As Hampden waited for the decision of referee Matthew MacDermid upon his return from the VAR screen, Cyriel Dessers was calm and collected. Having been right at the centre of the moment which would turn yesterday’s League Cup tie between Rangers and St Johnstone, the forward trusted the process.

Dessers had lashed his side ahead just after the hour mark only to see celebrations curbed when MacDermid adjudged a foul in the build-up. After Rabbi Matondo had pinched the ball away from St Johnstone who were jumping forward into attack, his reverse ball behind the defence found Dessers’ curving run. A clash with Jack Sanders, which the referee saw as a foul, led to the whistle being blown. It was the correct call to allow the move to unfold in line with VAR protocol even if some of the visiting players appeared to stop under the assumption that a foul had been given.

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"I saw a through-ball from Rabbi. I saw it in my pathway so I bent my run and while I was running I felt a big foot on my ankle,” Dessers said post-match discussing his goal.

“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 blown his whistle. 

“I was a little bit surprised as for me there was a lot going on in this phase. 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. So for me, I think it was a correct goal.

“I told [the referee], 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.”

Despite a few edgy moments in a Hampden with more empty seats than full ones, Philippe Clement’s side were worth their progression into the quarter-finals of the cup. Danilo, Matondo and Vaclav Cerny had all gone close to finding the net prior to Dessers’ opener which was doubled late on after Ross McCausland dinked the ball over Joshua Rae.

With tensions high amongst the Rangers support at present and an early exit from the Champions League qualifiers just a few days old, anything other than progression would’ve spelt disaster for Clement and his side. Come full-time they jumped the advertising boards to celebrate with supporters in what the Belgian manager branded a pre-planned decision.

“I’ve played at a big club before, Feyenoord, and there were moments when we were so tired at the end of a game, down or one man down and [the fans] literally pulled us through those moments,” Dessers continued.

“This crowd in its best moments is unbelievable. That’s what we need as a team. In the difficult moments, if they can get behind you, it gives you such a boost. Then for 10 minutes, you don’t feel your legs. You keep running. On those terms, this could be an amazing connection to have – in both ways.

“I think Rangers fans know it as well that you are a supporter in good times and bad times. I think everyone is well aware of that. The fans, the team, the people in and around the club. I don’t think that’s something new.

“It felt like an important victory although as I said every game at Rangers is big. This is only the first step in our League Cup story and dream. We still have a lot of work to do."

As Danilo started his first game in nine months it was Dessers who made the difference up top by scoring a third of the campaign. This time last year, during a tumultuous beginning to the campaign, Dessers struggled to find the back of the net until the arrival of Clement catalysed a 22-goal season. And the man signed from Cremonese hopes higher numbers are to follow this campaign with a headstart on goalscoring numbers already established.

“Personally, I think I’m quite pleased with my performances up until now,” he added.

“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! But I think I’m doing the things he asks me. Obviously, I’m happy to be at the end of some attacks, 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.”