Rangers must raise quality level quickly
Motherwell 1 Rangers 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Terry Butcher found more than a few chinks in Rangers' armour yesterday that may be punished ruthlessly by Manchester United on Wednesday night, as his young Motherwell team hounded the Scottish champions into dropping two points at Fir Park.
Had Stefan Klos not made a desperate save from David Clarkson near the end, Alex McLeish's team could have been going into the Champions' League game at Ibrox on the back of a numbing defeat.
Indeed, the Rangers manager admitted later that "there is plenty of work to be done". His old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, had watched Rangers put under intense pressure by Butcher's side, and McLeish said: "He will be going home thinking that if we play like that, then Manchester United will have a comfortable time at Ibrox.
"But we have a lot more in the team than we showed today and the players know they have to raise their game on Wednesday night," he added. "We need to do a bit of work between now and Wednesday to make sure that we do a whole lot better."
Yet Rangers got off to the start they wanted when Shota Arveladze fired them ahead after 14 minutes, latching on to a sublime chip from Zurab Khizanishvili and lobbing Gordon Marshall.
However, 10 minutes later Motherwell were level. Steven Craig's cross was met by Stephen Pearson, who went wide of Klos and drove a right-foot shot through a ruck of defenders.
Mols then allowed Steven Craigan to clear his shots off the line twice, while Keith Lasley failed to convert a point-blank chance just after the hour that would have killed Rangers off.
Goals: Arveladze (15) 0-1; Pearson (25) 1-1.
Motherwell (4-4-2) Marshall; Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell; Lasley, Leitch, Adams, Pearson; Clarkson, Craig (Dair, 79). Substitutes not used: Corr (gk), MacDonald, Fagan, Wright.
Rangers (4-3-3): Klos; Ricksen (Capucho, 79), Moore, Berg, Ball; Emerson (Ostenstad, 60), Arteta, Khizanishvili; Arveladze, Mols, Lovenkrands (Vanoli, 68). Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Hughes.
Referee: D McDonald.
Booked: Rangers: Moore, Ricksen, Khizanishvili.
Man of the match: Clarkson.
Attendance: 10,824.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments