BBC Sport - Football - Motherwell 1-4 Rangers (original) (raw)
Highlights - Motherwell 1-4 Rangers
Rangers kept their two-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League with a convincing win over Motherwell.
Kenny Miller tucked home Rangers' opener before the unfortunate Steven Saunders scored an own goal to give the visitors a 2-0 half-time lead.
John Sutton took advantage of some calamitous Rangers defending to pull one back for Motherwell.
But Vladimir Weiss's superb solo goal and Miller's second ensured Rangers' first win at Fir Park since 2007.
The Ibrox side, who have a game in hand, stay ahead of nearest challengers Celtic, victors over St Johnstone in Glasgow, while sixth-place Motherwell are still looking for their first point since the departure of manager Craig Brown.
Rangers, unchanged from their last outing, were first to threaten as Weiss set Lee McCulloch up for a shot that was deflected wide.
It was the same combination that attacked the home goal again minutes later as Weiss's free-kick was headed wide by McCulloch.
Motherwell, managed again by caretaker Gordon Young, continued to come under pressure when Miller raced on to a superb through ball by Steven Whittaker and, after the striker's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Darren Randolph, Steven Naismith's header was cleared onto the bar and out by Mark Reynolds.
Randolph then tipped a Steven Davis shot wide and from the resulting corner, McCulloch's knock-down was flicked towards goal by Naismith only for Keith Lasley to foil the Rangers forward on the line again.
After weathering the storm, Well began to put Rangers under pressure with Jamie Murphy cutting in from the left and blasting a fierce low drive across the face of goal.
Weiss was a constant threat to the Motherwell defence
But Rangers soon moved ahead as Madjid Bougherra ventured forward and played a delicate one-two with Naismith before pulling back for Miller to turn home his 21st goal of the season.
Randolph comfortably held a Davis shot and a dangerous Weiss run came to nothing when the winger chose the wrong pass but it was not long before the visitors doubled their advantage.
Saunders was the only change in the Motherwell line-up, having replaced the suspended Steve Jennings, and the defender's attempted defensive header from Weiss's whipped free-kick crept inside the post to give Rangers their second.
The first half ended with both teams making enforced substitutions, Naismith limping off to be replaced by John Fleck and the winded Tom Hateley making way for Sutton.
Having been second best for much of the first half, Motherwell needed a massive lift at the start of the second half and Rangers gifted them a route back into the match.
Bougherra and David Weir got in each other's way as they both tried to make a headed clearance and the ball ran loose for Sutton to squeeze in a shot and the ball crossed the line before Nick Blackman could claim the goal for himself.
But Rangers responded by quickly re-establishing their two-goal lead. Davis twisted and turned to create space for Weiss, who weaved his way past a couple of defenders into the box and finished coolly past Randolph.
Weiss was booked for his celebration but was then involved in Rangers' fourth.
The Slovakian winger's quick free-kick caught the Motherwell defence out as Miller retrieved and bundled the ball home as Stephen Craigan and Randolph closed in.
Motherwell were now chasing the game and Alan Gow drew a save from Allan McGregor before Murphy swept a shot wide.
Weiss was given a rousing applause from the travelling fans as he was replaced by Jamie Ness.
Ness opened up the Motherwell defence with a weighted pass to Miller but the striker's hopes of a hat-trick were dashed by Randolph's alert save.
Gow headed wide of the Rangers goal in injury time as the match petered out.
Live text and stats
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Scottish Premier
| Home Team | Score | Away Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motherwell | 1-4 | Rangers | FT |
| (HT 0-2) | |||
| Sutton 46 | Miller 26 Saunders (og) 34 Weiss 51 Miller 61 |
MOTHERWELL
RANGERS
Possession
- Motherwell 46%
- Rangers 54%
Attempts on target
- Motherwell 4
- Rangers 13
Attempts off target
- Motherwell 6
- Rangers 1
Corners
- Motherwell 3
- Rangers 3
Fouls
Motherwell 10
Rangers 9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:20 The referee blows his whistle to end the game.
90:00+2:35 Chris Humphrey produces a cross, Headed effort from inside the area by Alan Gow misses to the right of the goal.
90:00+1:02 Effort from just outside the area by Robert McHugh goes over the target.
89:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Gow by Steven Davis. Strike on goal comes in from Ross Forbes from the free kick, Allan McGregor makes a save.
87:39 Substitution Ross Forbes on for Jamie Murphy.
86:57 Kenny Miller takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph.
84:43 Unfair challenge on Steven Saunders by Jamie Ness results in a free kick. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
78:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steven Saunders by Steven Whittaker. Stephen Craigan takes the direct free kick.
77:40 The offside flag is raised against John Fleck. Stevie Hammell takes the free kick.
76:11 Substitution Robert McHugh joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nick Blackman.
73:51 Stephen Craigan concedes a free kick for a foul on Kenny Miller. Free kick taken by Sasa Papac.
72:50 Substitution Vladimir Weiss leaves the field to be replaced by Jamie Ness.
72:06 Jamie Murphy takes a weak shot and missed to the right of the net.
70:39 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee McCulloch by John Sutton. Direct free kick taken by Vladimir Weiss.
68:28 Shot from 20 yards from Vladimir Weiss. Darren Randolph makes a save.
66:18 Unfair challenge on Alan Gow by Lee McCulloch results in a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Alan Gow, comfortable save by Allan McGregor.
63:40 Jamie Murphy produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.
61:37 Shot from 12 yards by Alan Gow. Save made by Allan McGregor. Chris Humphrey decides to take a short corner.
60:19 The assist for the goal came from Vladimir Weiss.
60:19 GOAL - Kenny Miller:Motherwell 1 - 4 Rangers A goal is scored by Kenny Miller from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-4 Rangers.
60:02 Alan Gow gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Madjid Bougherra. Vladimir Weiss takes the direct free kick.
58:30 Foul by Keith Lasley on Steven Davis, free kick awarded. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
51:25 Lee McCulloch challenges Alan Gow unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
50:54 Booking The referee cautions Vladimir Weiss for unsporting behaviour.
50:21 GOAL - Vladimir Weiss:Motherwell 1 - 3 Rangers Goal scored by Vladimir Weiss from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-3 Rangers.
48:20 Foul by Keith Lasley on Steven Davis, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Steven Davis.
47:59 Steven Whittaker produces a drilled left-footed shot from 20 yards. Save made by Darren Randolph.
47:05 Keith Lasley challenges Steven Whittaker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
45:53 GOAL - John Sutton:Motherwell 1 - 2 Rangers John Sutton gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-2 Rangers.
45:01 The referee gets the second half started.
Half Time
45:00+1:59 The first half comes to an end.
43:03 Kenny Miller is ruled offside. Darren Randolph restarts play with the free kick.
41:22 Foul by Steven Davis on Alan Gow, free kick awarded. Mark Reynolds takes the free kick.
39:52 Substitution John Sutton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Tom Hateley.
39:34 Substitution John Fleck joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steven Naismith.
33:27 Foul by Jamie Murphy on Madjid Bougherra, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Vladimir Weiss. Vladimir Weiss provided the assist for the goal.
33:27 GOAL - Steven Saunders:Motherwell 0 - 2 Rangers Own goal by Steven Saunders. Motherwell 0-2 Rangers.
31:49 Booking Keith Lasley receives a yellow card for dissent.
28:58 Chris Humphrey fouled by Sasa Papac, the ref awards a free kick. Stephen Craigan takes the free kick.
28:10 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kenny Miller. Stephen Craigan takes the free kick.
27:47 Steven Davis takes a shot. Darren Randolph makes a save.
27:02 Nick Blackman takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
25:44 The assist for the goal came from Madjid Bougherra.
25:44 GOAL - Kenny Miller:Motherwell 0 - 1 Rangers Kenny Miller gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Motherwell 0-1 Rangers.
24:43 Stephen Craigan challenges Vladimir Weiss unfairly and gives away a free kick. Vladimir Weiss delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Steven Saunders manages to make a clearance.
23:21 Jamie Murphy fouled by Steven Davis, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Hateley takes the free kick.
21:21 The official flags Kenny Miller offside. Darren Randolph takes the free kick.
19:25 Shot from just outside the box by Jamie Murphy misses to the right of the goal.
19:06 Alan Gow takes a short corner.
17:45 Steven Davis takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Vladimir Weiss from the right by-line, Effort on goal by Lee McCulloch from 12 yards. Steven Naismith takes a shot. Stevie Hammell makes a clearance. Stephen Craigan gets a block in.
11:02 Keith Lasley handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Steven Davis takes the direct free kick.
10:36 Foul by Mark Reynolds on Kenny Miller, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Steven Davis.
9:09 Kenny Miller takes a shot. Save by Darren Randolph. Steven Naismith takes a shot. Mark Reynolds gets a block in. Corner taken by Vladimir Weiss, Stephen Craigan manages to make a clearance.
8:26 Headed effort from inside the box by David Weir misses to the right of the target.
7:46 Stevie Hammell challenges Steven Naismith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Vladimir Weiss.
5:36 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Whittaker on Alan Gow. Alan Gow takes the direct free kick.
3:39 The referee blows for offside. Allan McGregor takes the indirect free kick.
1:01 Vladimir Weiss takes the inswinging corner, Stephen Craigan manages to make a clearance.
0:49 Richard Foster takes a shot. Nick Blackman gets a block in.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
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