Rangers 3 Dundee United 1 - Dessers & Raskin light a spark in sombre Ibrox as Gers end woeful home campaign with win

RANGERS got the job done but it was far from a memorable Ibrox send-off to a woeful campaign.

Two-goal Cyriel Dessers took his tally to 28 for the season and Nico Raskin also made his mark as interim boss Barry Ferguson joined his players for a walk round the pitch to applaud the supporters who chanted his name.

4 Cyriel Dessers struck twice at Ibrox Credit: Willie Vass

4 Nico Raskin scored and was man of the match again Credit: Getty

4 It could be Barry Ferguson's last home match in charge of Rangers Credit: PA

4 Sam Cleall-Harding had given Dundee United the lead Credit: PA

Now he’s got one game left at Easter Road on Saturday before finally discovering his fate.

Teenager Sam Cleall-Harding had put United ahead with his first goal for the club.

But a second half collapse would cost them for a fourth straight defeat and now it will go to last day Sunday to decide if it will be them or St Mirren who claim fifth spot and Europe.

Ferguson resisted the opportunity to give more game time to the Light Blues’ prospects and instead opted for this season’s tried, tested and, if we’re to be totally blunt, failed.

Jack Butland and Hamza Igamane came back in for Liam Kelly and Nedim Bajrami.

United couldn’t name a full nine-man bench - three short - and boss Jim Goodwin made four changes to his starting line-up, with David Richards, Cleall-Harding, Kai Fotheringham and Allan Campbell returning in a stretched squad.

It was a beautiful night and the dazzling sunshine also highlighted the many empty seats as every Gers fan, absent and present, desperately wants a miserable season over pronto.

Ferguson echoed it himself when interviewed before kick-off.

United may have had something tangible to play for, but it still did nothing to alter the non-event feel to it all.

Other than the pocket of chanting Union Bears in the Copeland Road stand, it was mainly muted apathy in every other Gers section for much of this.

Rangers boss Barry Ferguson reveals why he's 'had a few arguments' with Ibrox ace Nicolas Raskin

And there weren’t exactly thrills in the early stages to rouse them.

Instead it would be United’s travelling support excited.

Igamane sent a 14th minute header not far wide of the far post but Butland would be the first keeper called into action seconds later, getting down well to his right to save a Glenn Middleton close range volley.

Then Richards denied Dessers before, in Basketball style, United went up the other end and Sam Dalby should’ve scored but Butland was down quick to parry.

Rangers were stunned as United grabbed a 21st minute lead - Ryan Strain’s corner perfectly met with a glancing header by kid Cleall-Harding which flew past Butland.

Suddenly the insipid Light Blues were staring at a sixth home defeat in the last three months.

But they were back level within five minutes.

An excellent Jefte cross from the left saw Dessers rise brilliantly to bullet a header beyond Richards from six yards into the top corner.

It was a textbook finish and a fourth straight league match he’d netted.

Dessers feared he was about to net an OG nine minutes later as he diverted a flick on from a Strain free-kick towards to the top corner only for Butland to react superbly with a reflex stop. But an offside flag went up anyway.

A brief VAR check for a possible Gers penalty went United’s way as they saw out the rest of the first half with only a Mohamed Diomande shot wide to concern them.

To say the game was lacklustre in the opening 15 minutes of the second half would be giving it too much credit. It was abysmal.

Diomande fired wide from close range and United keeper Richards got himself into trouble as he dithered over picking the ball up in his box but Dessers couldn’t take advantage.

Dessers had another effort in the 64th minute - but it was a seriously hard watch for the Follow-Followers as their team laboured badly.

United, in fairness, were containing their uninspired hosts comfortably without doing much to trouble them up top.

But two goals in two minutes suddenly changed everything.

VAR decided to liven things up in the 70th minute - with studio official Grant Irvine sending ref Calum Scott to the monitor to check on a Vicko Sevelj challenge on Diomande for a possible penalty.

After a few minutes delay Irvine duly awarded the spot-kick and Dessers stepped up to send Richards the wrong way to put Gers ahead.

Raskin then made it 3-1 in the 75th minute as United’s hopes were finally crushed.

Cerny played in the Belgian and the midfielder fairly blasted a right foot shot past Richards into the roof of the net.

It was the Czech Republic loan star’s last act before being subbed and he made a point of taking a moment to look around the stadium and applaud. Could it be his Ibrox farewell?

Nine subs between the teams in the closing stages and a shot from sub Danilo easily saved was the only other aspect of note before time-up.

Overall, a forgettable game but Ferguson will at least feel satisfied he delivered another victory whatever its significance or not for his job chances.

The fans also sung his name in the final moments but now wonder who will be their boss for next season.

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