'Thought it was soft' - Rangers penalty verdict as one young player labelled outstanding and Dundee lament errors

The home team were making a belated return to the stadium and were always going to be extra determined to put on a show for the home fans. But Dundee did not make it easy for themselves with some lapses in concentration, including when Mo Sylla hauled Cyriel Dessers to the ground after allowing the striker to get the wrong side of him. 

James Tavernier converted the penalty to make it 2-0 to Rangers just five minutes after half time. It was a long way back for Dundee. Dessers, who scored the opener after 17 minutes, booked Rangers' League Cup semi-final place with his second after 66 minutes.

“The game was won in both penalty boxes,” said the Dundee manager. “The three goals we lose from a defensive point of view are poor and we have good opportunities to score ourselves. We had a really good chance from Simon Murray from a corner, a header for Seb Palmer-Houlden and Scott Tiffoney as well.

“When you come to places like this it is important you are not wasteful in front of goal. And you don’t give away opportunities, I felt we did that. Coming in at 1-0 at half-time there were a lot of things to tighten up on but we can still get back in the game. We lose a goal and it is poor from our point of view. Big Mo Sylla is caught wrong side and he gives the referee a decision to make. I thought it was soft. I haven’t seen it back.”

Still, Docherty rated one Dundee player as “outstanding”. Lyall Cameron, 21, was probably the best midfielder on the park. The manager underlined Dundee’s youth. They started with four players aged 21 or under, including 19-year-old winger Oluwaseun Adewumi, who was making his full debut. Left-back Ziyad Larkeche only turned 22 on Thursday.

“I thought there were some really good performances, Lyall Cameron was outstanding,” said Docherty.“They will learn from games like that but the important thing is they develop into better players. When the subs came on we had nine under-21 players. Their decision-making will get better.”