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Rangers escape mutiny as Bajrami and Cerny book a date with destiny against Celtic – 5 talking points
Nedim Bajrami struck a sweet 81st minute winner as Rangers and Philippe Clement survived a huge Hampden scare to book a Premier Sports Cup final spot.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time and with boos ringing round the Light Blues sections of the ground it appeared the under-fire Belgian was staring down the barrel of a gun. But Cyriel Dessers - wasteful with two huge opportunities in the first half - cancelled Andy Halliday’s first half opener for Well before Bajrami struck.
In the end it was a deserved win for Rangers against a dogged Well side who pushed them all the way. But boy it was a struggle for Clement and his players. Man of the match Vaclav Cerny tested Aston Oxborough after five minutes and the keeper needed Liam Gordon to bail him out after spilling the tame effort. Jefte then fired over and as Rangers pushed for an early lead.
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But their wastefulness came back to bite when Halliday netted with Well’s first attempt on goal after 25 minutes. Tawanda Maswanhise’s cross from the left was blocked as far as Steve Seddon who swung in a superb cross along the six yard line and the ex-Gers hero launched himself full length - into a space criminally left by Jefte - to divert past shellshocked Jack Butland.
Halliday refused to celebrate right in front of his former club’s fans. But the Steelmen were having a party at the other end as they began dreaming of a return trip to the national stadium next month. Connor Barron and Tom Lawrence tried their luck from distance before the latter hobbled off with 10 minutes of the first half still to play and was replaced by Mohamed Diomande. The boos at half time made clear Clement was facing the biggest 45 minutes of his Ibrox career.
Within five minutes of the second half they were level. Cerny ran at Kofi Balmer before slipping in Barron who in turn laid off to Dessers seven yards out to clip past the helpless Oxborough. Jefte struck the post with a thunderous half volley as Rangers went for the throat but Well were defending for their lives.
Skipper Tavernier, wasteful with his final ball, was hooked with 23 minutes to go as Clement threw on Dujon Sterling. And with nine minutes left they got their noses in front. The dangerous Cerny burst inside off the right flank and threaded a diagonal into the path of Bajrami who strode into the box and netted from the angle with the help of a deflection off the sliding Kofi Balmer.
Fight another day
A day after Brendan Rodgers literally ended on his backside at Hampden it was Clement and Rangers who were in danger of metaphorically joining the Celtic boss. At half time it looked - and sounded - like end of days stuff as the boos rang out the Rangers end. The big Belgian prowled the edge of his technical area throughout as he looked to get a response from his players. He got it after the break. After drawing level through Dessers, Clement decided to twist, hooking the ineffective James Tavernier and Dessers who, other than his goal, had suffered another day of woe. Dujon Sterling and Danilo came in to provide energy and a proper focal point. With Vaclav Cerny providing the threat from the wide areas Rangers stepped up the gears and booked their final spot.
Had their Phil?
A win’s a win. But the fact Rangers couldn’t get close to selling out the national stadium speaks volumes for where the supporters stand with their club right now. Half the east stand remained empty. Whether it’s Clement or the board who are first in the firing line there’s no doubt this is a support base at their wits end and looking for heads to roll. Okay they still outnumbered Well fans by four or five to one. But a year ago those seats would have been taken in full by Light Blues diehards.
Back then Clement’s side were swatting aside Hearts at Hampden amid a 16-game unbeaten run that started Clement’s Ibrox career. That storming sequence delivered the League Cup silverware a month later and saw Gers qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. Both could still be repeated. But the standards need to raise drastically for any chance of that.
Captain cool
What a moment for Lennon Miller being handed the captain’s armband in a semi final at the age of 18. And the Well academy product, as predicted by his manager, never shirked responsibility. Spent the majority of the game sweeping up in front of his defence in a selfless performance that proved he can do both sides of the game. Miller still produced a couple of trademark passes as Well looked to hit on the break. The midfielder certainly doesn’t look out of place on this stage. Whether he remains a Well player beyond January remains to be seen. But there’s no doubt the Steelmen have a gem on their hands.
Dessers dilemma
The age old question. How do solve a problem like Cyriel Dessers? You can get into as many good areas and create as many chances as you like. But when your main striker misses big chances like he did in 12th minute when he dragged an angled shot wide of the far post and then on 44 minutes when he sclaffed the rebound from Oxborough’s save wide from eight yards then you’re in trouble. Yet it was the striker - eight games without a goal - who finally came up with the big moment to drag Rangers level four minutes into the second half when he produced a neat finish to a flowing move. It was a crucial moment. Otherwise he had a day to forget. To get anywhere near Celtic Rangers need far better from a number nine. Danilo coming off the bench could provide the competition Dessers needs to sharpen up.
Derby days
So an Old Firm final lies ahead in five week’s time. Celtic lay down the gauntlet with their ruthless cutting down of Aberdeen on Saturday and on the evidence of the two semi finals it could be another tough afternoon for Rangers. To have any chance they will need to grasp the midfield battle better than in recent meetings. And they will absolutely have to sharpen up in attack. Time and again they got into good positions in the first half only for their final ball or finishing to be sorely lacking.
