Rangers have booked their place in the last four of the Premier Sports Cup after a win over Dundee at Ibrox. Cyriel Dessers netted either side of a James Tavernier penalty for Philippe Clement’s side as the Belgian looks to defend the trophy he lifted last term. 

The draw for the semi-finals will be made on Sunday after Celtic face Falkirk and Motherwell and Aberdeen are also in the hat. This was a comfortable evening for Rangers as they returned to Ibrox and marked the occasion with a deserved victory.

Progression never in doubt

The result was always going to be more important than the performance for Rangers here. Clement can be pleased with the outcome and encouraged by how the win was earned. There must, of course, be more to come from a side that are very much a work in progress. The positives should be harnessed where possible.

A first goal of the campaign for Tavernier will do his confidence no harm at all after a difficult start to the campaign. On the other flank, Jefte was again an impressive performer and the Brazilian is going some way to establishing himself at left-back in the absence of Ridvan Yilmaz.

(Image: Jane Barlow) Ahead of him on that side, Nedim Bajrami showed flashes of what he could bring to this team. He looked more effective when playing narrower and a move to the playmaker position should bring out the best of him.

Tavernier’s strike came from the penalty spot and he converted clinically to deflate Dundee after they had kept themselves in the tie following the opener from Dessers. When the lead was extended again, it was a matter of how many Rangers would win by. Vaclav Cerny was twice denied in quick succession, while Bajrami also saw an effort blocked as Rangers pressed. It could, and perhaps should, have been even more comfortable for Clement's side.

Dessers delivers once again

The striker ended the first half with his sixth goal of the season and the moment that gave Rangers the lead. He could have had a hat-trick and this one could have been out of Dundee’s reach before they had returned to the dressing room at the interval. After firing blanks against Celtic and Dundee United, Dessers was back on target.

A cross from Jefte found Dessers in a central area and it was there to be converted. A block from Trevor Carson denied Dessers, but not for long. The ball was put back in from Tavernier and Dessers was in the right place at the right time to divert it into the net.

His next opening was created by Bajrami after a nicely weighted low pass sent Dessers free. He did well to beat his marker and carve out a shooting opportunity but Carson was equal to his strike. The keeper was also able to save an acrobatic effort after Dessers connected with a John Souttar cross.

Dessers had been in the ear of referee Chris Graham on several occasions in the first half. Just three minutes after the break, he got a decision. Mohamed Sylla was penalised and booked for a wrestling match at a corner and Tavernier compounded Dundee’s misery from the spot.

Dessers doubled his tally with 25 minutes remaining. Bajrami provided the cross from the left and Dessers made no mistake from 10 yards. A VAR check didn’t deny him and he got a deserved ovation when he was replaced before the restart.

Important minutes in the tank

Clement stated on Friday that he wouldn’t pick a side to face Dundee with one eye on the trip to face Malmo next week. Rangers have European action over the next fortnight. Hibernian are here after Clement’s side return from Sweden, while St Johnstone are the visitors on the back of the Matchday Two fixture with Lyon. Clement will, therefore, need to use his squad wisely.

He resisted the public calls to give Hamza Igamane his first start, while Oscar Cortes and Mohamed Diomande were rested from the outset. Bajrami did make his Ibrox debut, but it was from the left side of the supporting three rather than as a replacement for Tom Lawrence at No.10.

Diomande only had to watch the first 45 minutes. He was introduced at the break as Dujon Sterling’s evening came to a premature end. It had been a somewhat run of the mill outing for the Englishman after being given the nod for a midfield berth.

Igamane replaced Dessers for the closing stages and Ross McCausland took over from Cerny on the right at the same time. A couple of minutes later, Cortes was introduced for Bajrami. Tavernier got the final ten to relax as Neraysho Kasanwirjo made his bow. Tavernier handed the armband to Jack Butland and was given a warm embrace by Clement and round of applause from the home crowd.

Ibrox factor makes a difference

It was good to be back. For the first time since the win over Dundee here in May, Rangers could stride out into the blue sea of Ibrox. This match has been a long time coming.

The months since have, of course, been controversial and costly. The short-term move to Hampden did not help the mood of the support or the fortunes of Clement’s side and it was no surprise to hear the Belgian speak so enthusiastically about the return to home soil ahead of this quarter-final fixture.

The Copland Rear remains closed for now and Rangers have yet to confirm when the full stand will be open for fans. The new disabled section was in use for the first time, though, and the Union Bears moved from their section in the Broomloan to a central area at the other end of the stadium.

The Ibrox factor could just provide the spark that Rangers need this term. A crowd of almost 34,000 watched the first game back. Ibrox will soon be at full capacity and full voice once again.

Familiar face back in the Box

It is not just the protagonists in the dressing room that have changed since the last Ibrox outing. The man leading the boardroom has also altered. This was the first home fixture for John Gilligan after he replaced John Bennett as interim chairman last weekend.

Bennett stepped down from his position due to health reasons. Writing in his programme notes, Gilligan paid a warm and deserved tribute to a lifelong supporter that has been a vital financial backer over the last decade. Whatever criticisms supporters have of Bennett’s tenure, he is owed a debt of gratitude in more ways than one.

Gilligan has returned to a club in a state of flux and there is much to do on and off the park. His time at the helm will be determined by events.

“My role as interim chairman is to ensure our executive team is fully supported and to provide that vital link between them and the board,” Gilligan wrote. “What this club needs now is stability and while the process for appointing a new CEO and a permanent chairman will continue in the background, this will be one of my key aims.

“There is no getting away from the fact I am a fan first and foremost, but being interim chairman will demand so much more from me than just that. I'm absolutely ready to put the long-term interests of the club first and if that means making decisions that may be unpopular, I will do just that.”