Jose Cifuentes sent off in miserable display as Abdallah Sima stars again – Rangers player ratings vs Dundee
Rangers bounced back from a dismal start to defeat Dundee 3-1 despite losing Jose Cifuentes to a first-half sending off.
The Gers defence was all at sea in the first half and the visitors took the lead through Amadou Bakayoko after five minutes at a corner, but the home side responded well as Cyriel Dessers slammed in the leveller before James Tavernier scored from the spot after VAR review and Abdallah Sima powered home a powerful header from a set piece before the break.
Cifuentes’ Rangers misery continued with a straight red deep into first-half stoppage time after another look at the screen from Kevin Clancy, and with a man down the second period was more even but Philippe Clement’s men held the lead until the final whistle.
Here, Ibrox News rates the Rangers players out of 10 for their performances against Dundee.
Jack Butland – 6
Arguably looked his worst since arriving at Rangers although perhaps not entirely his fault behind a rubbish performance from the defence. Had an uncomfortable first half after his excellent early save proved for nothing when the visitors went ahead from the resulting corner. Saved from conceding a second by the officials after dropping the ball under pressure from Bakayoko, and nearly gave the ball away multiple times after the break.
James Tavernier – 6
Nice work in attack but messy in defence. Did what he does so often to fire Rangers into the lead after 26 minutes from the spot, swung in the corner which Sima powered home for the third, and chipped a nice attempt off the bar just before the break but defensively the back line was all over the place and the captain’s tackling was included in that. and almost gifted the visitors a second when he headed a second-half ball into the danger zone.
John Souttar – 4
The unexpected starter in place of Connor Goldson looked completely unprepared to be in the game. Appeared panicked with runners coming at him as he fell to the turf rather than make challenges. Less obviously calamitous after the break but didn’t make a strong claim to start more going forward.
Leon Balogun – 5
Slightly less of a rabbit in the headlights than Souttar next to him but was put under a surprising amount of pressure going back towards his own goal. Beaten twice in the build-up to the corner which led to the Dundee goal and missed with various attempted challenges in the first 45, while looking unsettled in possession.
Borna Barisic – 5
Similar to Tavernier he was better going forward than at the back but had less offensive impact. Had loads of space down the left to swing balls in without much return but looked anything but comfortable defensively whenever he was put under pressure, and booked for a cynical pull-back in the second half.
Jose Cifuentes – 2
Slightly harsh perhaps but his nightmare start to life at Ibrox continued as his first-half sending off capped off another miserable half. Was caught flat-footed as the ball dropped next to him for Bakayoko to score the early goal, then was largely passed by until his dismissal. Unlucky to be shown a straight red for a challenge on the striker as there didn’t appear to be much force behind it, but he was late as he continues to seem a yard off the pace.
John Lundstram (off for King ’89) – 7
Poor start but responded well. Weak dangled leg was easily bypassed by Cameron for early chance, and his misplace header fell to Bakayoko from the resulting corner. Good performance in the middle thereafter as he grew into the game, spreading possession and intercepting play well
Rabbi Matondo (off for McCausland ’46) – 7
Decent attacking threat down the right to save the decision to leave Ross McCausland on the bench being too outrageous but final ball was lacking and it wasn’t a huge shock when the youngster replaced him at the break.
Todd Cantwell (off for Sterling ’46) – 7
Neat and tidy on the ball in the middle as he started to look closer to his best and fired home a nice finish before the half but the whistle had already gone. Would have been disappointed to be sacrificed as Clement reshaped after Cifuentes’ red when he was looking comfortable.
Abdallah Sima – 9 (Man of the Match)
Crucial to the Light Blues once again after a slow start. Won a penalty at another corner after a VAR review as his shirt was being pulled off and looked like the key attacking threat he has proven recently thereafter and scored the third with a bullet header from a corner swung in from Tavernier. The most regular attacking threat in this side and while he misses some chances he takes more than the alternatives available to the manager.
Cyriel Dessers (off for Roofe ’72) – 7
Better performance from the embattled striker. Not particularly close to getting on the end of numerous crosses in that proved harmless but smashed Rangers level after 20 minutes on the rebound from his own blocked sho tas he let out some frustrations with a strong finish. Had more presence on the ball when on possession on the ground and played a decent role in the attack. Has a chance to claim the place with Danilo out and it was a reasonable start towards that.
Substitutions
Ross McCausland (on for Matondo ’46) – 7
Same story as it has been virtually every time he plays. Tricky play down the right that put opponents on the back foot although, as with Matondo he didn’t have the greatest impact at the end of his runs.
Dujon Sterling (on for Cantwell ’46) – 5
Deployed in midfield after Cifuentes’ sending off and did his best to follow suit as he went crashing into a challenge on the edge of the box on the hour which almost conceded a penalty. Hit the post with a fantastic late effort from range which would have been a stunner.
Kemar Roofe (on for Dessers ’72) – 5
Little impact in his late cameo.
Leon King (on for Lundstram ’89) – N/A
In other Rangers news, a “perfect scenario” three-way deal has been predicted for January with a Lawrence Shankland substitute involved.