If there was ever a moment which summed up his Rangers career, it came 18 minutes into Saturday’s Scottish League Cup quarter-final clash with Dundee.
After a fine cross from Nedim Bajrami on his full debut, Cyriel Dessers found a pocket of space inside the penalty area but fired his shot straight into the legs of visiting goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
But, mere moments later, Dessers would get the right contact and the right finish at the second time of asking.
As James Tavernier fizzed the ball back into the box, Rangers’ number nine stayed alive, stayed focused, and flicked a clever effort into the gaping Dundee net.
Dessers might not be the most prolific. He certainly isn’t the most consistent, with the likes of Kris Boyd urging Rangers to pursue a replacement over the summer.
But, give him enough chances, and the Belgian-born Nigeria international will get his name on the scoresheet eventually. In fact, he did so twice when Dundee came to town.
Tony Docherty highlights Cyriel Dessers as Rangers reach semi-final
Dessers now has seven goals from nine appearances in 2024/25.
After being denied twice more by an overworked Carson before winning a penalty which Tavernier would convert, Dessers doubled his tally for the afternoon in style. The 29-year-old fizzed an acrobatic volley into the bottom corner while ensuring that his exciting young protege – Gers legend Barry Ferguson was keen to Hamza Igamane start this weekend – remains firmly second-choice.
And Dundee boss Tony Docherty could not shake a feeling of frustration towards a backline which gave the striker – who stays in Scotland after rumours of a Serie A return for Dessers were put to bed by Cagliari – far too much time and far too many sights of goal.
“(The goals) are wholly preventable. It’s switching off in the wide area for the first one, it’s wrong side at a corner at three minutes into the second half when I asked the players to stay resolute,” Docherty sighs during his post-match press conference.
“And, the third goal, we’ve not tucked in and we’ve allowed Dessers to get the finish in. That’s what happens when you play against good players who punish you when you make these type of mistakes.”
Rangers, League Cup holders, now have a semi-final at Hampden Park to look forward to.
Philippe Clement’s side are potentially just 180 minutes away from defending a trophy they lifted when beating Aberdeen in December 2023.
As for Dundee, Docherty is understandably disappointed to see a rare shot at silverware slip through their grasp. The Dark Blues have not won the League Cup since 1974. They have not even reached the final since 1996.
“When you get to the last eight, it gets progressively more difficult to win matches like that at venues like this,” adds the 53-year-old tactician.
You need to defend your goal better and you need to make sure, in front of goal, you are converting those chances. It’s harsh lessons at this level. You get punished.
“We are all devastated. Really, really gutted.”
Philippe Clement delighted as Rangers cruise on Ibrox return
Clement, in contrast, was in a very different mood at full-time.
As Rangers marked their long-awaited return to Ibrox with a confidence-boosting win, the Glasgow giants continue to put that Celtic disaster behind them with two wins and two clean sheets since the September international break.
“Of course, (I am) pleased,” the former Monaco boss smiled, highlighting April’s 3-2 collapse against Ross County as the kind of mistake Rangers must avoid repeating. “Because you go through in the cup and it’s important against a difficult team to break.
“Dundee are good at that, in making a very good organisation and (they are) dangerous on the counter-attack. We had this experience already with Ross County last season.
“So I’m pleased about the goals but also about the clean sheet. That’s very important. And I’m pleased also with so many new faces,” Clement adds, his £3.5 million deadline-day arrival shining on the left despite Bajrami admitting that he prefers the number ten role.
“The first time at Ibrox that they feel the energy, that they feel the fans. That the fans can see also the new players coming in and performing already well. But it’s just the start of a story. So I see also a lot of things we still can improve.
“So, I’m hungry about that.”
