyriel Dessers to score Rangers’ fourth of the night in the 83rd minute. Two players much-maligned since their summer arrival, two players who become symbolic of the Mick Beale malaise, revived and revitalised under the man who took his place.
Dessers now has two goals in three league games under Clement. Lammers, meanwhile, produced comfortably his best Rangers display on the night, curling home a stunning long-range finish shortly before setting up another Eredivisie expat.
Ryan Jack, James Tavernier and the increasingly-excellent Danilo also found the net against Dundee, though Clement was keen to highlight the contribution of a man who – as the goals flew in at the other end – flew somewhat under the radar on the night.
Jack Butland praised after Rangers win
“It’s a positive evening. Scoring five goals isn’t something that happens too often,” Clement tells Rangers Review. “For me, it was also important to keep the clean sheet. We kept our structure and didn’t give away too many chances.
“And when we did, we had a really good goalkeeper.”
Jack Butland, so impressive since joining from Crystal Palace, made one outstanding double save when the score was 2-0. How differently would things have panned out had Butland not been as sharp as ever between the sticks?
A statement win from Philippe Clement’s side
Clement, meanwhile, still wants to see more from his Rangers side, despite Glasgow giants’ bagging their biggest league win since February 2022
“It’s a positive evening,” adds the former Club Brugge boss. “The first half was OK but not good enough. I missed the ambition in the team to play faster. Our tempo was too low. We didn’t create enough with the qualities we have.
“But I’m much more satisfied with the second half.”
