Rangers chalked up a crucial 3-1 win over Motherwell
at Ibrox this afternoon to maintain their challenge at
the top of the SPL.
Manager Walter Smith made one change from Aberdeen
with Chris Burke (making his first start of the
season) replacing the suspended Lee McCulloch against
a Motherwell side that arrived at Ibrox with the best
away record in the SPL, and contained three former
Ibrox men in their ranks - namely Graeme Smith,
Stephen Hughes and Ross McCormack.
Making a less-than-welcome return to The Stadium for
this Boxing Day fixture was Referee Steve Conroy, no
friend of the club.
On a bitterly cold day, it took the game quite some
time to warm up - Chris Burke's penetrating run in
sixteen minutes ending with an eighteen-yard shot that
flashed just over.
There are many who believe that Ross McCormack should
never have been allowed to leave Rangers - and the
'Well man underlined that on the half-hour mark when
his header from Paul Quinn's cross was blocked by
Allan McGregor.
Eight minutes later at the other end Burke's curling
effort from a Barry Ferguson pass was touched wide by
Smith.
From the resulting Burke corner Carlos Cuellar's
header struck the crossbar, Steven Naismith somehow
putting the rebound wide.
The opening goal was merely delayed however - in a
sweeping attack Daniel Cousin was both instigator and
finisher. His cutback from the right found Ferguson at
the near post whose shot was partially blocked by
Smith then scooped off the line by Quinn - but Rangers
regrouped immediately and when Steven Whittaker
crossed the ball was swept home by Cousin.
It was no more than the Light Blues deserved - yet
Motherwell would dominate the early proceedings after
the restart.
McCormack was a constant danger - firstly in 47
minutes when he was denied by a timely interception
from Carlos Cuellar, then three minutes later,
released by David Clarkson, he saw his drive blocked
by McGregor.
The pressure continued - and Clarkson should have done
better in 52 minutes than head over from Steven
McGarry's chip.
Ten minutes later Thomas Buffel made a welcome return
when he replaced Naismith.
An equaliser was overdue - and it arrived in 64
minutes when McCormack's corner was headed home by
Quinn. It was a bad goal to concede - the entire home
defence was posted missing.
Rangers responded swiftly - four minutes later Cousin
struck the crossbar with a header from a Burke corner.
The corner paid dividends however - Charlie Adam's
inswinger to the far post being headed into his own
net by Chris Porter in 69 minutes.
Two minutes later, for the second successive game,
Alan Hutton was the victim of a horrendous assault
when he was chopped down by Stephen Craigan. It fully
merited a straight red, but it was no surprise that
Steve Conroy merely produced a yellow.
Kris Boyd substituted for Cousin in 74 minutes.
Nine minutes later, incredibly, Hutton was
yellow-carded for the second successive game for a
tackle in which he clearly won the ball in a challenge
on Jim Patterson.
Buffel was demonstrating exactly what Rangers have
missed in his absence with intelligent running and
skillful use of the ball - and he almost clinched
victory in 89 minutes when his shot from a Boyd pass
was held by Smith.
The third goal duly arrived in the third minute of
injury time however - a superbly worked free-kick wide
on the left saw Ferguson find Buffel, who, with his
back to goal, cleverly turned to find
'Man-of-the-Match' Burke who squared for Boyd to
stroke the ball home.
Afterwards Walter Smith reflected:
"I was pleased to get the three points. We deserved
our first-half lead, but were too slack in the first
fifteen minutes of the second. Motherwell are not an
easy team to play against. I was pleased with Thomas
Buffel - he has worked hard to come back and looked
fresh and lively."
RANGERS McGregor; Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker;
Burke, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam; Naismith (Buffel 62),
Cousin (Boyd 74)
UNUSED SUBS Carroll, Ehiogu, Hemdani, Lennon, Furman
MOTHERWELL G. Smith; Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan,
Patterson; McGarry (D. Smith 62), Hughes, O'Donnell,
Clarkson (Murphy 82); McCormack, Porter
UNUSED SUBS Meldrum, Corrigan, McLean, Lasley,
Fitzpatrick
REFEREE Steve Conroy