Cyriel Dessers sulked down the tunnel on Thursday after taking a rogue finger nail to the eye.
But the stroppy striker was in better mood on Sunday as he was at last able to thumb a nose at his Ibrox critics. The Rangers hitman was forced to say sorry to boss Philippe Clement after his remarkable meltdown during this week’s Europa League hammering of Steaua Bucharest.
He effectively substituting himself off against the Romanians after claiming he’d suffered a loss of vision during an off-the-ball tussle with defender Mihai Popescu. But three days on, it was Dessers who ensured Rangers and their faint title aspirations haven’t been left seeing stars after he climbed off the bench to set up Vaclav Cerny’s crucial winner in the 2-1 triumph over St Mirren. And an understanding Clement was happy to accept the 29-year-old’s apology after that emotional outburst.
Asked if his part in the goal was the perfect way to make amends, his gaffer said: “Yes. I told you guys what happened on Thursday, and it's Cyril with his big heart, and he showed his big heart also today, the way he came on. So he loves this club, he wants to give everything to get results, and that he showed not only with the assist, but also when the ball went out to do a fast throw and keep the tempo going on higher than it was first half. That’s what I wanted, what I demanded also after our first half, and being important in that way. So the striker is not only scoring the goals, he's also giving assists and working hard, and that's what he's been doing.”
Dessers could have made the six minutes of injury time Gers were forced to see out a little calmer on the Ibrox nerves. But he saw a couple of late chances denied along with a stoppage-time spot-kick appeal.
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