NO GLEN GLEE FOR 1ST v DEE
GLEN KAMARA finally scored after an 81-game drought at club level – and didn’t even celebrate out of respect to his former club Dundee.
The Rangers midfielder set Steven Gerrard’s men on their way to a 4-0 rout of the Dark Blues with a well-taken early goal at Ibrox on Wednesday.
It was Kamara’s first ever strike at senior club level having only ever found the net previously at international level when he scored for Finland against Greece in the Nations League.
Kamara had failed to score at Arsenal, where he came through the ranks as a kid, then in spells at Southend, Colchester and Dens Park.
But after netting from James Tavernier’s free-kick, the 23-year-old said: “I’m delighted to score my first goal but it’s bittersweet scoring against my old team.
“I didn’t celebrate out of respect to Dundee.
“My time there was good and I enjoyed it so a bit of respect.
“That was my first goal at the 82nd attempt so I enjoyed it and it was a good finish.”
Kamara has quickly emerged as a key player for Rangers despite not attracting the same headlines as fellow January signings Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe.
Gerrard admitted he has been a bargain buy at just £50,000 and took him to the side along with Ryan Jack at full-time on Wednesday to give the midfield pair a pep talk.
The Rangers boss had been unhappy at the way his side took their foot off the gas after racing into a three-goal lead inside the first 23 minutes.
Kamara knows they must keep their standards high for 90 minutes with a tough trip to Aberdeen coming up in Sunday’s Scottish Cup quarter-final.
The Finn said: “The manager spoke to me and Ryan at the end of the game and said we need to manage the game better than we did in the second half.
“We were sloppy both individually and collectively in the second half so we need to improve on that. It’s hard when you’re 3-0 up at half-time but we have to keep our standards up.
“Personally I’m enjoying it and I have settled in quite well. The manager has helped me and allowed me to express myself and it helps when the team is good.
“We’ve got a hard away game at Aberdeen but we’re looking forward to it and that’s the next task ahead.”