Rangers got back to winning ways this afternoon with a
3-0 win over Motherwell at Ibrox – but it was a long,
hard slog in what was a dour game.
Manager Alex McLeish made three changes from Wednesday
with Marvin Andrews, Chris Burke and Ross McCormack
replacing Sotirios Kyrgiakos (suspended), Hamed
Namouchi and Federico Nieto (injured), in what was his
200th game as Ibrox Boss.
Making a less than welcome return to Ibrox was Referee
Steve Conroy, whose two previous games in charge down
Govan way were enshrined in controversy.
Ibrox was buzzing prior to kick-off as the news broke
of the resignation of Hearts’ Manager George Burley.
Rangers made the perfect start – opening the scoring
in 28 seconds when Dado Prso’s cross from the left was
headed on by Peter Lovenkrands for Burke to net at the
far post.
After 185 minutes of football without a goal, such an
early breakthrough was most welcome for the 49,215
spectators – but Motherwell were soon back in search
of an equaliser with Scott McDonald going close with a
curling shot from the edge of the box in seven
minutes.
Two minutes later Jim Paterson was guilty of a
shocking tackle on Fernando Ricksen, yet to no-one’s
surprise Steve Conroy contented himself with a
lecture.
Julien Rodriguez came close to doubling the lead in
twelve minutes when Steve Hammell cleared his header
from a Ross McCormack corner off the line.
Four minutes later Prso’s header from a Ricksen cross
was inches wide as the Light Blues went all out to
secure victory.
Burke was denied a spectacular second by a linesman’s
flag in 24 minutes – his flying header having found
the net after Prso’s header from a Lovenkrands cross
had been clawed out by ‘Well goalkeeper (and former
Ranger) Graeme Smith.
Ten minutes later Steve Conroy felt it necessary to
lecture Motherwell Manager (and former Ibrox legend)
Terry Butcher.
A spectacular Prso volley from Burke’s 4oth minute
cross flashed just over – but there was unease around
the Stadium when the interval arrived with just that
early goal to show for all the home domination.
Ian Murray replaced McCormack in 57 minutes, with
Lovenkrands switching inside – and the switch almost
paid an instant dividend when Smith held the Dane’s
header from a Burke corner.
Rangers had a strong penalty claim denied in 63
minutes when Lovenkrands, through on a Ferguson pass,
was hauled down by William Kinniburgh – but, once
again to no-one’s surprise, the referee turned a blind
eye.
Prso, by a mile the outstanding player afield, was a
tireless worker as Rangers sought to secure the win,
and twice in four minutes he created space for others
– firstly when his pass freed Burke whose shot was
held by Smith, then on seventy minutes a Lovenkrands
drive came crashing back off an upright,
Sixty seconds later the same combination finally
produced a result – Prso twisting and turning his way
to the byeline before cutting the ball back for
Lovenkrands to net.
There was a welcome return for Alan Hutton immediately
thereafter, replacing Brahim Hemdani with Ricksen
moving into midfield.
Five minutes later Prso departed to a standing
ovation, being replaced by Steven Thompson.
Afterwards a relieved Alex McLeish reflected:
“We made a great start, but slowed down thereafter. We
were better in the second-half. We’re still creating
chances, and have had a number of shutouts recently.”
On the sensational news from Edinburgh, ‘Eck’
commented:
“I’m not 100% shocked, having spoken to George
recently. I’m not surprised.”
Terry Butcher reflected:
“We made the worst possible start, but kept our shape.
That’s the best we’ve played here for some time.”
On the George Burley situation, the ‘Well Manager
commented:
“Nobody in football was surprised. George is a man of
principle; he’s done a wonderful job. There can only
be one person in charge of the team.”
RANGERS Waterreus; Ricksen, Andrews, Rodriguez,
Bernard; Burke, Hemdani (Hutton 71, Ferguson,
Lovenkrands; Prso (Thompson 76), McCormack (Murray 57)
UNUSED SUBS Klos, Malcolm, Fanfan, Namouchi
MOTHERWELL G. Smith; Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh,
Hammell; Foran, Kerr, Fagan, Paterson (Fitzpatrick
57); Scott McDonald, Clarkson (Hamilton 78)
UNUSED SUBS Marshall, Quinn, Steve McDonald, Connolly,
D. Smith
REFEREE Steve Conroy