CYRIEL DESSERS is adamant that justice was done as Rangers saw off St Johnstone to take their place in the last eight of the Premier Sports Cup.
The holders bounced back from their Champions League exit at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv with a win that was clouded in controversy.
Dessers’ opener on 58 minutes came after referee Matthew MacDermid had signalled a foul against the Dutchman.
A number of St Johnstone players claimed they also heard a whistle before Dessers netted - thereby ending the phase of play.
But the intervention of VAR - later justified by the SFA on the basis that MacDermid didn’t blow his whistle until the ball had crossed the line - saw the referee award the goal after belatedly adjudging Dessers to have done nothing wrong in the tangle with Jack Sanders.
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers celebrates after his controversial goal
Rangers forward Dessers fires the ball past St Johnstone goalkeeper Josh Rae
Reflecting on the controversial moment that put Philippe Clement’s players on the road to a 2-0 win, though, the Rangers forward said he couldn’t understand what the fuss was all about.
‘I saw a through ball from Rabbi (Matondo)’ he recalled.
‘I saw it in my pathway, so I bent my run and while I was running I felt a big foot on my ankle.
‘But instead of going down and maybe appealing for a penalty or a free-kick, I went through, I passed the other defender and could get a finish.
‘As I was celebrating, I saw that everybody had stopped. So, I looked around and saw that the referee had whistled for I don’t know what.
‘I was a little bit surprised as for me there wasn’t a lot going on in this phase.
‘I think he cleared the goal, so my feeling was right.
‘For me, there was absolutely no foul because I didn’t try to trip him or whatever.
‘My foot was on the ground and his foot was on top of mine so I think it was earlier on the ball and in the pathway of the ball.
St Johnstone boss Craig Levein was frustrated by the award of the goal
Referee Matthew MacDermid appeared to award the free-kick before Dessers scored
‘So, for me I think it was a correct goal.’ Dessers felt that, if anything, Sanders had actually impeded him.
On the moment when he feared his third goal of the season might be taken away from him, he added: ‘Yes. I was surprised. That’s also what I told him (MacDermid).
‘Please take a look at it because if there was a foul I felt the foul was on me and then it’s maybe a penalty - I don’t know if it was close to the line or in or out of the box.
‘He said he was checking it so I let him do his work obviously.’ With the goal standing, Dessers is now on three in five matches for his club - a bright start he feels can see him improve on the 22 he hit last term.
‘Personally, I think I’m quite pleased with my performances up until now,’ he said.
‘I think I’m doing the things the manager has asked me in terms of working for the team, all the small things and the details that I won’t annoy you with!
‘Obviously I’m happy then to be at the end of some attack and scoring some goals and providing assists.
‘Last season, I was on three goals in October. It’s still the middle of August so that’s a good step forward already. I want to keep going in that way and I think I can as well. I’m feeling confident and good.
‘Obviously it’s a good feeling to score again. It’s always a pleasure.
‘But it’s also an important goal which brings us to the next round.
‘We had some good memories in the League Cup last season. I’m happy that we’ve started the same way.’