The acting boss of the Rangers, Barry Ferguson, was unleashed against his players for having slipped into their bad tracks before returning from the DED to win 4-3 in Dundee in time of time.
The Ibrox outfit succeeded in the efforts of Simon Murray and Joe Shaughnessy before a Shaughnessy’s own goal at the end of the first half gave them a life buoy.
Scott Tiffoney then made 3-1, but James Tavernier and the replacement Tom Lawrence set up an exciting final which concluded with Cyriel Desders marking a last winner after Murray struck the post at the other end.
Ferguson, however, cut a figure frustrated after the match, and admitted that there had been strong words with his side – with much more to come when they present themselves for training this week. “It’s a brilliant three points, but, overall, certainly the first half, we were miles away,” he said. “You can see on my face, it’s frustration.” I saw so many old and bad habits enter.
“I had to make some changes at halftime. I had to change the shape of the three to a four team to try to get started, mainly.
Cyriel desders famous after having scored the winning goal for the Rangers in Dundee
The acting boss Barry Ferguson celebrates the Rangers return victory against Dundee
“The second half looked more like that, but we offered too many opportunities and easy goals. We were sometimes sloppy.
“I told them after there was a lot of work to happen this week. We have to sit down, go through things and work hard on the training field because there were a lot of things I didn’t like.
“One thing about my players, however, is that they never give in. It has been labeled for them for a long time. I think that, five or six weeks ago, the Rangers are not repeating it.
Captain James Tavernier draws the second goal of the Rangers at home in their return victory
“The Rangers team that I have now, my players is the side I have drilled, but we have to do much better with other things in a way of approaching it from the start.
“I warned them of what would be like coming here, but we gave Dundee the goal of starting. At halftime, a few words of choice have been said. I had to make difficult decisions, but I’m not afraid to make difficult decisions.
“Overall, a brilliant three points, but there is a lot of work to do again.
Dessers kills the ball in front of Trevor Carson to defeat Dundee to Dens Park
“I build good characters earlier, but we have to be much better in the game. I’m just frustrated because I saw so many old habits crawling back and I can’t allow it. I told them I wouldn’t accept that.
“They understand this and know certain that the first half was not what I expect. They shouldn’t expect it either. We will return to work on Monday morning and we will ensure that these habits do not come back.
The winner of Desders came on his 100th appearance for the Rangers and Ferguson paid tribute to the character shown after having exceeded 11 other chances during the match. “You have given credit to the goalkeeper,” said Ferguson. “He made very good stops, but one thing about the great man is that he was a joy to work with it. He is a brilliant worker. Brilliant earpiece. He wants to improve even at his age.
“He puts himself in shiny positions. He can be frustrated and start to feel sorry for himself, but he continues. He obtained his award with the winner.
“If he receives criticism of fans or media, the great man simply launches sleeves. If you have this type of character, you get your rewards at the end.
Tom Lawrence draws the third goal of the Rangers at home during the 4-3 victory over Dundee
Dundee director Tony Docherty is discouraged full time after a loss of 4-3
Dessers admits that it was difficult to take the events of a crazy game, but accepts that the Rangers cannot continue to put themselves in impossible positions.
“I cannot understand what just happened,” he said. “From the first minute until the end, it was a roller coaster.
“There was a lot of pain for 91 minutes, but winning is very good. At 2-0, it was very mentally difficult.
“The mentality of returning has shown again, but, unfortunately, we must show it too much. It would be much easier if we launched the first punch and they had to come back.
“The winning goal was an incredible Tav ball. It was transported a little on the wind. This is why (Aaron) Donelly could only take a touch.
“My control was good and I could climb it on the goalkeeper. It was a pain in the A ** for me tonight and had a lot of good stops but I was happy to beat him at the end. It is the life of an attacker.
“We never make our task easier, but that’s something we have to learn to win titles or go far in Europe. You have to launch the first punch then play the game. Too often, we have to go at the last minute, and that should not be necessary.
“We have to be more mature and start better. It would make our lives easier.
Dundee’s manager Tony Docherty admitted that he had struggled to accept that his team had lost on time, but concedes that they had to stop sending objectives with such regularity.
“The objectives expected for us were 2.8, the Rangers were 2.4 and we had many chances,” he said. “Primordial emotion is a huge disappointment. I cannot focus on anything, but the fact that we have lost a game that we should never lose.
“He tells his own story that we are third in the League for the goals scored, but the bottom of the league for conceded goals.
“At 3-3, Simon Murray passes and I think he marked the winner. Then we choose the ball of our own net and lose 4-3.
The winger Scott Tiffoney famous after having put dundee 3-1 in front of the Rangers
“It’s really difficult to take. Three goals should be sufficient to win a match.
“I felt that we were going a little deep. We did not get out of the ball quickly enough on the two and three goals. We should get more pressure on the ball.
“The two goals come from 25 yards and there should be bodies there to stop this. Then the fourth is a sickener.
“If we keep this consistency of performance but we work harder to stop conceding objectives, everything will be fine.
“We could have scored more today when you look at the chances, but there is no sorry feeling for ourselves. There are things we have to accept responsibility.
“There are a lot of things we do well, but there are things we hurt and that’s why we are in the position in which we are. We have to remedy ourselves.
“We should be in the position where three goals are sufficient to win a football match.”