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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

Cyriel Dessers in Rangers 'sloppy' Champions League admission

Cyriel Dessers admits Rangers were "sloppy" as they beat Servette 2-1 on Wednesday night.

The Dutchman, 28, scored his first goal for the club since joining from Serie A outfit Cremonese in the summer. The frontman couldn't miss as he tapped in from close range at the back-post after a delicious cross from Borna Barisic. 

The striker insists the Light Blues were the more assertive team despite how tight the scoreline would suggest the game was.

Servette are still very much in the third-round Champions League qualifier. And Dessers understands that if he and his teammates can tidy up their finishing, then things should click into place.

“It’s an amazing feeling to get your first goal in a Rangers shirt and in this stadium," the striker told BBC. "I’m also happy to get the win.

“It wasn’t an easy game for us, especially after the red card. Maybe we complicated it too much for ourselves. But it’s only our second official game, we’re going to grow from it, I’m confident.

“We had a lot of control during the whole game, we were dominating. Maybe we didn’t have enough big open chances, but we were dominant.

“I think we were a little bit too sloppy, myself, and the team as well. If we can get that out of our game next week against Servette, or even starting this weekend, then we’re going to go on to have a nice season.”

Boss Michael Beale was satisfied with his side's performance, although he has challenged his players to show more composure in front of goal. 

Rangers missed a glut of chances to put the tie to bed, with Sam Lammers most notably misfiring.

Beale said: "I'm confident because we go there with a 1-0 lead but that can be wiped out in seconds as we saw tonight with the penalty. The game can turn on a knife edge. We need to perform with the same energy but before that need to perform well in the league at the weekend.

"They are a dangerous opponent with good players. It's important we take our chances. I believe that chances will come next week and we need to be more decisive."

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