Philippe Clement gets his Rangers wish in Ibrox anniversary bash but Dundee ensure no party buzz – 3 talking points
Vaclav Cerny eased Rangers’ Hampden heartache as his winner handed the hosts an anniversary victory on the day the Light Blues marked 125 years at Ibrox.
It was meant to be a party occasion but the mood round the old place was soured by last week’s sickening shoot-out loss to Celtic in last week’s Premier Sport Cup final. A goalless first-half did little to lift spirits, even if Philippe Clement’s men did rattle the cross bar twice. But Cerny’s strike 60 seconds into the second period provided a cheer as the Govcan outfit climbed above Aberdeen and into second place for the first time this season.
They remain eight behind Brendan Rodger’s Premiership leaders - who play Dundee United tomorrow - but at least they had VAR onside this time as Cerny’s 10th goal of the season was given the thumbs up after initial offside doubts. Gers were hit with a last-minute injury blow as Jack Butland was forced to withdraw during the warm up, handing Liam Kelly the chance to finally make his club debut.
Leon Balogun and Nedim Bajrami also dropped out after that Hampden sickener as Danilo and Dujon Sterling returned. Dundee had last week off but changed up the team that lost to Hearts at Tynecastle a fortnight ago, with Trevor Carson replacing Jon McCracken in goal and Scott Tiffoney taking over from the injured Oluwaseun Adewumi.
The Dens side weren’t exactly taking a bold approach as they set-up immediately looking to stifle and frustrate the hosts. They may have lacked ambition but there was no shortage of resolve in the Dundee ranks as they stuck to the task set by Tony Docherty.
It took Rangers 17 minutes to finally test Trevor Carson when Antonio Portales’ mis-hit clearance landed straight at Danilo’s feet, but the striker’s effort lacked the power to beat the keeper. Ianis Hagi’s strike moments later was full of venom, though, as his 20 yard attempt fizzed through the air before dipping at the last moment onto the top of the crossbar.
Gers rattled the woodwork again on the half-hour mark as James Tavernier whipped a wicked free-kick over the Dundee wall before watching it bounce down as the visitors scrambled to clear the danger. Carson did well to keep his side level on 32 minutes, throwing out a big hand low to his right to divert Vaclav Cerny’s effort after the Czech ace had twist his way past Finlay Robertson.
Dundee did mount on rare foray forward just before half-time as Josh Mulligan sent Seb Palmer-Houlden to the byline. But with bodies lining up at the back post, the frontman overcooked his cross to the frustration of his boss on the touchline.
That, though, came nowhere close the the anger felt by Docherty as his side conceded 60 seconds into the second half. They’d started positively enough, looking to trap Gers deep inside their own half.
But they were undone when Danilo send Cerny scampering in behind their backline, with the on-loan Wolfsburg winger rounding Carson before stroking home. Dundee insisted it was offside but this time VAR was fully focused on the job as they ran the lines and gave the go-ahead for the opener to stand.
The men with the remote control weren’t quite so helpful on 58 minutes as they chalked off a Hagi goal after the offside Romanian squeezed another past Carson. Hamza Igamane was struggling to hit his recent heights but almost made it two for Rangers after a smart one-two with Hagi before clipping the ball over Carson.
But before the Moroccan could celebrate, Dark Blues defender Jordan McGhee had raced back to hack clear from under his own crossbar. If that was unlucky, his next attempt was unbelievable, with the summer signing somehow rattling the crossbar from six yards out after being left with what looked a straight forward finish from Nico Raskin’s cut-back.
That might have been costly late on but there was a let off as Robertson blazed a big chance over the bar after a lightening Dundee breakaway. Rangers should have increased their lead at the death - but there were groans as subs Ross McCausland and Cyriel Dessers both passed up glorious openings.
Ibrox celebrations but no party buzz
It was a big day at Ibrox as Rangers marked their home ground’s 125th anniversary. Vaclav Cerny’s winner ensured the occasion didn’t fall flat. But it was hardly the party atmosphere the organisers would have been hoping for after last week’s Hampden buzzkill defeat to Celtic.
That shoot-out defeat to Brendan Rodgers’ Treble-chasers in the final of the Premier Sports Cup final was a punch to the stomach of both the players and the support and so it was no surprise to see the noise levels a little muted. The old place has seen some incredible moments down the years but success has been in short supply for most of the past two decades.
There doesn’t look like there will be much to celebrate anytime soon, even if Philippe Clement’s side have at the very least climbed up above Aberdeen into second-place. It was another scrappy display after some encouraging displays of late, with a lack of killer touch almost costing them late on.
Vaclav Cerny’s winner ensured the occasion didn’t fall flat. But it was hardly the party atmosphere the organisers would have been hoping for after last week’s Hampden buzzkill defeat to Celtic.
That shoot-out defeat to Brendan Rodgers’ Treble-chasers in the final of the Premier Sports Cup final was a punch to the stomach of both the players and the support and so it was no surprise to see the noise levels a little muted. The old place has seen some incredible moments down the years but success has been in short supply for most of the past two decades.
There doesn’t look like there will be much to celebrate anytime soon, even if Philippe Clement’s side have at the very least climbed up above Aberdeen into second-place. It was another scrappy display after some encouraging displays of late, with a lack of killer touch almost costing them late on.
Easy introduction for Kelly
Liam Kelly first joined Rangers at the age of 10. But he’s had to wait until six weeks out from his 29th birthday to finally make his Light Blues bow. The goalkeeper - who spent 12 years at the club as a kid - was given his debut chance after Jack Butland withdrew in the warm-up.
The club have yet to confirm if that was down to a knock or some other reason but if the former England keeper is suffering a bump it could yet offer Kelly his big chance. Having made his way through the Ibrox academy, he was forced to join Livingston in 2018 in search of first-team action.
The then Motherwell ace returned in the summer to act as back-up toilet Butland as he sacrificed his status as the undisputed No1 and club captain at Fir Park. But he believes he could yet be a decision that pays off. Speaking in July, Kelly said: “You are one person away from playing in Old Firm games, one person away from European games. I’m not in any position to knock back that chance.”
He’ll hope he’ll now have that chance after coming through his debut unscathed. It wasn’t exactly a testing introduction as Dundee offered scant threat but a clean sheet is all Kelly could have asked for.
Dundee left feeling sick
Tony Docherty’s preparations for the trip to Ibrox were hit last week when he had to send eight of his squad home following a flu outbreak. They’d all recovered in time to take on Gers but it was clear the visitors lacked the energy to really have a go when Gers failed to press on from Cerny’s winner.
There wasn’t much ambition showed at all for the first 80 minutes. But the introduction of Simon Murray gave Dundee a focal point as they came moved towards the final stages.
Finlay Robertson wasted a big chance late on as he blazed over while Murray beat Kelly in the 87th minute - only top see Robin Propper clear off the line before the offside flag sprang up. With their recent form patchy, the Dee now drop five points behind St Mirren in the chase for a top-six slot.
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