Rangers today welcome Motherwell in the first of three league games in quick succession. Nine points is a must, it’s non negotiable and that has to start today. On the back of such a massive result in Europe we are surely going to get a bounce from that which I think we will.
Europe was and is a huge high, which is something we can park and look forward too, but all focus is on today and has to be. I expected a few changes, we have two, given the gargantuan efforts of midweek and some freshness isn’t unwelcome from those efforts.
The huge bonus being that Celtic have failed to win with a 0-0 draw at Hibernian so Rangers can cut the gap to one point. Now it’s all about momentum and belief as things now get to the real title challenge period and we have to kick on.
Few changes today – Sakala and Kamara are in with Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic out are today’s changes. Rangers go with, McGregor, Tavernier, Bassey, Goldson, Lundstram, Kamara, Aribo, Arfield, Kent, Morelos and Sakala.
The big talking point is Lundstram at centre back, how Rangers line up will be interesting and obviously pace against Lundstram is the big worry. Glen Kamara needs a big performance but the strike force of Sakala, Morelos, Kent is pacey and exciting.
So a big match day ahead, this has to be the start of a run for us, three points a must….
First half action
1 min – Rangers right at it as Fashion drills a cross from right dangerously across goal
CROSSBAR! Rangers out the traps as Morelos is on to Tavs pass, toe poked towards goal and hits the bar!
3 mins – Short corner worked to edge of box and Kamara fires over, good variation, Rangers look bang up for this.
7 mins – SAVE! Tav to Kent to Tav from the corner, two vs one which Rangers make work, Tav swings one to the top corner and brilliantly saved.
19 mins – SAVE! Tav to Kent who plays it to Lundstram who curls a left foot effort towards goal and is brilliantly saved again by Kelly!
23 mins – GOOOOAAAALLLL! Ryan Kent gets it on his left foot on the right stepping in, brilliant cross and Morelos is in to head into the corner! Mugabe was in same time and that was close to an OG, credit to Alfredo and we lead 1-0!
24 mins – GOOOOAAAALLLLL! Brilliant again from Kent who turns O’Donnell inside out, his cross evades everyone and Fashion bullets a left foot drive low and hard into the net! 2-0!
29 mins – CAUTION 📒 Goldson takes a lose touch and Effors is late and studs showing, that’s a red card all day long! The Motherwell man is lucky there!
35 mins – Sakala cuts in to drive a left foot shot high and wide, he’s causing problems.
42 mins – Nice move again, Arfield runs causing issues and he pokes a shot wide.
HALF TIME – RANGERS 2 MOTHERWELL 0
Summary
Brilliant first half performance from Rangers and only some excellent goalkeeping has kept that scoreline down. Two wonderful saves from Kelly as Tavernier and Lundstram went close. The two quick goals exactly what everyone wanted however and Kent again at the heart of them with two assists.
Rangers have been impressive, really good variation in the attack and corners have really caused Motherwell issues. The overload and runs from Arfield is troubling Well as they can’t match the runs, it’s really well worked by Rangers.
This is good, as good as we have seen and after a big Thursday thoroughly impressive first half. The challenge now to keep this going and with five changes available the chance to keep players fresh if we can kill the game, which the next goal will do.
So far as good as anything under Gio, he’s starting to affect this team and you can see us responding to him.
More again in the second half.
Second half action
52 mins – Goal Motherwell. Lundstram gives ball away and Woolery breaks, and Lundstram can’t get back, to square for Roberts. Atrocious defending. 2-1
55 mins – Ball in net from Morelos and it’s offside, He’s cautioned for his reaction 📒 That was iffy to say the least.
67 mins – Again ball in net and Alfredo’s effort is chopped off.
72 mins – CAUTION O’Donnell 📒
74 mins – CAUTION Tavernier 📒
76 mins – Goal Motherwell 2-2. Tavernier and Goldson don’t defend it and the shot goes through McGregor and that’s horrible defending all round.
82 mins – CAUTION Donnelly 📒
FULL TIME RANGERS 2 MOTHERWELL 2
Full time
Inexcusable second half in a game where Rangers were completely cruising. Lost awful goals and contrived to miss costly chances.
We seem hell bent on throwing this league away but from such a promising first half to chuck this away is beyond poor. Forget the woeful officiating and it was exactly that, we can’t throw away two points like this.
The goalkeeper situation can not continue and too many goals are being a scenario where he has to do better, again today is no different.
That’s completely thrown away again.
Inexcusable.
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