'One of Dessers' biggest goals' - Ex-Burnley star reacts to Rangers striker's match-winning goal

Former Burnley star Steven Thompson reckons Cyriel Dessers scored one of the most important goals of his Rangers career during their 2-1 win over St. Mirren at the SMISA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

An own goal from James Bolton put the Light Blues ahead in the 32nd minute but the home team leveled matters five minutes later through Mikael Mandron.

With the game hanging in the balance, the Nigeria international made no mistake with his header after a brilliant delivery from James Tavernier in the 74th minute, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal in the process. 

Dessers, who joined the Light Blues from US Cremonese last July, has now scored 20 goals for the Scottish giants, which is a good return considering that he struggled in his first few months at Ibrox.

The Belgian-born forward gradually began to pick up form after Philippe Clement took over the managerial reins from Michael Beale in October 2023, but did not achieve the consistency he would have desired. 

Thompson, who has a foot in both camps having worn the colours of Rangers and St. Mirren during his playing days, admitted that Dessers would be thrilled to score 20 goals in his debut season as a Rangers player. 

"Dessers has missed a lot of chances but if you end the season with over 20 goals you will be very happy with your return," he said on BBC Sportsound. 

"That could be one of the most important goals he scores in a Rangers shirt."

A breakdown of Dessers' twenty goals shows that fourteen were scored in the Premiership, three in the Scottish FA Cup and one apiece in the Europa League, Champions League qualifiers and League Cup. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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