Rangers: Michael Stewart stunned by heavily criticised Cyriel Dessers vs ‘terrible’ Hearts
Cyriel Dessers’ wowed Michael Stewart with his “sensational” opening goal for Rangers in the first half against Hearts at Hampden.
The pundit reacted live on the Premier Sports coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-final on 21 April after the oft-criticised Nigerian international showed wonderful composure to shift the ball onto his left foot in the box and fire past Craig Gordon in the fifth minute, after good work from James Tavernier.
Philippe Clement made extensive changes to his line up in search of a reaction after some miserable results in the SPFL, and he got it early on as the captain won two challenges to find Todd Cantwell, who fed Dessers to score an excellent goal and draw high praise from Stewart and Ally McCoist.
McCoist said (3.05pm): “What a great finish. Do you know what it’s all about here? Tavernier picking up a second ball, it’s all about that reaction there, brilliant. He’s onto it, thinks he might get a free kick, knocks it onto Cantwell who finds Dessers with a lovely ball who shifts it onto his left foot, and when asking ‘did he believe?’, I tell you what, he certainly believed there, that’s tremendous.
“Cuts inside [Nathaniel] Atkinson and a finish across the goalkeeper with the left boot, nothing wrong with that.”
Stewart agreed: “Look, we talk about he’s criticised a lot [but] you’ve got to give him a huge amount of credit, it’s a sensational goal from Dessers, because he’s got to do a lot. He’s got to shift it, he’s got to get around the defender, and then have the composure to slide it past Craig Gordon, a fantastic goal from Cyriel Dessers.
“But I tell you what, from Hearts perspective it’s a terrible goal to lose… Three attempts from Hearts where they really could have stopped that, but back to the main point there, the finish is an absolutely great goal from Dessers.”
James Tavernier drives Rangers forward early at Hampden
Dessers came into the starting line up in place of Kemar Roofe, having been dropped for a bad performance in defeat at Ross County, and was close to his best early.
His composure and his finishing is often cited as he primary weaknesses in a season where he has squandered a high volume of chances.
But he displayed both in abundance as he fired home his 18th goal of the season and ensured there was an immediate reaction for Clement.
From that point Rangers should arguably have made themselves more comfortable by the break but they allowed the Jambos back into the game, partly through their own sloppiness at the back from the likes of John Lundstram, although Jack Butland looked strong in goal.
Stewart has been critical of Dessers this season, comparing him unfavourably to his opposite number Lawrence Shankland, and has indeed been criticised for his coverage of the Light Blues as a whole.
He was hugely-impressed by the Gers striker’s start, but there will need to be a lot more of that after the break to make this result safe yet.
In other Rangers news, there could now be exits in the double-figures from Ibrox as Clement lines up a “huge” clear out.
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