Philippe Clement will try to improve Rangers’ finishing after they squandered numerous chances in their 3-1 victory against Ross County at Ibrox.
The Gers had to win by three clear goals to leapfrog Celtic at the top of the cinch Premiership and it looked on when striker Cyriel Dessers opened the scoring after five minutes.
The Light Blues struck the post twice but the second-bottom Dingwall side, with Don Cowie in charge for the first time, levelled in the 25th minute with a Simon Murray strike.
Dessers scored his second right before the interval, but there were more chances missed in the second half until defender John Souttar headed in a third in extra time.
Rangers drew with Celtic on 61 points and goal difference, although they scored four fewer goals and stay second.
Boss Clement, whose club was seven points behind Celtic when he took over in October and has won seven consecutive games since the winter break, said: “I think for sure in my period, but also all season, it’s our game with the most shots on target and 23 on target.
“I see a team expanding week by week, month by month.
“We had wave after wave of attacks, good possession play, fantastic teamwork, terrific tempo, and good shots.
But we also had a goalie on the other side (George Wickens), who may have had the best evening of his life, as well as some luck.
“It could have been a lot more. But, of course, as a manager, you must be pleased, albeit I am not so pleased with a 3-1 win.
“I can’t expect more from my guys than what they’re doing now.
“I believe that every supporter who was in the stadium four months ago would say, ‘What a difference for all the players on the pitch’.
“I believe our finish was also not too horrible. However, it was only a few centimetres.
“But we can improve and become more exact. But these are the next actions to take. The team has already taken many steps.
“You cannot ask much more of the players where they are now in the period we’ve been working together.”
Cowie, in charge for the first time since Derek Adams’ resignation last week, was pleased with his team’s attitude but admits that they had some luck.
“We were fortunate because Rangers were that good,” he said.
“But a club like Ross County coming to the big grounds need fortune and we got that at times.
“Whether it was finishing or very good goalkeeping we just have to move on from it in terms of what I want.
“I saw a team putting their bodies on the line to stop the ball going into the net.
“It was a difficult night.” Rangers impressed me right away.
“They came out of the traps quickly, which made it difficult for the players.
“The positive for me was that they stuck with it, playing against a level of team that was in excellent form.
“Going into 90 minutes, it’s 2-1, which was all I asked for before the game. Try to stay in it before the game, as they did.”
Be the first to comment