Half-time shouting match sparked Rangers revival that eased pressure on Philippe Clement
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On the matter of Philippe Clement’s future as Rangers manager, victory over Motherwell felt more like a not proven verdict than a full scale acquittal
Trailing to an Andy Halliday goal at half-time, the court of public opinion was vocal and clear. With the team being booed from the pitch, the Belgian’s job hung by a thread.
There were raised voices in the Rangers dressing room as well, winger Vaclav Cerny acknowledging that a few home truths were necessary to make sure that he and his team-mates turned things around and secured their place in next month’s Premier Sports Cup final.
There’s no evidence, as yet, that Rangers directors feel any compulsion to act on supporter unrest focused as much on them as it is on the manager.
A decision was kicked down the tracks, in any case, when a battling second-half display saw strikes from Cyriel Dessers and Nedim Bajrami turn the game on its head and secure a meeting with arch-rivals Celtic in the final on December 15.
Cerny helped Rangers come from behind to earn the win Philippe Clement desperately needed
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Cerny helped Rangers come from behind to earn the win Philippe Clement desperately needed
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While Thursday’s trip to Greece to face Olympiacos in the Europa League offers no prospect of respite for the under-fire Belgian, the chance to defend the first —and only — trophy of his Rangers reign eased the pressure valve ever so slightly.
The catalyst for the transformation, on-loan winger Cerny admitted words were spoken at the interval, stating: ‘It’s very important to say a few things to each other, stick together and get out in the second half and show how good we can be.
‘Even with things not going exactly like we would want them to go, we showed good faith in the second half.’
Asked which players were the most vocal in the dressing room when the chips were down, the Czech declined to name names.
He said: ‘It’s not important who says them — it’s what is said that’s important and what we do then.
‘Those things have to stay in the dressing room. The most important thing is the faith we showed.’
Nine points behind Aberdeen in the league after losing at Pittodrie in midweek, banks of empty seats in the stands made no impact on the volume of the boos from Rangers supporters after Halliday fired the Fir Park side into a first-half lead against his former club.
Bajrami scored Rangers’ late winner against Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final
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Bajrami scored Rangers’ late winner against Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final
Cyriel Dessers got Rangers back in the game with an equaliser at Hampden Park on Sunday
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Cyriel Dessers got Rangers back in the game with an equaliser at Hampden Park on Sunday
Emphasising the importance of getting fans back onside — and saving the manager’s job — by firing their way to the final, Cerny added: ‘They see when we do the right things and when we play our football then you feel it back from them.
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‘We just want to build the consistency in games and have a good run of games to build confidence for all of us.
‘We knew the semi-final was going to be a tough game. It’s a one-off game.
‘We showed character in the second half and quality as well. We’re delighted to get through to the final and especially the way we did it.’
The omission of Cerny from the starting line-up in Aberdeen became another stick with which to beat Clement when Rangers slid to defeat in the second half, despite an improved performance.
Consistently the most menacing attacking threat against Motherwell, the on-loan winger admitted he never wanted to miss the game at Pittodrie, but called it a ‘good decision.’
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He said: ‘That was tough. But it was a good decision. I’ve been playing so many games for the past two months and my legs felt it. It was a decision which was made and I think, health-wise, it was a good decision.
‘It was tough for me not being there with the guys. I know how important that game was.
‘Now I feel good, fit and that for me is the major thing. That I feel healthy and can go every three days. Once I get the flow, I just want to keep it and do everything I can to keep it.
‘I want to create things, bring ideas in the final third and I’m trying to be the person to create chances for the team and also for myself.
‘Just to be in those positions is very important for me. I’m glad, for the past few games, it’s going well.’
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Rangers now travel to Greece to face Olympiacos, with Clement continuing to stick to the line that his team will improve once players settle in their surroundings.
Echoing that view, Cerny added: ‘Don’t forget it’s a team and a squad that’s only been together a short period of time with a lot of new players.
‘You see moments where it looks really good and we work every single day on details.
‘It’s going to pay off. It’s time for us to realise just how good we can be.’
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