[tab:Match report]
Phil McGhee at Ibrox
Motherwell were denied a thoroughly deserved share of the spoils at Ibrox when Kenny Miller snatched a last-gasp winner.
After Scott McDonald had given the Fir Parkers a lead early in the first half, Mark McGhee’s men performed admirably throughout the team.
And although Harry Forrester grabbed the equaliser 18 minutes into the second half to fire up the home crowd, Motherwell looked equally likely to find a winner on the second consecutive time at Ibrox.
Mark McGhee fielded an unchanged side from last week as Motherwell looked to emulate their performance and memorable 3-1 victory on their last visit in the league play-offs 16 months ago.
In the early stages ‘Gers seemed determined to ensure there would be no repeat of that result as the dominated possession. The pressure on the visitor’s goal during the opening fifteen minutes was often self-inflicted as the Fir Park players conceded possession around the box allowing drives from Miller and Forrrester to blaze over the bar.
The best opening came at the other end in seventeen minute. McDonald’s head-flick sent Lionel Ainsworth racing through the centre of the home defence, only for him to pull his left shot well wide of goal.
Rangers ignored that warning and a minute later lost the opening goal. Marvin Johnson dragged the ball back on the far side of the penalty area and when his right foot cross trundled across the six yard box, McDonald popped at the back post to prod the ball home and stun the Ibrox crowd.
A couple of minutes later it could have been 2-0 after a swift Motherwell move. Chris Cadden robbed Joey Barton on the half-way line, McDonald found Johnson and his head-flick set the ball up nicely for Craig Clay but from 18 yards the thundered his volley a couple of metres wide of the post.
With Craig Samson yet to make a save his opposite number was almost caught out after 26 minutes. James Tavernier rolled the ball towards his own goal but with Johnson bearing down on Foderingham, the ‘keeper rattled the ball off the ‘Well man inside the six yard box and was relieved to see the ball deflect narrowly over his bar.
Not unexpectedly, Rangers started the second half on the front foot and when Miller sent a low cross into the six yard box it took a brilliant tackle and block by Joe Chalmers, who had an impressive ninety minutes, to deny Harry Forrester a certain equaliser.
However, it took an equally impressive stop at the other end to prevent ‘Well from doubling their lead. Scott McDonald turned Danny Wilson in the box and from an acute angle his flashing drive was heading for the top corner until Foderingham threw himself across his goal to palm the ball round his post.
That kept Rangers’ hopes of an equaliser alive. And in the 63rd it arrived. Samson did well to block Miller’s effort at the edge of his six yard box but the ball rolled kindly for Forrester who calmly steered the ball between Stephen McManus and Ben Heneghan to make it 1-1.
As the Ibrox side pushed for the winner, ‘Well came close to claiming all three points when Johnson strike from 20 yards was a good height for Foderingham to dive and push away.
With four minutes remaining and ‘Well comfortably holding out for a share of the points striker Jacob Blyth came on for Craig Clay who had a commanding 86 minutes in midfield before running himself into the ground.
That forced Scott McDonand to drop deeper for the remainder of the game and it proved costly in the final minute as the ‘Well striker lost possession wide on the right.
As the ball was whipped into the box Gers’ first attempt was well blocked on the six yard line but the ball rolled along the box to Miller who slammed it back across Samson and into the corner for the cruellest of winners.
‘Well still had time for a deserved equaliser but from a McManus cutback Johnson curler from 18 yards dipped narrowly over the bar.
[tab:As it happened]
Lewis Irons at Ibrox
’93 | 2-1
It’s all over at Ibrox and it’s a tough one to take for the travelling ‘Well fans.
’91 | 2-1
Rangers snatch the lead in the dying minutes. Miller curls low past Samson after it came back out to the forward
’90 | 1-1
3 minutes added on here at Ibrox
’87 | 1-1
Sub: Craig Clay is replaced by Jacob Blyth
’82 | 1-1
Dodoo works himself some space and hits one at the near post, but it’s off target
’78 | 1-1
Johnson unleashes a brilliant effort on goal from outside the box, but Foderingham saves in dramatic fashion
’76 | 1-1
Heneghan slides in to stop Miller in the box and clear the danger
’70 | 1-1
Rangers win a corner and Miller tries to latch onto it at the near post, but Tait is there to block
’65 | 1-1
Rangers sub: O’Halloran replaces Forrester
’63 | 1-1
Rangers pull level. Samson does well to save Miller’s shot but it falls to Forrester who strokes it through the crowd.
’62 | 0-1
Chalmers blocks Tavernier’s cross and Rangers win a corner, but the ‘Well clear
’60 | 0-1
McDonald rises to head at goal from a corner, but it’s too high for him and he heads over
’58 | 0-1
Rossiter hacks down Johnson on the half-way line and the free-kick is given.
’55 | 0-1
Rangers double change: McKay and Halliday make way for Dodoo and Kranjcar
’55 | 0-1
Wilson heads over the bar from a corner after Chalmers put it behind to thwart the danger
’52 | 0-1
McDonald is denied his second by a wonder-save from Foderingham. The Aussie struck low from inside the box. #COYW
’48 | 0-1
Wallace crosses and Barton looks set to tap in from 4 yards, but Joe Chalmers puts in an incredible tackle to stop him
’47 | 0-1
A threatening ball in from Tavernier is headed over from close-range by Halliday
’46 | 0-1
We’re back underway at Ibrox
Half-time here at Ibrox and Motherwell lead 0-1 #COYW
’35 | 0-1
McDonald chips a lovely cross into the Rangers area and despite taking a clear deflection, the goal-kick is given.
’26 | 0-1
Tavernier dallies on the ball in his six-yard box and Johnson pounces. The keepers clearance deflects off Johnson and goes over.
’24 | 0-1
Wilson has a strike from all of 30-yards, but Samson watches on as it flies over.
’20 | 0-1
So nearly 2! McDonald dinks a lovely ball onto Johnson’s head who nods it into the path of Clay who strikes just wide. #COYW
’19 | 0-1
Johnson’s dangerous ball across goal is tapped in from a yard by Scott McDonald! #COYW
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!
’16 | 0-0
Rangers win two corners in quick succession, but the Steelmen defend well and clear the danger.
’13 | 0-0
Harry Forrester tries one from distance but again it is narrowly over the bar and doesn’t trouble Samson
’11 | 0-0
Ainsworth’s loose pass is latched on by Kenny Miller, but he fails to hit the target and it rises just over the bar.
’10 | 0-0
Ainsworth dinks in Johnson on the left, who strikes towards goal – but the effort rises high and wide.
‘5 | 0-0
McDonald is slipped through on goal but is halted by the offside flag – not too much in it
1 | 0-0
Johnson beats Tavernier on the left but is then brouight down. Free-kick to the Well who take it quickly and cross but it’s cleared
1 | 0-0
Scott McDonald gets us underway here at Ibrox #COYW
Motherwell subs: Brill, Lucas, Blyth, Thomas, McFadden, Ferguson, MacLean #RFCvMFC
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