A Cyriel Dessers double helped Rangers to an important 3-1 victory over Ross County tonight as Philippe Clement’s side go level on points with Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership.
The Nigerian opened the scoring after five minutes with a brilliant lob over County goalkeeper George Wickens.
The Staggies then equalised against the run of play around the half-hour mark when Simon Murray turned in Eamonn Brophy’s cross.
However, Dessers stepped up to put Rangers back in front seconds before the break with a header from a James Tavernier cross.
The skipper then added his third assist of the evening when John Souttar met his cross to secure all three points in injury time.
Rangers may not have scored the goals required to take them top of the table tonight, but Philippe Clement’s side are now level on points with league leaders Celtic and have played the same number of games.
The Belgian noted the positive progress his side have made since he took over as manager in October. He said:
“It could have been much more today but of course as a manager you need to be happy, although I am not so fast happy, with the 3-1 victory because I cannot ask more of my players than what they are doing now.
“I think every supporter who was in the stadium today and was there 4 months ago would say ‘what a difference’ for all the players on the pitch.
“This is the thing we need to do, now, and the next couple of months, to continue doing what we are doing then we are going to take a lot of points.”
Furthermore, interim Ross County boss Don Cowie was full of praise for Clement’s side. He added:
“It was a difficult night. I thought Rangers were excellent from the get-go. They came out the traps really quick and it was a challenge for the players.
“The positive for me was that they stuck at it playing against a team of that level in great form.
“Going into 90 minutes it’s 2-1 and that’s all I asked before the game, to try and stay in it as long as they can and that’s what they did.”
