RANGERS put an end to a sequence of six matches without a victory, retained a notional advantage at the top of the Premier League and seriously damaged Motherwell's prospects of a place in next season's Uefa Cup.
Barry Ferguson's volleyed second-
half winner certainly covered a fair amount of ground.
It was a goal for which Walter Smith and around 47,000 home supporters would have been praying as the possibility of conceding the two points that would have put retention of the championship back into Celtic's hands drew ever closer to fulfilment on another largely uncomfortable night. But, having spent much of the first half as second best, Rangers' aggressiveness after the break warranted the reward their captain provided.
Perhaps as frustrated as the fans with Rangers' recent travails in scoring goals, Smith could hardly have departed more spectacularly from his normal 4-5-1 formation, trebling the usual quota of strikers by including Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo as well as Jean-Claude Darcheville.
But, for much of the match, the switch in emphasis changed little in the way of making the home side more threatening in forward areas. Apart from an early flurry around Graeme Smith in the Motherwell goal, the Ibrox side spent the first half largely trying to win possession from opponents who appeared much more comfortable than visitors to Ibrox should as they played fluent and accurate passes from back to front.
Mark McGhee, who himself often favours a 4-3-3 line-up, on this occasion decided on a 3-5-2, possibly in anticipation of facing a lone striker. Far from bringing added pressure to his defence, however, the consequence of the apparent imbalance for long periods was a superiority in midfield, where Stephen Hughes was an especially conspicuous influence.
The former Rangers player's astute use of the ball frequently gave Carlos Cuellar and David Weir the opportunity to demonstrate once again why they have been so valuable to Rangers through the current, extraordinary campaign. Cuellar's impeccable timing in the challenge was particularly important on the occasion when Hughes released Ross McCormack into the right side of the home penalty area and would have been left with only Neil Alexander to beat had not the big Spaniard taken the ball cleanly as the Motherwell striker jinked inside.
Cuellar was also alert to the genuine danger that existed when Steven Whittaker's attempted clearance was blocked by Steven McGarry, the ball bouncing straight into the path of McCormack and giving the striker the opportunity of a clear run towards Alexander. The recently-elected player of the year was quick enough to come in from the left, blocking McCormack's path as he took possession and made the clearance.
Rangers' most menacing moment before the interval had actually arrived as early as the tenth minute, and it has become typical of their form in the past few weeks that it should be contrived from a set piece. It was a corner kick from Steven Davis, the source of the two goals scored in the last Old Firm match at Celtic Park. Once again, it was Weir, a scorer against Celtic, who made the header, but this time he saw the ball touched on to the crossbar by Smith.
Weir's frustration would turn to anguish – and, possibly anger – when Novo, with a clear chance from the rebound only eight yards out, drove the ball wide of Smith's left-hand post.
McCormack would be guilty of a similar 'offence' later, at the end of another sweet move from the visitors. Keith Lasley played the pass that took Hughes clear on the left, the midfielder almost reaching the dead-ball line before delivering a cut-back to McCormack. The striker, also an Ibrox alumnus, pulled the right-foot shot wide.
The thought of another two, or even three, precious points ebbing away clearly lent energy to Rangers' second-half endeavours, if not the incidence of threat, those corner kicks from Davis excepted.
A series of five within a short period would certainly have been sufficient warning to Motherwell of the potential they offered to the home side. Boyd had reached two of them, glancing the first header wide and putting the second over the bar, while Ferguson, with what proved a 'sighter' for what would follow just over 20 minutes later, had sent a volley from the left just wide of the far post.
From the fourth in the sequence, the ball had been headed out to Kevin Thomson, whose controlled, low, powerful drive from 20 yards would surely have found Smith's bottom left-hand corner but for being blocked by Mark Reynolds.
It was only by accident that Rangers were allowed an opportunity from open play, the ball bouncing from Hughes and straight to Novo, who was left to run towards Smith. But the Motherwell goalkeeper was very quick off his line to block at the feet of the little Spaniard.
By the time Ferguson gave Rangers the lead, they had established themselves as clear favourites to do so, their thrusts towards the visitors' goal regularly and rarely countered by opponents who appeared to have convinced themselves of the wisdom of playing for a scoreless draw. There was a certain logic to this policy, since it had been the result that had featured frequently in Rangers' recent run of matches. It was also risky, however, especially when factoring in the probability of the home side winning more corner kicks.
This possibility became reality when Davis's next delivery from the right was headed out to Ferguson on the left side of the area. This time, the captain hit a marvellous volley high to the left of Smith, the ball hurtling over the line. It was a finish that had become more and more likely – and deserved.
Rangers: Alexander; Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker; Davis, Ferguson, Thomson; Novo, Boyd, Darcheville. Subs: Smith, Dailly, Cousin, Adam, Lennon, Emslie, McMillan.
Motherwell: G Smith; McLean, Craigan, Reynolds; Lasley, Malcolm, Hughes, Fitzpatrick, McGarry; Lappin, McCormack. Subs: Daniels, Hammell, Porter, Clarkson, D Smith, Murphy, Meechan.
SMITH DROPS FORMATIONWALTER Smith last night opened hostilities against his Uefa Cup final rival, Dick Advocaat, with what might be called a burst of friendly fire.
Immediately after seeing his side beat Motherwell 1-0, the Rangers manager referred to the Zenit St Petersburg coach's presence and quipped: "I don't think Dick would find out too many secrets there. We had far too many forwards on the field."
Smith's remark was a self-parodying reference to his departure from his habitual 4-5-1 formation in favour of a 4-3-3, with Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo accompanying the regular lone striker, Jean-Claude Darcheville.
"It was the type of game we're going to get between now and the end of the season," said Smith. "It's how they've all been over the past few weeks, very tight. This is a very unusual season. For the first time in three years, the championship is very close and all of the other four teams in the top six are fighting for a place in Europe.
"And Motherwell deserve credit for making it hard for us. They set themselves out to make it awkward for us and they did that for long periods in the game."
Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager, offered the view that, if Rangers play in their remaining four fixtures to the level they achieved last night, they will win the championship. "By winning tonight," he said, "Rangers retained their advantage.
"I think this was a big result for them and, if they continue to play like that, they're certainly capable of winning their remaining games."
The full article contains 1293 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
