Cyriel Dessers has Rangers fans singing a different tune to save himself from summer sale
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers is proving his doubters wrong at Ibrox, after scoring his 20th goal of the season to give the Gers a 2-1 win over St Mirren on Sunday (28 April).
Dessers proved to be the difference at St Mirren Park for Rangers, heading home James Tavernier’s cross to win the game and spark pandemonium from an away end who are finally warming to the Nigeria international.
The striker was linked with a last-ditch transfer away from Ibrox in January, but after scoring three goals in his last two matches, a potential departure this summer will be the last thing on head coach Philippe Clement’s mind as Rangers kept up pressure on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
In his post-match press conference, Clement said: “He is working really hard for the team, he is giving everything.
“He changed the situation himself in a really good way. If I hear what the fans are singing now or six months ago, there are different songs.”
On Dessers’ milestone goal, Clement added: “The moments come and the situations come to be decisive in that position. It was again a really good finish today.”
How important is Cyriel Dessers to Rangers this season?
Rangers could well have been dead and buried in the title race without Dessers’ late winner against St Mirren, and, with just four games remaining, seen Celtic open up a five-point gap at the top of the Premiership.
After damaging results at Ross County and Dundee, it is Dessers who has dragged Rangers out of the mud, netting twice against Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-finals and finishing off St Mirren with another decisive contribution in the box today (28 April).
The Gers’ first-half goal at St Mirren Park was actually an own goal courtesy of Buddies defender James Bolton, meaning that Dessers has scored each of his side’s last three goals, achieving a personal milestone of 20 and becoming an undroppable cog in Clement’s side.
Celtic remain the team to beat though, and ahead of another league meeting at Parkhead on 11 May, as well as the Scottish Cup Final two weeks later, the Ibrox faithful will be singing to Dessers’ tune if he proves to be the player central to Rangers turning the tide.
In other Rangers news, the Light Blues are expected to take a financial hit on a transfer which suits all involved.
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