Park this afternoon, a result that means that the
Light Blues now lie second in the SPL on goal
difference.
Manager Walter Smith made eight changes from
Dunfermline with only Carlos Cuellar, Steven Whittaker
and Kris Boyd featuring in both games. The home side
numbered three former Ibrox men in their ranks -
namely Graeme Smith, Stephen Hughes and Ross
McCormack.
Motherwell had made an impressive start to the season,
culminating in the elimination of League Cup holders
Hibernian in midweek by a 4-2 margin at Easter Road.
The visitors were first to threaten - Allan McGregor's
long kick-out, head-flicked on by Lee McCulloch, found
Boyd through on goal only for his shot to flash wide
in eight minutes.
Rangers were on top in these early stages - eight
minutes later Whittaker's left-foot snap-shot from 25
yards was held by Smith.
The opening goal when it arrived came at the other end
however - Chris Porter slotting the ball home from a
David Clarkson pass in 23 minutes.
The Light Blues almost responded immediately - former
Fir Park man McCulloch rattling an eighteen-yard shot
off the crossbar from a Boyd lay-off.
Four minutes later McCormack's wide-angled free-kick
touched the top of the crossbar as 'Well threatened to
extend their lead.
It was Rangers however who finished the half on top -
Cuellar's header from a Steven Naismith corner being
headed up and against the underside of his own
crossbar by Hughes, the rebound falling to David Weir
whose shot was held by Smith.
Jean-Claude Darcheville replaced Whittaker at the
interval, but would last a mere ten minutes before
himself being substituted by DaMarcus Beasley.
In the short period he was on the park however he was
involved in the game's most controversial incident
when his headflick released Boyd clear through on goal
only for the striker to be hauled back by Paul Quinn.
Incredibly Referee Craig Thomson waved play on.
Beasley was soon making an impact, his cutback to Boyd
being sliced over in 58 minutes then on the hour the
striker's shot on the turn from an Alan Hutton cross
was held by Smith.
Two minutes later Boyd was again clean through on a
Naismith pass only to slice his shot wide.
Nevertheless it was the striker who produced the
equaliser from the penalty spot after Beasley had been
upended by Keith Lasley in 66 minutes.
Rangers pressed to the end for a winner, but the home
defence held firm and both sides had to settle for a
point apiece.
Afterwards Walter Smith summarised:
"Give Motherwell credit for their first-half
performance - they played very well. Other teams in
the SPL are getting better. I thought we should have
had two penalties. Jean-Claude Darcheville will be out
for two / three weeks with a hamstring strain. I'll
have to have a rethink for Tuesday, but we won't be
affected by today's result as far as the Champions
League is concerned. We can handle both."
MOTHERWELL G. Smith; Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds,
Paterson; McGarry (Fitzpatrick 82), Hughes, Lasley;
McCormack, Porter, Clarkson (Murphy 88)
UNUSED SUBS Meldrum, Grabban, Kinniburgh, Mensing, D.
Smith
RANGERS McGregor; Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Papac;
Whittaker (Darcheville 45 [Beasley 55] ), Ferguson,
Thomson, McCulloch; Naismith (Adam 79), Boyd
UNUSED SUBS Carroll, Faye, Beasley, Darcheville, Adam,
Emslie, Lennon
REFEREE Craig Thomson
Attendance 10,009