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Rangers matchwinner Cyriel Dessers brands Dundee opponent a ‘pain in the A*SE’ after dramatic Dens Park win
@Source: thescottishsun.co.uk
CYRIEL DESSERS admits Rangers’ stunning comeback to beat Dundee left him DAZED.
The Nigerian struck to make it 4-3 to Barry Ferguson's side in the 93rd minute at Dens Park - after missing a string of chances.
Gers were down 3-1 with a quarter-hour remaining but managed to turn it around for three points.
Simon Murray and Joe Shaughnessy gave Dundee a two-goal lead, before the Dark Blues skipper’s own goal cut that to 2-1 at half-time.
Scott Tiffoney made it three before James Tavernier and Tom Lawrence scored to level - and that set the stage for Dessers to strike deep in injury time.
And the 23-goal hitman reckons showing the ability to come back once again underlines their mental strength - but would prefer if they could stop having to use it.
He said: "You'd need to give me a few minutes to sum that game up - I can't fathom what just happened.
"From the first minute until the end, it was a roller-coaster.
"There was a lot of pain for 91 minutes but to win this feels great.
"At 2-0 down, it was very hard mentally.
"We got back into the game with a great cross by Tav and the own goal.
"I knew something was possible but then we lost another goal.
"You think again. It was a shame.
"The mentally of coming back showed again.
"But unfortunately we're having to show it too much.
"It would be a lot easier if we threw the first punch and they had to come back.
"The winning goal was an amazing ball by Tav.
"We know he can do this but it was carried a little bit on the wind.
"That's why Donnelly could only get a touch and my control was good and I could chip it over the goalkeeper.”
Dessers had TWELVE attempts on goal to score just one - after being denied by Dundee keeper Trevor Carson again and again.
And he branded the Dens keeper a ‘pain in the a*se’ for his performance.
He said: "He was a pain in the a*se for me tonight and had a lot of good saves but I was happy to beat him in the end.
"That's the life of a striker.
"A few finishes I hit well but he saved them.
"I thought maybe the next one would go in but I'm happy to beat him at the end.
"He was not happy at the end but I was happy.
"We can never make it easy for ourselves but it's something we need to learn to win titles or go far in Europe.
"You need to throw the first punch then play out the game.
"Too often we need to go to the last minute, and that should not be necessary.
"In a season of 65 games, if you have to go 65 times til the end with energy and full power that hurts.
"We need to be more mature and start better. That would make our life a lot easier."
Gers boss Fergie watched his hitman pass up a dozen great opportunities but insists he always had faith he’d keep plugging away.
Dessers has had plenty of stick from fans for the amount of chances he misses but he’s now bagged almost one-in-two since arriving from Cremonese two seasons ago.
And Ferguson hailed his mental strength for still finding ways to score even when he’s missed plenty.
He said: "You have give the goalkeeper credit, he made some really good saves.
"But one thing about the big man, he has been a joy to work with, and he is a brilliant worker.
"A brilliant listener, he wants to improve even at his age.
"He puts himself in brilliant positions, he can get frustrated and start feeling sorry for himself, but he keeps going.
"He got his reward with the winner.
"Even before I took the job I always said the big guy would keep going.
"If he got criticism from fans or the media, the big man just rolls his sleeves up.
"I didn’t think it would affect him and it never affected him, he kept going.
"If you have that type of character then you get your rewards in the end."
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