• Doing what they had to do with a battling victory
  • Importance of Dessers and his all round contribution
  • Diomande goes from strength to strength

Philippe Clement has spoken to the media following the victory over St Mirren. Here is what the Rangers boss had to say.

What did you make of the performance today?

That they did what they need to do and that is winning games. That is the first thing. Was it our most sexy game? No. But it is also the circumstances and all respect to St Mirren also. They are aggressive, they are powerful in the duels, the pitch is also smaller and that creates more duels. We had to dig in, we knew that from before but the team did. We get the result. I don’t think if you don’t lead with 2-0 or 3-0 that one team will have an easy game here. That is because of the quality and mentality of St Mirren, of their players and their manager. It is about taking the three points, and with a very good second goal also.

Is that all that matters now in these final games?

That stays the major thing but of course you need quality for that. It is not just coming on the pitch and you just do something. It doesn't happen that way. To do the right things. We did the right things in moments. We didn’t do the right things in the beginning of the game and because of that we get their pressure and belief and hope. After the first 15 minutes then we took control of the game and we were much better. Then you are leading, then you get a goal against that we need to avoid and they believe again. The second half we were better, creating more, but Jack has also been really important in the first half. In the end it is important to take the three points to go home and to know that you have four finals to go in the league and it will be game by game, going full to get the three points. Also happy with, again, how the players came in, players who are not starting, to give the energy to the team and to make the difference. I think Tom Lawrence was really unlucky with an amazing comeback of Gogic, and all respect to him also and how much he kept believing to save this ball on the line. If you score the third goal you have a different end to the game. There stays some excitement because every long ball there is a duel and a fight for second balls and again and again. I think you guys love that there is a lot of excitement until the end. In that way, Gogic helped you guys!

Is it just winning by any means necessary?

Of course. It is all season like that. Football is about the results in the end. Nobody remembers that we won 4-0 against Hibs in October with really good football, or other games. At the end it is about the points. We had a lot of good games like that but you need in a season games that you win with resilience or mentality or digging in together and fighting. There is not one team in the world who only wins games in a very beautiful way, like the team did already several times. For sure, not teams who win trophies. You need both and they showed the right mentality today. Now it is getting good recovery and working towards next weekend to go towards then.

What can you say about Cyriel’s contribution to this team?

That it is not only the goals. It is also the work he is doing without ball, also his work as high support. He is working really hard for the team, he is giving everything. He changed the situation himself in a really good way. If I hear what the fans are singing now or six months ago, there are different songs. But he deserves because he has been working really hard to help the team, not only thinking about himself but to help the team. Then the moments come and the situations come to be decisive in that position. It was again a really good finish today and a good cross of Tav also.

How important has Mohamed Diomande become for you?

Dio made an incredible fast integration, but all three did. Oscar also, Fabio also, and that is thanks to the dressing room, who have been amazing for them to help them feel welcome from the first minute. You saw also from the first minute they felt really good in this club. Dio is somebody with a lot of potential, a lot of technical qualities but also the right mentality. Like I said from the beginning, it is somebody who will only grow in the future and every game he takes lessons and becomes better.