Cyriel Dessers blasted by McCall after what he saw Rangers star do v Dundee

Cyriel Dessers has already matched his Rangers goals tally of 22 this season, but he endured a first half to forget against Dundee on Saturday evening.

Dessers has been one of the standout performers in Barry Ferguson's short stint in charge so far, delivering both in Europe against Fenerbahce and in the Scottish Premiership.

The Nigerian international could have found the net several times in the Gers' latest league test at Dundee already, after Simon Murray and Joe Shaughnessy put the home side two goals ahead, before an own goal from the latter left the score 2-1.

Dessers slammed after missing chance v Dundee

Dessers was given the nod to start by Ferguson at Dens Park on Saturday evening (29 March), in what has become a century of appearances for Rangers.

The striker has endured a love-hate relationship with the Ibrox support given his knack for important goals, which runs parallel with a tendency to pass up key opportunities.

The latter was certainly the case inside the first 14 minutes against Dundee, first firing wide inside the area before then striking a left-footed drive straight at goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

Former Rangers man Ian McCall, live on BBC Sportsound (29 March, 17:37) lamented the Rangers number nine for the first of the chances missed, claiming he was more interested in what Shaughnessy was doing.

"I think the net has got to bulge there," McCall claimed.

"Dessers is more interested in holding off Shaughnessy."

Rangers have work to do

The misery of a torrid first half for Rangers was compounded when Shaughnessy stabbed home a second from close range following some awful defending, supplemented by Jack Butland's messy error.

It almost seems reminiscent of the trip to Kilmarnock in late February, when Ferguson managed to get his first win as manager from a two-goal deficit, turning the scoreline into a 4-2 victory in Ayrshire.

You can never write off Rangers, even if their start to proceedings at Dens Park has been lacklustre. The confidence looks shot at times in the side, but the talent remains.

Gers may be playing for pride for the remainder of the league campaign, but cannot move through with one eye on the Europa League the entire time. That's fine for the fans, not for Ferguson and his squad.

There remains the feeling that Rangers are shackled in the league yet play without any pressure on their shoulders in Europe, and it's baffling at times how performances fluctuate - no matter who is on the touchline.

Rangers have plenty of work to do in the second half, but they will never fail to create chances and threaten a comeback.