Cyriel Dessers recovered from an astonishing miss to bag a hat-trick as Clinton Nsiala scored his first goal for Rangers to ease into the Scottish Cup last 16 with a 5-0 rout of Fraserburgh.
Dessers somehow fired wide of an open goal early on against the Highland League side, although he would have been spared embarrassment by the offside flag . But he went on to bag a brace with youngster Nsiala and Ross McCausland also on the scoresheet for Philippe Clement’s men.
Boyhood Gers fan Mason Munn was handed a dream debut between the sticks and fellow Northern Irishman McCausland was also given a chance to impress from the start and the winger had an effort saved with just seconds on the clock. McCausland should then have assisted the opener but for a horrendous miss from Dessers.
Nedim Bajrami dinked a ball to McCausland and he crossed for Dessers who astonishingly sent the ball wide of an open goal from point blank range. But the frontman made amends when he did break the deadlock as he headed home James Tavernier’s corner as the stuffy Highlanders’ resistance was finally broken. Tavernier himself then almost made it a second with a brilliantly struck effort which hit the crossbar before Jefte had a shot pushed onto the post by keeper Joe Barbour.
Opposite number Munn barely had anything to do on a quiet debut before he avoided being punished for a cock-up. The young keeper’s kick out went straight to Scott Barbour and the Fraserburgh striker had a glorious chance to put his name up in lights but he sent his effort wide, much to the relief of Munn.
The tie was put beyond doubt when Nsiala got his first goal early in the second half. McCausland cut in from the right and fed Tavernier who flicked into the path of Bajrami.
The Albanian sensed the shot wasn’t on and lined it up for the young Frenchman who fired in a shot which took a deflection on its way the bottom corner.
Dessers then grabbed his second of the game to make it three for Gers. Bajrami fired a ball across the face of a packed six-year box and the striker made no mistake before teeing up McCausland to score from close range before Dessers sent a header off the post but he got his hat-trick at the death with a composed finish.
Here’s three talking points from Ibrox Stadium
Cyriel offender ends up hero
There have been plenty of them during his time in a Rangers shirt but the miss from Cyriel Dessers early on must surely be his worst sitter for the Light Blues. Ross McCausland picked out the Nigeria striker who had an open goal and what seemed like a tap in but the striker got his effort all wrong and sent his shot off target.
The offside flag meant it wouldn’t have counted but that won’t spare him criticism despite going on to grab a couple. After his fine finish against Aberdeen in the midweek Scottish Premiership win it again just summed up the Jekyll & Hyde striker. The former Cremonese man could be on the move this month and fans won’t be sad to see him go with misses like that – on a day when he was given a chance having lost his place to Hamza Igamane.
Kids given chance to shine
Mason Munn was handed a dream debut but it was almost a nightmare when he gifted Fraserburgh a huge chance to equalise. Luckily for the Ulsterman he wasn’t punished and was able to celebrate a clean sheet. Philippe Clement has been talking up Bailey Rice in recent weeks while not including him in the squad for last week’s game against St Johnstone which raised eyebrows but he got the last half hour, although many thought he might start. Findlay Curtis also came on alongside Rice and both looked impressive while Zak Lovelace made way. Ross McCausland has seen more top team action but not as much of late and was handed a chance and he marked that with a goal.
Worlds apart
From Highland League opposition to the Theatre of Dreams. The contrast in successive games for Rangers could hardly be greater. And they will know they will have to raise their performance – despite Manchester United losing at home to Brighton – but it will be a much-changed side for that Europa League showdown. Fraserburgh didn’t disgrace themselves and will just be gutted they didn’t get a moment to cheer with Scott Barbour having that huge chance. They defended well but English Premier League giants will be a different world for Gers.