By David Herd
The torture of season 2024/25 is almost over, with the final home fixture tonight at Ibrox against Dundee United seeing the completion of a home campaign that will only rate a mention in the history books for the wrong reasons. There is now a final match at Easter Road this weekend before the club will begin the revolution on and off the pitch that is desperately needed.
For reasons best known to himself, caretaker manager Barry Ferguson was still denying reality in his pre-match press conference and suggesting that he could be the man the new ownership should trust in leading this revolution. Without doubt, his short tenure has included a few highs and some memorable moments. A rare win at Parkhead, getting the better of Jose Mourinho in the Europa League, and a welcome return of game changing last-minute goals were all credit in the bank for the former captain and Hall of Famer. But, a series of wretched home results, a crazy number of goals conceded, and a win percentage well less than 50% sit in the debit column. Regardless of how the Dundee United result went, Barry was in a minority of one in thinking his name might be on the manager’s office at the start of next season. His love of the club and passion for a return to a winning Rangers has never been in doubt. He will leave the post with the thanks and good wishes of the majority of the Rangers support.
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Rangers did finally achieve a first home victory under Ferguson on Sunday, thanks to an excellent second half showing against Aberdeen. It was a game shown live on Sky, with the viewing public able to see thousands of empty blue seats as the Ibrox regulars voted with their feet on the importance to them of the final few fixtures. The visit of United was not on television, but the expectation of most within the media room was a midweek attendance as low as any at the stadium for a league game in years. The official figure given out by the club was 49,361, but this reflects tickets bought and not seats occupied. It looked about 20,000 more than reality. We can but hope that next May the stadium is full to bursting for a title party. It’s been far too long since it was.
Barry’s team selections up until this match have reflected his philosophy to put results before future development. His mantra when asked about limited (or almost non-existent) game time for the likes of Cortes, Rice and Nsiala has been consistent – they need to show up well in training, and they need to earn a place rather than be given one based on potential. When his last-ever Ibrox starting eleven was revealed, he continued that way of thinking. There were two changes from the weekend, however, although neither saw any “potential” players given their chance. In goal, Jack Butland made his first appearance since his error-strewn nightmare against Hibs, and the ten outfield players who started the second half against Aberdeen were given starting slots. That meant the half-time change on Sunday of Igamane for Bajrami was repeated.
Meanwhile, it was no surprise to see United boss Jim Goodwin ring the changes. His team had lost their last three games and with their chances of fourth place hanging by a thread, he opted for four changes after a dismal 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren on Saturday. Like Rangers, there would be a different goalkeeper on view, David Richards replacing Jack Walton. Also coming in were Kai Fotheringham, Allan Campbell and Samual Cleall-Harding. With just six substitutes named, Goodwin looked to be short on options.
And his team hardly touched the ball in the first ten minutes, Rangers dominating possession but with no cutting edge. It took 13 minutes for the first attempt on goal, an Igamane header that drifted wide of the far post. This seemed to spark United to life, and twice Butland had to make made smart saves. The second of these saw him push the ball wide for United’s first corner, and from it they took the lead. Sam Cleall-Harding rose unchallenged at the near post, and even the impressive Butland had no chance of keeping out the header. It was yet another moment of dreadful Rangers defending, something that has blighted the team all season, and has been particularly awful during Ferguson’s time in charge.
The small band of away fans celebrated by chanting the interim Rangers manager’s name, but they were quickly silenced by an equaliser. Just five minutes after falling behind, Dessers rose to power home a superb header from a Jefte cross. The big Nigerian isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but his scoring record is certainly consistent and impressive. Jefte had seen a lot of the ball in the early stages, and his low cross caused havoc in the United defence but there were no takers with the goal gaping.
Butland made an incredible save ten minutes from the interval, somehow reaching a horribly miscued Dessers clearance that was heading towards his top corner. It was impressive but academic, an offside flag was up. As half-time approached, Rangers tried to turn the screw, and forced three quick corners in the only minute of injury time. But the visiting defence held firm, and the teams left the pitch with the scores level. The small Ibrox crowd gave their team a muted reception as they trooped off, it would take something far more exciting to generate an atmosphere in this end-of-season affair.
No changes were made at the interval, and there was no real change in the pattern of play either. Rangers with almost all of the ball, but struggling to create clear chances, United looking to hit on the break. Dessers had a couple of attempts that missed the target, and then claimed in vain for a penalty when he tumbled in the box. The referee wasn’t interested, and he still was unmoved in the 70th minute when United’s Will Ferry seemed to swipe the legs away from Diomande in the area. The small crowd were stunned, it looked as if the first league penalty for Rangers this season had to be awarded. VAR quickly told Mr Scott that he had missed the obvious, and he took ten seconds checking the screen to see the error of his ways.
Dessers took the responsibility for the kick, and coolly converted to make it 2-1. With that goal, he became to top scorer in the Premiership this season, and reached 50 in a Rangers shirt. Four minutes later the points were safe, and it was thanks to a superb goal. It started on the Rangers goal line, Tavernier seemingly hemmed in. But some wonderful interplay involving Diomande, then Souttar saw Rangers spring forward. Souttar released Cerny, he in turn played in Raskin, and the Belgian produced a finish worthy of the move, blasting the ball high into the net.
The closing stages saw all five substitutes used, the crowd getting a rare glimpse of Cortes, and also enjoying another short cameo by Rice who looks a player who could become an important player in the Rangers midfield in years to come. There was also a fine ovation for Cerny when he came off, a player whose future is unknown, and whose loan spell has been full of goals and goal threat.
Halfway through the five minutes injury time there was a chorus of “Barry, Barry Ferguson”, as the fans gave their temporary manager an ovation for the efforts he has made. There was no “lap of honour”, as is customary for a final home match of the season, but the management team and players did do a short walk across the pitch to wave their goodbyes and say their thanks.
It was a satisfactory last home game for Barry Ferguson, and a welcome home win. It does nothing to restore the reputation of the team or of the season, but finishing the campaign with two home victories after such a horrendous run does represent a tiny crumb of comfort.
Many of the players left the pitch and will now go on to futures elsewhere. The new regime will surely tell us their managerial choice soon. Change is coming, and it needs to be sweeping. It’s already all about 2025/26.