James McFadden hails two ‘brilliant’ Rangers stars as £3.5m ace ‘made the difference’ in Kilmarnock
Whatever happens during the remainder of Barry Ferguson’s interim spell in charge, the Rangers legend will always have that comeback in Kilmarnock.
A game that looked lost after just 14 minutes salvaged via three goals inside half an hour either side of half-time, and a couple of inspired tactical switches from a man who has not even sat in a dugout since a brief, unsuccessful spell at Alloa Athletic three years ago.
Barry Ferguson, nothing to lose really after signing a short-term deal at a club who’s title prospects went up in smoke months ago, hauled Clinton Nsiala off after 31 minutes, shifted James Tavernier to centre-back, and introduced the left-footed Ridvan Yilmaz on the right.
Had he not shuffled his pack so early in proceedings – Kilmarnock were 2-0 up and threatening a third – lord only knows what manner of humiliation Rangers would have endured in Ayrshire.
Cyriel Dessers hogged the headlines after taking his tally to 20 goals for the season.
Barry Ferguson was full of praise for Dessers at full-time, the Nigeria international leading the line ‘exceptionally’ and following up a close-range equaliser with a Goal of the Season contender to put the visitors in front for the first time.
But, on a night where James Tavernier shone in a largely unfamiliar role, it was another defender playing out of position who played a major part in a comeback few saw coming when Killie flew out of the blocks at Rugby Park.
READ MORE: Who is Cyriel Dessers? Get to know the Rangers striker who went from zero to hero
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Ridvan Yilmaz and Cyriel Dessers praised as Rangers beat Kilmarnock
Yilmaz’s sublime floated pass set up Dessers’ fizzing volley. Obviously the highlight of the diminutive full-back’s evening.
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But, as former Scotland forward James McFadden points out, it was also he who started the move which led to Vaclav Cerny halving the deficit.
Yilmaz drifted into midfield and drove a pass into the feet of Hamza Igamane. The Moroccan then held off a Kilmarnock defender, allowing Mohamed Diomande to set Cerny through on goal to slot home his 15th as a Rangers player.
“The finish is brilliant but what a pass it is,” McFadden says. “Even Tavernier at centre-back, I thought he did really well. I thought Diomande, playing to his strengths. Yilmaz came on and made the difference.
“He’s playing forward and looking forward.”
Barry Ferguson was treated to the full Cyriel Dessers experience in midweek.
An opening 45 of misplaced touches, shonky passes and a miss from almost point-blank range. Ferguson himself admits Dessers is a rather ‘frustrating’ player to watch – particularly from his new vantage point on the touchline – but more talented centre-forwards could learn a lot from his never-say-die attitude.
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Gordon Dalziel blown away by ‘excellent’ Dessers on Barry Ferguson bow
For Gordon Dalziel, a Rangers striker in his own playing days, Dessers’ record speaks for itself. Twenty goals in successive seasons. And 26 in just 42 Premiership starts.
“I’ll tell you something, and he comes in for a lot of stick, Dessers second-half was excellent. Excellent,” Dalziel adds. “He can score goals but he comes in for so much criticism it’s unbelievable. He can score goals. See his finish, with his side-foot, what a finish it is!
“I think, the big thing is, Rangers could have lost that game last night and you couldn’t sit here and give Barry Ferguson dogs abuse because he didn’t have enough time. So you can’t sit here and say ‘Messiah!’ because its the same thing.
“I just think Dessers has got that [ability], whether it’s Clement or whatever, first-half I thought he was terrible. I was thinking ‘You’ll be lucky if you last the game!’.
“But I thought the finish [for his second goal] was brilliant.”
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