Yahoo News Rangers roar back to Ibrox as Cyriel Dessers books happy Hampden return with deadly double - 3 talking points
They couldn’t wait to get away from the place.
But Rangers are heading back to Hampden after Cyriel Dessers ensured a happy homecoming on the Light Blues’ Ibrox return. The Nigerian made it seven goals in his last eight appearances with a clinical double to ensure the Premier Sports Cup holders march into November’s semi-finals with a comfortable win over Tony Docherty’s Dundee.
His brace bookended a James Tavernier penalty as Philippe Clement’s side turned the page on a difficult chapter which saw them forced to vacate their spiritual home after a construction cock-up on their Copland Road refurbishment project. An early breakthrough was Gers’ first priority as they looked to reacquaint themselves with their surroundings. And they got it 18 minutes in. Jefte’s ball down the left released Nedim Bajrami, with the Albanian’s cross finding Dessers.
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The striker’s first-time effort was saved by Carson’s feet but the danger was far from over for Dundee. Tavernier immediately fired the loose ball back into the danger zone where Dessers swept home with a quick-fire second attempt.
The second took longer to come. Dessers had a huge chance to double his tally for the evening as Bajrami measured another pass into his feet but Carson again positioned his feet well to come up with the block. And the keeper was on his toes for a third time just before half-time as he tipped over an acrobatic Dessers volley as the Nigerian tried again with the spectacular from John Souttar’s cross.
But Rangers were two-up five minutes into the second period. Dessers had spent the opening 45 complaining about the rough treatment he was receiving off the ball.
Ref Chris Graham finally took notice as Tavernier swung in a corner, pointing to the spot as Mohamed Sylla all but went for a piggy back ride on the Gers No9’s back. Skipper Tavernier was made to wait before stepping up for his penalty but the delay made no difference as last year’s top scorer fired home his first of this term.
Dundee hadn’t threatened much before the break but should have pulled one back soon after conceding. Billy Koumetio headed a Lyall Cameron corner into the mixer where Simon Murray was lurking.
The striker had two goes at beating Jack Butland but couldn’t find a way past the Ibrox No1’s impressive double save at point-blank range. They had another golden opportunity as Cameron picked out sub Seb Palmer-Houlden but he fluffed a glorious free header wide. And Docherty’s team were made to regret those missed opportunities as Gers settled the tie with the third.
It was a great ball in from Bajrami but an even better finish from Dessers as he hit the bouncing ball on the sweet spot to leave Carson with no chance. Butland was to the rescue again for Rangers, however, bailing out Tavernier as his blunder played in Scott Tiffoney.
Happy homecoming
No wonder Philippe Clement claimed the 130 days Rangers spent locked out of their spiritual home had felt like a decade.
In that short space of time, the Light Blues legions have had to watch as any faint hopes they had for the new campaign were squashed into the dirt. Out of the Champions League early and already struggling to hang onto Celtic’s coattails, there’s a feeling amongst the punters that it could be a long old season for Clement’s side.
Returning home was supposed to offer some much needed positivity but it seems even that wasn’t enough to persuade the scunnered supporters to turn out. Even with the Copland Rear shut as the club awaits the final thumbs up from Glasgow City Council safety inspectors, Ibrox was well short of its three-and-a-half stand capacity for the visit of Tony Docherty’s Dark Blues.
But the 33665 who did show up were treated to a performance that got better the longer it went on. And having been desperate to get away from Hampden, they’re now heading back to the national stadium after confidently taking their place in Sunday’s semi-final draw.
Slick Cyd is up for the fight
The Hamza Igamane hype machine began as soon as the full-time whistle blew at Tannadice last week as the Gers faithful rushed to hail their new frontman. There was no goal or even a shot on target but the Moroccan’s 25-minute cameo on Tayside was enough to get the Ibrox support excited, with his power and close control offering a enticing alternative to Cyriel Dessers’ haphazard hold-up play.
But if the Nigerian was feeling the pressure of having the young pretender for his jersey breathing down his neck, he didn’t show it as he took his tally to the season to seven goals already.
The first was a tidy finish as Dundee failed to react to a Trevor Carson save from an initial Dessers effort.
But his second was the pick of the night as he did fantastically to find the sweet spot on a bouncing Nadim Bajrami cross, lacing it home to send Gers into the last four.
Dundee din’t get a Luke in
Replacing a player as influential as Luke McCowan was always going to be a challenge for Tony Docherty with funds tight at Dens Park.
The new Celtic signing has been the beating heart of this team throughout Docherty’s tenure, so losing him with just minutes to go before last month’s deadline must have been a devastating blow for the Dark Blues boss.
He’s turned to 20-year-old former England England Under-18 skipper Sam Baybrooke to fill his slot in midfield.
The on-loan kid has already been nicknamed the “Leicester Iniesta” by the Dees faithful but with just four career appearances now under his belt, it’s a bit much to expect him to step in and provide the leadership McCowan once did.
Lyall Cameron isn’t much older at 21 but he is a player Docherty can rely on. If Dundee can find the right partner to help him along, there’s no reason why he can’t progress like McCowan.
