Rangers 1 (Boyd 35) Motherwell 1 (Kerr 50)
Attendance 49,785
The non-award of the spot-kick was just one of a
series of appalling decisions by Referee Charlie
Richmond who throughout the ninety minutes positively
discriminated in favour of the negative, anti-football
of the visitors.
Manager Paul Le Guen made one change from Paisley with
Nacho Novo replacing Dado Prso.
The little Spaniard almost made an instant impact when
his low eighteen-yard drive from a Barry Ferguson pass
was inches wide in eight minutes.
Rangers were in total command without creating a host
of chances, although Ferguson's twenty-yard volley
following a Charlie Adam corner was blocked by Jim
Paterson in 26 minutes.
Three minutes later Adam's 25-yard wide-angled
free-kick was held by visiting goalkeeper Colin
Meldrum.
A brilliant turn by Novo from an Adam corner split the
‘Well defence, only for his low cross to be swept
away by Paul Quinn in 34 minutes.
The opening goal was merely delayed however – a
cleverly worked corner between Thomas Buffel and
Ferguson saw the Belgian's deep cross headed home at
the far post by Kris Boyd.
The interval arrived with just the one goal separating
the teams despite the Ibrox men's overwhelming
superiority, and as the teams left the field there was
a significant level of jeering aimed at the referee.
Ibrox legends Billy Simpson and Johnny Hubbard were
introduced to the crowd at the interval, and there
were many onlookers who longed for their presence in
the team.
Rangers restarted as before very much on the offensive
with Julien Rodriguez's header from a Ferguson
free-kick being held by Meldrum.
Unbelievably Motherwell equalised with their first
attack of the game five minutes into the second-half–
Brian Kerr netting from the edge of the box with the
aid of a deflection after Scott McDonald had worked
hard to create an opening down the left.
Prso replaced Adam in 69 minutes, the departure of the
creative youngster puzzling many onlookers.
Three minutes later Novo burst through on a long
Letizi clearance only to see Meldrum hold his drive.
Another home substitution in 77 minutes again baffled
the 49,785 spectators with Novo being replaced by
Filip Sebo.
Rangers were denied an absolute stonewall penalty in
82 minutes when Sebo was chopped down by Keith Lasley
as he was poised to pull the trigger – Charlie
Richmond being the only man in the stadium who did not
believe it was a spot-kick.
The boos rang down on the official as the Light Blues
piled on the pressure in the closing minutes – and a
clear chance fell to Buffel in injury time when he was
released by Boyd's slip, only to see his drive blocked
by Meldrum.
The final whiste brought forth a crescendo of booing
on the head of the referee, but there can be no doubt
that this was a bad performance from the home side.
Afterwards a frustrated Paul Le Guen summarised:
“I was disappointed with the draw. We played well but
lacked efficiency. We were denied a clear penalty. We
were not rewarded for effort, we didn't play badly. I
am aware of the pressure and the situation, but I will
fight on. The team spirit is improving.”
‘Well boss Maurice Malpas was honest enough to admit:
“We more than rode our luck. Our goalkeeper's
performance was unreal.”
RANGERS Letizi; Hutton, Papac, Rodriguez, Smith; Novo
(Sebo 77), Ferguson, Hemdani, Adam (Prso 69); Buffel.
Boyd
UNUSED SUBS McGregor, Clement, Rae, Bardsley, Svensson
MOTHERWELL Meldrum; Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Paterson
(Fitzpatrick 84); Foran, Kerr, Lasley, McGarry
(McBride 76); McDonald, Elliot
UNUSED SUBS Smith, Kinniburgh, Connolly, Coakley
REFEREE Charlie Richmond