Rangers

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Ross McCausland hopes to "play a part in making a big impact" as Rangers eye a domestic treble in a gripping season finale.

The 20-year-old winger was named on the shortlist for PFA player of the year this week for impressive performances throughout his breakthrough season.

The Northern Ireland international, who has played 33 times for Rangers this term, says a "direct" and "fearless" approach has helped him ease into demanding first-team football at Ibrox.

"I have had a very hectic season, it's been non-stop," McCausland said. "I think I have dealt well with it. I have been chucked into some massive games.

"The manager told me to keep being direct in my play and being fearless, so that is something I have continued to do.

"When you are young, you maybe go through a stage in the game where it's all upwards and then you get to a point where you are not judged as a young player any more.

"So as a young player, if you are playing, all you can be is fearless and bring loads of energy to the game.

"I have taken all my belief into these last few games and hopefully I play a part in making a big impact."

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Cyriel Dessers reached the 20-goal mark in all competitions for Rangers on Sunday, becoming the first top-flight Ibrox striker to do so in his debut season since Kris Boyd nearly two decades ago.

Just as Rangers’ season threatened to completely unravel, Dessers has come up with big goals in the past two games. A double in the 2-0 Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts was followed by a 74th-minute winner as Rangers scraped three points in Paisley.

Injuries have thrust the Nigeria international to the forefront of his team’s pursuit of success in recent months. Yet he has struggled to convince at times this season and you may struggle to find Rangers supporters gushing over his overall contribution.

As Philippe Clement's men attempt to overhaul league leaders Celtic, who they will also meet in the Scottish Cup final, could Dessers emerge as the Ibrox hero?

A fellow striker, Tony Watt of Premiership-bound Dundee United, says Dessers has been "brilliant” since Philippe Clement took charge in November.

“He misses a lot of chances. But if a striker gets a lot of chances, that's a tell-tale sign he's doing the right things,” Watt told the BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast.

“I think he's had a really good season. If you take away the first part, maybe bedding in and then he didn't really look fit, he's hitting his stride now and he's scoring a lot of goals.

“He looks a real deal for me. If he can replicate that next season then he'll be doing well for them.”

Just how big a role will Dessers have at Rangers beyond the summer? BBC Scotland pundit Michael Stewart expects the 29-year-old to slip down the pecking order once Clement bolsters his squad.

“Twenty goals is not to be sniffed at, but everybody can see Rangers are lacking up front,” says Stewart. “Dessers scored big goals in the last two games, but has he done it enough this season?

“I would suggest he’s been fortunate to have so much time and opportunities because of injuries to others and lack of activity in the January transfer window.

“Clement has handled it very well. I would imagine he isn't convinced by Dessers, but he’s kept him onside because he knew he didn’t have many other options.

"Come the summer I expect it will be a priority to get what he regards as his first choice number nine.”

Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland insists his side are not lacking belief as they look to reel in leaders Celtic in the remaining four games of the title race.

The performance wasn’t great on Sunday, nor was it what I'd hoped for after the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts, but the 2-1 victory over St Mirren was important nevertheless.

In truth, Rangers look very flat and very much as if we are ambling towards the end of the season instead of attacking it with gusto. It really is hard to watch at times.

All the players can do, though, is win next week at home to Kilmarnock and see what happens elsewhere.

Fair play to Cyriel Dessers for grabbing the winner in Paisley and also hitting his 20th goal of the season in all competitions. He’s not perfect but he’s one who is standing up at the minute while the rest are either out of form or injured.

Celtic’s lead looks like it will be enough to give them the title, and with just four games to go, they are massive favourites. But given our form since March, it feels very much like they’ve been let off the hook from a Rangers perspective.

Next week won’t be easy against Killie, and like every game from now until the Scottish Cup final, it’s one we need to win. It will be a game where Todd Cantwell will have to be at his best as Kilmarnock will be tough to break down.

On top of three points, I hope Rangers start playing like a team who have the chance of winning honours rather than one that’s already on the beach.

Rangers captain James Tavernier is refusing to let his head be turned by speculation linking him with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by former Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

Ex-Rangers forward Jermain Defoe has held informal talks with Sunderland over the vacant head coach position - but admitted he has not been officially interviewed for the role. (Sunderland Echo)

Former Rangers defender Ross McCrorie says his dream of getting to Euro 2024 with Scotland helped him get through his injury nightmare after his £2m move to Bristol City. (Scottish Sun)

Rangers academy director Zeb Jacobs will leave Ibrox at the end of the season to join Eredivisie club Feyenoord. (The Herald)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

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Rangers are the most represented team in this year's PFA Scotland awards, with three nominees across two categories.

Seasoned pros Jack Butland and James Tavernier are up for player of the year, while Ross McCausland is on the list for young player of the year.

While Butland's arrival in Govan was met with at least some uncertainty given his diminished presence in recent years, the goalkeeper has silenced any doubters and then some.

The phrase "where would Rangers be without Jack Butland?" has become one of the most common in Scottish football this term.

And it's easy to see why. The Ibrox side have kept the most clean sheets in the Premiership this season, with many of those thanks to the man in between sticks.

Beside some shaky moments, James Tavernier has also played his part in Rangers' defensive strength this term.

But as is the norm, the captain has made his mark at the opposite end of the pitch, scoring 17 goals and assisting nine in the league. The right-back also has created the most chances of any player in the Premiership (108).

Dipping into the young player of the year awards, McCausland is the only non-Scottish name on the list made up of Kilmarnock's David Watson, Lennon Miller of Motherwell, and Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron.

The Northern Irishman burst onto the scene following the departure of Michael Beale, and quickly became a trusted member of Philippe Clement's squad.

His first goal for the club, a leveller at home to Aris Limassol in Europe, sealed what turned out to be a crucial point for the Ibrox side in their progression from the group stage.

At 20, McCausland has time to add more incision to his game and boost his goal contributions.

However, he does have the highest passing accuracy of any player aged 21 and under in the division this season (82.3%, minimum 500 passes).

We asked for your views following Rangers' narrow victory over St Mirren.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Elaine: Again, not pretty. We seem to have trouble on the smaller, tighter parks. Too many needing too much space. Good three points though. Super Jack Butland, player of the year.

Anon: Our application and desire is just not there. We are nowhere near aggressive enough and find it increasingly difficult to put our authority into games. Far too many passengers in our team and a clear out is very much required at the season's end.

Dougie: Dull as dishwater, someone needs to tell the Rangers squad there is a league to play for. Fabio Silva needs dropped. Tavernier needs moved up, so we can put in a right-back that stays in position.

Allan: I was delighted to get the three points, it was a tough match. A grind of a result, showing resilience and character. As a Rangers fan, I would never say an opponent was man of the match, but Alex Gogic was the man of the match.

Adrian: Woeful defending again. It's blatantly clear that this is where the clearance must start. Lack of concentration, positioning, sense and pace.

Frazer: Dessers is winning the fans over with every game that passes. 20 goals isn’t a bad return. Actually getting some support from the Rangers fans might turn him into the goalscorer we need! Cantwell and Diomande are huge for Rangers at the moment in midfield.

Martin: Three points in the bag, but we need to be more aggressive move the ball faster basically score more goals. The Old Firm game is a must win. Still feel Celtic will drop points.

Big performances at both ends of the pitch as Rangers picked up an important three points in Paisley.

Jack Butland showed exactly why he has been named the Ibrox side's player of the year with another colossal display in between the sticks.

While the Englishman has earned plaudits all season in Govan, Cyriel Dessers has found praise harder to come by.

But the striker's 20th goal of the season proved the difference as he continues to make his mark in the important moments.

Rangers duo John Lundstram and Borna Barisic have both agreed contracts to join Trabzonspor next season, with the 30-year-old English midfielder being handed a three-year deal by the Turkish club and the 31-year-old Croatia left-back given two years with the option of an additional year. (Yago Sabuncuoglu on X), external

On-loan Rangers forward Sam Lammers has become the first-ever player to find the net in seven consecutive Eredivisie matches for Utrecht after the 26-year-old scored a late equaliser in Sunday's 2-2 draw away to Waalwijk. (The Herald), external

Cyriel Dessers, the 29-year-old striker signed for £4m from Cremonese last summer, says his 20th goal of the season for Rangers in Sunday's 2-1 win over St Mirren shows he is now justifying his price tag. (Scottish Sun), external

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has announced he is finally ready to be a manager again next season, more than 18 months since he was sacked by Rangers, with the 49-year-old being linked with a return to Feyenoord as Arne Slot prepares to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. (The National), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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• St Mirren have lost their last three games in the Scottish Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 28 November 2023 to 6 December 2023.

• Rangers have scored in 31 of their 34 games, more often than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Mikael Mandron has scored eight goals this season (1 in this game), more than any other St Mirren player in the Scottish Premiership.

• James Tavernier has assisted nine goals this season (1 in this game), more than any other Rangers player in the Scottish Premiership.

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Sam Lammers struggled badly to make an impact at Rangers this season, but he is having no such problems in the Eredivisie.

The on-loan Ibrox forward continued his prolific form with a late equaliser in FC Utrecht's 2-2 draw at RKC Waalwijk on Sunday - becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive Eredivisie games.

Lammers, who netted just two in 31 outings for Rangers before his January exit to his homeland, has now scored eight times in his last seven matches and nine in 15 overall for the Dutch outfit.

Were you at SMISA Stadium or what Rangers' 2-1 win over St Mirren on TV?

Give us your thoughts on an important three points for Philippe Clement's side here.

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement praised the "mentality" of his team as they secured a 2-1 victory in Paisley against spirited hosts St Mirren.

The three points took the Ibrox side level at the top of the Scottish Premiership before leaders Celtic kicked-off away to Dundee later in the afternoon.

"A very important three points," Clement told BBC Scotland. "It is important to keep taking three points in an away game where it is always difficult circumstances against a team with nothing to lose any more and is going into the fight.

"So my team also went into the fight and, at the end, we were also more efficient."

Clement insisted he was not thinking of how his side's win might put pressure on their city rivals.

"I am only busy with Rangers," he added. "It is maybe not our best game of the season, but the team showed a lot of character, a lot of resilience, a lot of belief also when it was 1-1 to go for the second goal and also to go for a third.

"We need to continue in our next four finals in the league - and the final in the cup. I am confident in the mentality of the team."

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That St Mirren had as many shots on target - five of them - in the first half alone as they had in the previous three meetings with Rangers this season is evidence of how close Stephen Robinson's side came to delivering a blow to the visitors' title hopes despite their 2-1 defeat.

They had lost their previous four games against the Ibrox side by an aggregate of 9-0 - and the latest three in Paisley by seven goals.

However, they showed they are worthy of a second top-six finish in a row and, despite suffering a third straight defeat, will emerge with renewed confidence that they can improve on last season's failure to win after the Premiership split.

Where, though, would Rangers be without Jack Butland?

The English goalkeeper again produced a string of fine saves without which his side's title hopes might have withered in the Paisley sunshine.

Up front, the absence of on-loan Brighton & Hove Albion forward Abdallah Sima through injury again left Rangers struggling to break down a defence superbly marshalled by Alex Gogic.

Clement, though, will simply point to his players' ability to emerge victorious at a crucial time of the season - and in difficult circumstances - to hoist pressure back on city rivals Celtic.

Right-back Ryan Strain has recovered from injury to start for St Mirren against Rangers in one of four changes made by Stephen Robinson following last weekend's 3-0 defeat by Celtic.

But fellow Australia international Keanu Baccus, who has been ill all week, drops to the bench along with forward Toyosi Olusanya and defenders Richard Taylor and Elvis Bwomono.

Conor McMenamin replaces Baccus in midfield, while defender James Bolton and striker Mikael Mandron also come into the starting line-up.

Greg Kiltie is fit enough to retain his place after recovering from the knock that forced the forward off at Celtic Park.

Left-back Borna Barisic returns to Rangers' starting line-up, with Dujon Sterling moving forward to a midfield role and Fabio Silva taking the other wing berth.

Rabbi Matondo joins fellow forward Abdallah Sima, who came off in last week's Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts, in missing out.

Centre-half Connor Goldson is left on the bench for a second game running.

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