Motherwell got a much deserved late goal to take a point against Rangers in the opening game of the season at Fir Park.
It was an opportunity for the ‘Well players to demonstrate how much of the new manager’s philosophy they had taken onboard. There were a few scary moments of short passing in their eighteen yard box but they showed commitment and energy in attack and, with better finishing, they could have taken all three points.
Jens Berthel Askou fielded an unchanged eleven and they showed from kick-off that they intended to take the game to their much fancied opponents. The reliance on forward passing saw them pose problems for the visiting defenders but a moment’s carelessness from Captain McGinn gave Rangers a gift of a corner.
Later the manager declined to criticise the error but he did espress disappointment at the defence of the set piece. James Tavernier rose to head home the corner kick as the visitors made the best of the present.
Motherwell then seemed to lose their rhythm as Rangers pushed for a second but Callum Ward was rarely troubled.
The second half saw some excellent controlled football from Motherwell. They were content to play out from the back and then burst into attack. The Rangers’ defence were often caught out with the pace of the claret and amber forwards.
Callum Slattery threaded the ball forward for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos but desperate defending thwarted his effort. Tawanda Maswanhise cause panic as he twisted and turned but failed to deliver. Elijah Just has a couple of opportunities inside the area but they came to nothing.
It began to look as though the home side’s inability to finish would let the uninspired visitors off the hook. There were only three minutes remaining when the long awaited equaliser arrived. Just chested the ball for Emmanuel Longelo and from the left side of the box he powered a low drive into the net. Fir park erupted with joy and relief.
The single goal was the least that Motherwell deserved and it will have convinced many in the home stands that the manager’s methods may bear fruit. There will be more scary moments as the defenders play tippy-tappy but there was enough forward momentum to offer the prospect of an interesting season ahead.
Motherwell 1 Rangers 1
Attendance 10,616
Team: Ward, Koutroumbis, McGinn, Gordon (O’Donnell 70), Longelo, Watt, Slattery (Balmer 90), Fadinger, Just (Halliday 90), Maswanhise, Stamatelopoulos (Said 79)
Saturday 2 August 2025
