By Cyriel Dessers’ own admission, he is not the ‘cleanest’ centre-forward in the world. For every chance the Rangers striker puts away, there will always be a couple of scuffs wide of the target.
He’ll stumble over the ball now and then, or bobble a shot into the net where more polished number nines would coolly slot it into the cornerns.
But keep providing him the service, and Cyriel Dessers will keep getting into those positions. For all the criticism that has come the way of Rangers‘ £4 million signing, a tally of 20 goals in all competitions is nothing to be sniffed at. He reached that landmark with a fine header on Sunday, following up his Hampden heroics with a late winner to see of St Mirren and keep Philippe Clement’s title hopes alive and breathing.
Ok, maybe if Rangers had a Lawrence Shankland at their disposal, their centre-forward would have hit 30 rather than 20. Perhaps The Gers would not have dropped those vital points against Ross County and Dundee.
But as long as James Tavernier is whipping in the sort of sublime crosses Dessers gleefully gobbled up in Paisley, the former Feyenoord frontman will keep giving opposition defenders something to occupy their minds and goalkeepers a reason to stay on their toes.
Cyriel Dessers hails James Tavernier influence
“It’s not the first time Tav gives a cross like that,” Dessers smiles, the Rangers captain having added a 11th assist to his 24 goals from right-back. “That’s his quality. He can do it.
“He can decide a game with one cross, and that’s what he did today. As a striker you need to make the good movement in the box and be there in the right moment to score the goal.
“Obviously, to score 20 is a beautiful number. Not a lot of Rangers strikers have got to those numbers in the last few years, so it’s a nice milestone for me.
I know that, if I play minutes, if I play games, I’m always going to score goals. I’m a striker who maybe on the eye isn’t the most beautiful striker or the most clean striker. I think with me, as a striker, it’s easy to see what’s not there.
“But as I am in life, and I think this is a good lesson for everybody, I love to look at what’s there. I’m talking about winning the battles with the defenders. About running. Last week, I broke my record for high-intensity runs, for sprints. To do all of this for the team is of the same importance as scoring goals.
“These are the things people in the stands or on social media don’t see immediately but they are there and they benefit the team. So it’s about more than just the goals but I’m of course very happy to reach that number.
“But I want more!”
Rangers stay in title race
His wicked 74th minute cross was Tavernier’s first assist since a hat-trick of set-ups against Ross County in February. Dessers, meanwhile, has now done what former Rangers talisman Alfredo Morelos failed to do in three of his five seasons in Glasgow, breaking the 20-goal barrier.
Clement was also indebted to another familiar saviour at the other end of the pitch over the weekend, Jack Butland justifying his Player of the Year award with the latest in a long line of virtuoso displays between the sticks.
“Their keeper made some terrific saves,” St MirrenbossStephen Robinson said. “(Butland) was terrific. He kept Rangers in the game with a brilliant save that obviously affected the result.”
Celtic’s James Forrest-inspired win at Dundee means there is still a three-point gap between the two Old Firm rivals at the top of the table with only three games remaining.
