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    McGhee: I’m devastated

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    Rangers defeat in pictures

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    Rangers 2 – 1 Motherwell

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    Hastie pens ‘Well extension

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    Rangers: A closer look

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    Lasley: Past matches give us confidence

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    McGhee: Fantastic clash awaits

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    Get your Scottish Cup tickets now

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    Hospitality sold out

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    Cadden: Excited for Saturday

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    McGhee: I’m devastated

    Mark McGhee was left speechless after witnessing his side fall to a 2-1 defeat at Ibrox this afternoon in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

    Despite leading by a goal to nil with just five minutes left on the clock, two late goals from Kenny Miller secured progression for the hosts and left the Fir Park manager deflated.

    MFC TV spoke to McGhee at full time, and the boss didn’t hide his emotions as he revealed how truly deflated him and his side were.

    He said: “I’ve had something like 950 games as a manager and only twice before have I felt as badly as I feel now.

    [pullquote] I’m speechless, I’ve not spent a lot of time talking to the players in there because I’ve got nothing to say to them – I’m lost for words. I can’t believe what I saw in the last ten minutes of the game.[/pullquote]

    “Once, when I was manager at Millwall, we lost in the play-offs to Birmingham and once, as manager of Wolves, we lost to Crystal Palace for the same thing. This equals that feeling.”

    He added: “I’m speechless, I’ve not spent a lot of time talking to the players in there because I’ve got nothing to say to them – I’m lost for words.

    “I can’t believe what I saw in the last ten minutes of the game.”

    Conceding the second goal was tough for the manager to take, and he admitted it is something that he will ponder over.

    He said: “I can’t think about that right now all I can think about is the feeling I’ve got. I just keep reliving that second goal and I just can’t get that out of my head and I won’t for a long, long time regardless of what happens next week.

    [pullquote]I can’t describe to you how bad I feel and I’m sure the supporters are the same. It was there for us and we were the architects of our own downfall, again. It’s just hard, hard, hard to bear.[/pullquote]

    “There was an opportunity there today and the plan went well. We didn’t play nearly as well as I wanted us to in the first half in terms of possession, but we got away with it.

    “And then, the last ten minutes, well, what can I say?”

    Asked about how he will bounce back, the ‘Well boss said: “I’ll get back and I’ll find some sort of story for them to justify how we can beat Rangers next week, but for now I don’t have the answers.

    “I can’t describe to you how bad I feel and I’m sure the supporters are the same. It was there for us and we were the architects of our own downfall, again. It’s just hard, hard, hard to bear.”

  • Archive

    Rangers defeat in pictures

    Images from today’s 2-1 loss to Rangers in the William Hill Scottish Cup.

    Snaps courtesy of SNSPix

    [svgallery name=”rangers210117″]

  • Archive

    Rangers 2 – 1 Motherwell

    [tab:Match report]

    Motherwell’s hopes of an historic Scottish Cup win at Ibrox were wiped out when a Kenny Miller double in the last six minutes shattered ‘Well’s cup dreams after Louis Moult had headed them in front with just 16 minutes remaining.

    And having contained and frustrated Rangers for over 80 minutes, it was a hammer blow when Gers’ winning goal came as a result of a defensive lapse a minute from time.

    Until then Motherwell’s tactics, discipline and hard work had looked to earn them at least a replay from this all Premiership tie.

    Mark McGhee made four changes from the team’s last outing on Hogmanay. Stevie Hammell returned at full back with the injured trio of Keith Lasley, Chris Cadden and Joe Chalmers, coming back in to a five-man midfield. That left Louis Moult up front on his own with Scott McDonald on the bench.

    With ‘Well set up to be organised and tight, they were happy to concede possession to the Ibrox side. But with Rangers intent on weaving intricate passes across the middle of the park there was little threat on Craig Samson’s goal.

    In truth in the first half hour it amounted to a couple of floating headers from Miller, the first bouncing off the top of the bar and the second effort easily caught by the ‘Well ‘keeper.

    After 36 minutes, the subdued home fans were on their feet demanding a penalty when Michael O’Halloran, after jinking past a couple of challenges in the box, fell to the ground.

    A minute later the Fir Park men conjured up their best chance of a dull first half. Cadden was hauled back by Lee Wallace at the corner of the box and Hammell’s free kick was only cleared to Chalmers who drilled his shot low and hard but wide of goal.

    Having comfortably contained Rangers in the first half, ‘Well played further forward after the break and Wes Foderingham had to look lively to deal with a couple of efforts including a glancing header from Louis Moult.

    When Cadden earned another free kick at Wallace’s expense the Ger’s ‘keeper was forced into his first real save smothering Ben Heneghan’s header on his goal line as Lasley hovered waiting for a slip.

    With 62 minutes played and sensing that the tie was there to be won Scott McDonald, to a chorus of boos from the home fans, came on for Chalmers.

    And within three minutes the striker came close to silencing the Ibrox faithful when he dragged the ball across the penalty box before firing a left foot shot which Foderingham saved high to his left.

    As Motherwell gained possession and Rangers and their fans grew more frustrated, it felt like the visitors might nick the opening goal – and they duly did in the 74th minute. Lasley sent Cadden towards the corner flag before firing a cross into the box where Moult outmuscled Rob Kieran to bullet a superb header high into the corner of the net and put ‘Well ahead.

    As Rangers pushed for an equaliser, Samson brilliantly denied Martyn Waghorn as the striker rounded him inside the six yard box only for the ‘keeper to perfectly time his dive and intervention to push the ball away.

    The equaliser was only delayed a couple of minutes though, when Waghorn’s inswinging cross found Miller who guided his header beyond the stretching Samson.

    As the home crowd roared for a winner it almost came at the other end when a series of passes set up Carl McHugh and from 22 yards his fierce drive was brilliantly palmed away by Foderingham at full stretch.

    Moult then flashed a header across the face of goal as Motherwell looked to win the tie.

    In the most cruel fashion, though, the tie was lost at the other end in the 89th minute.

    Stephen McManus, as the last man, was short with a pass through the middle and when Miller was released the veteran striker calmly whipped the ball behind the helpless Samson to end Motherwell’s cup hopes for another season.

     

    [tab:As it happened]

     Alastair Reilly at Ibrox

    FT: Rangers 2 – 1 Motherwell #RFCvMFC

    90′ | 2-1
    Four minutes added on.
    89′ | 2-1
    Goal – Miller is played clean through and makes no mistake with the finish. 2-1 to Rangers.
    85′ | 1-1
    Chance!! McHugh forces a great save from Foderingham and McDonald can’t convert the rebound.

    85′ | 1-1
    Goal – Rangers equalise from a Miller diving header

    83′ | 0-1
    Superb save from Samson as he races off his line and clears at the feet of Miller who looked sure to score.

    81′ | 0-1
    Motherwell sub, Cadden off for McMillan

    78′ | 0-1
    McDonald booked for time wasting
    77′ | 0-1
    McDonald’s cross is deflected wide for a corner…..again Rangers deal with the delivery.
    75′ | 0-1
    The Steelmen take the lead!! Cadden curls the ball in to MOULT who powers his header home!!!
    GGGOOOOOAALLLL!!!

    72′ | 0-0
    Rangers make their final sub, Hyndman on for Holt.

    72′ | 0-0
    ‘Well win a corner but McHugh cant quite get on the end of Hammell’s delivery.

    71′ | 0-0
    Rangers sub, Waghorn on for O’Halloran

    70′ | 0-0
    Windass gets the break of the ball as he powers forward and from the edge of the box he fires wide of the post

    69′ | 0-0
    McKay cuts inside and fires a shot at goal. Thankfully it goes wide of the far post

    66′ | 0-0
    McDonald drifts in off the left and tries his luck with a curling left-footed shot which forces Foderingham into action

    63′ | 0-0
    Motherwell also make a change, McDonald on for Chalmers

    63′ | 0-0
    Rangers sub, Toral makes way for Windass
    60′ | 0-0
    Hammell and Chalmers combine down the left, the cross finds Lasley but as he tries to slide in Cadden, Wallace intercepts

    59′ | 0-0
    Chalmers booked for pulling back O’Halloran as he broke clear.

    Hammell whips the free-kick in which finds Clay but his knock down is gathered by Foderingham.

    57′ | 0-0
    Cadden dispossesses his man and wins a free-kick wide on the right.

    53′ | 0-0
    McKay gets around the outside of Tait but Heneghan covers well and concedes the corner.

    52′ | 0-0
    Tait curls in a ball to the head of Chalmers but he can’t get enough power in his header and it loops straight to Foderingham

    46′ | 0-0
    Close! Great ball in from the left by Chalmers but Moult can’t quite get on the end of it.

    46′ | 0-0
    Moult collects a loose ball but sees his effort from 20 yards sail well over the bar.

    Lasley gets the second 45 underway. COYW!!!!

    Both sides are back out, as we get ready for the second half.

    HT: Rangers 0 – 0 Motherwell #RFCvMFC

    39′ | 0-0
    It’s a great ball in from Hammell but its headed clear as far as Chalmers who drags his shot just wide of the post.

    38′ | 0-0
    Cadden wins a free-kick just outside the box on the right hand side,,,,

    37′ | 0-0
    O’Halloran goes down in the box after a Hammell tackle but ref waves it away. Hard to tell on first look.

    From the free-kick, McKay drills it straight into the wall.

    31′ | 0-0
    Miller goes down under a challenge from McHugh giving Rangers a dangerous free-kick about 25 yards from goal

    28′ | 0-0
    Hodson’s ball in is knocked out for a corner by Chalmers, then ‘Well deal with the delivery.

    …from the free-kick Miller heads goalwards and it clips the top of the bar on the way over.

    19′ | 0-0
    Hodson gets past Chalmers and the Motherwell man pulls him down. Free-kick wide on the right for Gers…

    14′ | 0-0
    Decent break there. Tait gets down the right, cuts in on his left and swings in a superb ball which Hill rises to head clear.

    12′ | 0-0
    McHugh brings down O’Halloran about 25 yards out…..Toral clips it in but the linesman’s flag goes up for offside

    6′ | 0-0
    Loose ball falls to Wallace on the edge of the box…he shoots but it’s deflected wide for a corner.

    Rangers get the action underway. COYW!!

    Both sides emerge from the tunnel, ‘Well in their full white third kit, Rangers in their usual blue

    [tab:Reaction]

    Motherwell manager Mark McGhee:

     

    Rangers manager Mark Warburton:

     

    [tab:Man-of-the-match]

    [poll id=”306″]

  • Archive

    Hastie pens ‘Well extension

    ‘Well starlet Jake Hastie has committed his future to the club by penning a two-and-a-half year contract extension.

    The 17-year-old Academy product has been in hot form for the Under 20s recently, and has been rewarded with call-ups to the first-team under manager Mark McGhee.

    A graduate of the Steelmen’s Elite Academy, Hastie turned pro 18 months ago and has developed in to a strong, pacey attacker under the guidance of Stephen Craigan and has secured his future with the club until summer 2019.

    Jake, upon signing his new deal, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to sign the new deal, it’s been going on a while now and I hope I can go on to really progress as a player over the next few years.”

    The youngster follows in the footsteps of youngsters Ross MacLean, Jack McMillan, Chris Cadden, Allan Campbell and David Turnbull in extending his stay with the Steelmen.

    But he insists it is not just his performances which have helped him, crediting his manager Stephen Craigan for the work he has down with the under-20s.

    [pullquote]I’m absolutely delighted to sign the new deal, it’s been going on a while now and I hope I can go on to really progress as a player over the next few years.[/pullquote]

    He said: “It feels brilliant to sign the new deal – I’m over the moon with it.

    I feel like I’ve deserved it with my performances but to be honest it’s not just down to me, it’s down to Crags too.

    “His hard work, constantly working with us day in day out is paying off with a lot of us in the 20s, which I think everyone can see with the number of us getting debuts this season.”

    He added: “I just want to continue to work hard, try my best to get in to the first team and on the bench so hopefully I can get some appearances here and there.

    “Then, when my chances come, I just want to do everything I can to take them. When I came on against Celtic at Parkhead I was excited and nervous, but afterwards, and still now, it’s made me hungry to get out on the pitch as a first team player.

    “Getting the two-and-a-half year deal is good because it gives me a good spell to work hard and prove myself to the manager.

    [pullquote]It feels brilliant to sign the new deal – I’m over the moon with it.

    I feel like I’ve deserved it with my performances but to be honest it’s not just down to me, it’s down to Crags too.[/pullquote]

    “Its brilliant working under the manager and Faddy – they talk to you all the time and make sure to tell you what to work on but also let you know when you’re doing well too.”

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee said: “I’m delighted for Jake – getting a new deal is testament to his hard work and he more than deserves it.

    “I’m also delighted for the club because at just 17 years of age it is clear to see that Jake has a lot to give to Motherwell and I look forward to seeing him develop.”

    He added: “I sound like I’m repeating myself constantly when I talk about the work done here at this club through the Academy, Scott Leitch and all the coaches and Stephen Craigan too, but we are bringing through so many exciting young players.

    “It is the model we adopt here because the benefits are clear and I hope that Jake and all the other lads who have signed new deals, work their very hardest and prove to the club, the fans and to themselves, that they can step up to the potential they clearly have.”

  • Archive

    Rangers: A closer look

    Motherwell take on Rangers in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup tomorrow afternoon, as competitive football gets back underway in the first match of the year.

    For Mark McGhee’s men, the match presents a chance to extend their unbeaten run to three matches in all competitions following the 2-1 win over Inverness and the dramatic 1-1 draw with Hamilton in the final match of 2016.

    Rangers, on the other hand, stumbled a little towards the end of the year, drawing with St Johnstone before losing to Celtic in their final two matches.

    But Mark Warburton and his players will be keen to start their Scottish Cup run with a positive result tomorrow, after suffering an agonising defeat in last years final.

    David Gray’s last minute header ended Hibs 114-year wait to lift the cup but broke Rangers fans hearts in the process.

    However, that was last season, and ‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes Rangers are developing as a team with every passing match, let alone between seasons.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the manager said: “Rangers to me seem to have taken a bit of time, players that is, to come to terms with the fact that they are Rangers and they’re in the top division again and how people want to play against them.

    [pullquote]They are Rangers, they have done as well as I think they’ve been expected to do because I don’t think they should be expected to be challenging Celtic at this stage but I think they were expected to be in the mix and they are and I think, therefore, that they are on track.[/pullquote]

    “As a former Old Firm player, you know that every week is the biggest game of the season for the opposition and you’ve got to be able to handle that.

    “The big clubs have that, whether it’s in Scotland or down south at Manchester United or wherever, everybody and their granny turns up for those games, all the people that you don’t see here come out the woodwork when you’re playing Rangers and Celtic.”

    He added: “That’s a challenge for the Rangers and Celtic players and it seems to me that the Rangers players are starting to come to terms with that and starting to mature in to what is more recognisable as a Rangers team in terms of their attitude.”

    McGhee isn’t surprised to see the Glaswegian side second in the table, and added that he feels they are doing as well as should have been expected.

    He said: “They are Rangers, they have done as well as I think they’ve been expected to do because I don’t think they should be expected to be challenging Celtic at this stage but I think they were expected to be in the mix and they are and I think, therefore, that they are on track.”

    Motherwell will me missing Lee Lucas through suspension. Jacob Blyth and Kieran Kennedy will be absent through injury.

    Rangers will be without James Tavernier who is suspended while Niko Kranjcar, Joe Garner and Joe Dodoo will be absent through injury.

     

    Keith Lasley believes Motherwell head in to the Scottish Cup fourth round meeting with Rangers tomorrow in a good frame of mind.

    And with a number of successful years under his belt with the Steelmen, the skipper admitted that lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing he feels is missing from recent seasons.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the midfielder conceded it gets more and more pressing every season.

    He said: “I’m afraid it does but it’s up to us to do something about it. We’ve discussed it many times, sitting in this chair, about how good it would be for the club and for the fans.

    “We know the history of a great final in ’91 and we’ve not done so well since then – a few finals here and there that have ended in disappointment – but no, it would be good but we know we have a tough tie tomorrow.”

    Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

    As much as the captain wants to lift the cup, he knows just how much it would mean to the fans.

    He said: “The level of consistency we’ve shown in the league, it wasn’t just one season or even two, it was probably about half a dozen years of consistent and relative success in the league and European qualification.

    “There were a couple of runs in there in the cup where we probably just didn’t finish the job off which is disappointing.”

    He added: “Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

    “To bring a cup to Motherwell would be fantastic and something that would probably just drive that community spirit even more.”

    [pullquote]Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.[/pullquote]

    The Fir Parkers are ready for tomorrow’s challenge, one which is perhaps one of the toughest Motherwell could face.

    Lasley said: “Of course it’s going to be tough tomorrow, it’s probably one of the toughest draws you can get at this stage of the cup.

    “Take away Celtic and it’s probably the toughest assignment at the moment, but, we feel that we’re capable of competing against anybody and I include Celtic in that.”

    He added: “Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.

    “At one stage of the game I think we actually can look back and think we were disappointed not to win the game, let alone take nothing.

    “That gives us confidence going in to the match and the fact that we’re on the back of a couple of decent results, albeit before the break, so we go there in a good frame of mind and we’re certainly confident we can give a good account of ourselves because we’ll need to.”

     

    Rangers have slotted back in to the top flight of Scottish football seamlessly this season.

    Despite sitting 19 points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Celtic, the Glaswegian side find themselves second in the Premiership table, midway through their first season back.

    And while many won’t be surprised to see the club back around the summit of the table, it is still an impressive return to the top flight for the club after being away for four seasons.

    Under manager Mark Warburton, the Gers have not only been busy in the transfer market but they have also found themselves playing an attacking brand of football.

    New arrivals Joe Garner, Clint Hill, Joe Dodoo and Josh Windass have enjoyed good starts to their Rangers careers – and the recent arrivals of Jon Toral and Emerson Hyndman boost the Ibrox outfit further ahead of the second half of the campaign.

    And it will be a welcome boost too, with Warburton’s side somewhat stuttering towards the end of 2016, ending the year with a single point from their final two fixtures.

    A draw away to St Johnstone was followed up by a 2-1 loss at Ibrox to Celtic, leaving Rangers on 39 points after 21 matches.

    Kenny Miller gave his side the lead in the Hogmanay clash, tapping in from close range to send the Ibrox crowd in to an early frenzy.

    But a thunderous effort from Moussa Dembele after half an hour drew the visitors level before Scott Sinclair’s tap in with 20 minutes remaining secured the win for Brendan

    Rodgers side and left Rangers with a long wait before returning to competitive action tomorrow afternoon.

    Both Motherwell and Rangers will have been working hard over the winter break to get back to match fitness, and with two matches against one another coming up in quick succession, the two sides will be well prepared after a few weeks off.

    Rangers are recently back from a trip to Germany, where they lost 4-0 against RB Leipzig while the Steelmen have been preparing hard in training for tomorrow’s fourth round fixture.

    Mark Warburton’s men will feel a sense of unfinished business with the Scottish Cup this season, following their 3-2 loss against Hibs in the final back in May.

    Trailing 2-1 with just over ten minutes remaining, the Edinburgh side managed to grab an equaliser through Anthony Stokes and eventually won the match in dramatic fashion when David Gray headed home to snatch a 3-2 lead in the 92nd minute.

    The manner in which Rangers lost the final will undoubtedly have left a bitter taste in the loyal supporters mouths, but it does not take away from the impressive 2015/16 season they had.

    Storming to the Championship title, lifting the Challenge Cup and finishing runners up in the Scottish Cup was a terrific first season for the newly appointed Warburton and his assistant David Weir.

    This season, while the league is starting to slide ever more in to Celtic’s grasp, Rangers will be keen to keep the gap between their rivals down, but in Motherwell they know they will face tough opposition tomorrow.

    The winter break is over, the Scottish Cup is ready to get going again and Ibrox awaits for the Steelmen.

  • Archive

    Lasley: Past matches give us confidence

    Keith Lasley believes Motherwell head in to the Scottish Cup fourth round meeting with Rangers tomorrow in a good frame of mind.

    And with a number of successful years under his belt with the Steelmen, the skipper admitted that lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing he feels is missing from recent seasons.

    Speaking to the press this morning, the midfielder conceded it gets more and more pressing every season.

    He said: “I’m afraid it does but it’s up to us to do something about it. We’ve discussed it many times, sitting in this chair, about how good it would be for the club and for the fans.

    “We know the history of a great final in ’91 and we’ve not done so well since then – a few finals here and there that have ended in disappointment – but no, it would be good but we know we have a tough tie tomorrow.”

    [pullquote]Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.[/pullquote]

    As much as the captain wants to lift the cup, he knows just how much it would mean to the fans.

    He said: “The level of consistency we’ve shown in the league, it wasn’t just one season or even two, it was probably about half a dozen years of consistent and relative success in the league and European qualification.

    “There were a couple of runs in there in the cup where we probably just didn’t finish the job off which is disappointing.”

    He added: “Lifting the Scottish Cup is the one thing that is probably missing in recent seasons and everybody around this club would love to do that for the fans and for the community as a whole especially with everything we’re trying to build at this club in terms of the community being involved in it.

    “To bring a cup to Motherwell would be fantastic and something that would probably just drive that community spirit even more.”

    [pullquote]Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.[/pullquote]

    The Fir Parkers are ready for tomorrow’s challenge, one which is perhaps one of the toughest Motherwell could face.

    Lasley said: “Of course it’s going to be tough tomorrow, it’s probably one of the toughest draws you can get at this stage of the cup.

    “Take away Celtic and it’s probably the toughest assignment at the moment, but, we feel that we’re capable of competing against anybody and I include Celtic in that.”

    He added: “Our last couple of performances against both sides of the Old Firm have been really positive and anybody who was at our last meeting with Rangers at Ibrox would concede that we were unfortunate to not taking anything from the game.

    “At one stage of the game I think we actually can look back and think we were disappointed not to win the game, let alone take nothing.

    “That gives us confidence going in to the match and the fact that we’re on the back of a couple of decent results, albeit before the break, so we go there in a good frame of mind and we’re certainly confident we can give a good account of ourselves because we’ll need to.”

  • Archive

    McGhee: Fantastic clash awaits

    ‘Well boss Mark McGhee believes that tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers is a “fantastic” match to start 2017.

    The manager spoke to the press ahead of the fourth round fixture at Ibrox this weekend and insists his side have been re-energised by the winter break.

    McGhee said: “We’ll see tomorrow how beneficial it’s been but certainly I think it’s allowed people, even someone like McHugh who came back for those last two games, a little bit of time to decompress and get ready again for the rest of the season.

    “The likes of Lasley, McDonald and McManus, who had been carrying injuries, had the time to fully recover too, so this time round I think it’s been a good thing for us.”

    He added: “It’s a fantastic game to come back for. You can bleat all you like about the luck of the draw and all that but at the end of the day you’re in the cup and you’re in the cup to play and try to get to a final, and somewhere along the line you’re going to have to play the best teams it happens to be that we’re playing them right at the start.

    [pullquote]It’s a fantastic game to come back for. You can bleat all you like about the luck of the draw and all that but at the end of the day you’re in the cup and you’re in the cup to play and try to get to a final, and somewhere along the line you’re going to have to play the best teams.[/pullquote]

    “I just think we have to embrace it – Ibrox is a great, great place to go and play, it’s a difficult place to go and I’ve always found that it’s a challenging place to go and play but it is equally a great place so there’s all the making of a great cup tie.

    “Both games were close when we’ve played them and our form going in to the break was decent.

    “I feel like we’re in as good shape as we have been at any stage this season so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play well.”

    When asked about Mark Warburton’s side, McGhee admitted that he feels they are becoming more and more recognisable as a true Rangers team.

    He said: “Rangers to me seem to have taken a bit of time, players that is, to come to terms with the fact that they are Rangers and they’re in the top division again and how people want to play against them.

    [pullquote]Both games were close when we’ve played them and our form going in to the break was decent. I feel like we’re in as good shape as we have been at any stage this season so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t play well.[/pullquote]

    “As a former Old Firm player, you know that every week is the biggest game of the season for the opposition and you’ve got to be able to handle that.

    “The big clubs have that, whether it’s in Scotland or down south at Manchester United or wherever, everybody and their granny turns up for those games, all the people that you don’t see here come out the woodwork when you’re playing Rangers and Celtic.”

    He added: “That’s a challenge for the Rangers and Celtic players and it seems to me that the Rangers players are starting to come to terms with that and starting to mature in to what is more recognisable as a Rangers team in terms of their attitude.

    McGhee isn’t surprised to see the Glaswegian side second in the table, and added that he feels they are doing as well as should have been expected.

    He said: “They are Rangers, they have done as well as I think they’ve been expected to do because I don’t think they should be expected to be challenging Celtic at this stage but I think they were expected to be in the mix and they are and I think, therefore, that they are on track.”

  • Archive

    Get your Scottish Cup tickets now

    Tickets for the William Hill Scottish Cup 4th Round clash with Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday 21st January are on general sale now.

    And you can get yours from the Fir Park ticket office, which is open late tonight until 7pm (Thursday 19th), usual hours of 9:15am – 3:30pm on Friday, and you still have time on Saturday morning too, when the ticket office will be open from 9am – 11am before kick-off at 12:30pm.

    The Steelmen have been allocated just short of 2,000 tickets for the game and are priced as follows:

    ADULTS:    £20 
    CONCESSIONS:                            £15
    UNDER 16s:                           £7

    * Concessions are listed as Over 65s and 16 and 17 year olds.

  • Archive

    Hospitality sold out

    Motherwell FC can confirm that all hospitality for the upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership match against Rangers at Fir Park is now sold out.

    The Ibrox outfit visit Lanarkshire for the first league match of 2017, and Mark McGhee’s side will be keen to keep up their impressive form prior to the winter break.

    Match tickets are still available to purchase from the Fir Park ticket office, which will be late tonight (Thursday) until 7pm.

    And for those who missed out on hospitality for next Saturday’s match, don’t miss out for the ‘Well’s next home match against Hearts on Saturday 4th February.

    To book hospitality, or for more details on our hospitality packages, please contact: hospitality@motherwellfc.co.uk

  • Archive

    Cadden: Excited for Saturday

    ‘Well midfielder Chris Cadden revealed his excitement ahead of this Saturday’s Scottish Cup clash with Rangers.

    The youngster was at Hampden Park this afternoon at the launch of the new EA Sports FIFA 17 Game Zone, which saw Cadden go head-to-head with Rangers forward Barrie McKay in a simulated version of this weekend’s big match.

    And it has got Cadden excited to make the trip to Ibrox on Saturday.

    [pullquote]The last two times we’ve faced Rangers I think we’ve played well, especially away, so that will give us a lot of confidence. We’ll go in to the game and try our very best to get a result.[/pullquote]

    Speaking to MFC TV, the midfielder said: “Any break from the season, if it’s the winter break or summer break, seems like a good idea but then you get to the Tuesday and you’re bored of it and it’s hard sitting around the house – but no I’m really looking forward to Saturday.”

    He added: “The last two times we’ve faced Rangers I think we’ve played well, especially away, so that will give us a lot of confidence.

    “We’ll go in to the game and try our very best to get a result.”

    The 20-year-old admitted that the atmosphere at Ibrox will play a big part at the weekend.

    [pullquote]It’s always going to be a tough place to go with about 50,000 people there but I think you can try and use that to your advantage if you get off to a good start and the crowd get on their back.[/pullquote]

    He said: “It’s always going to be a tough place to go with about 50,000 people there but I think you can try and use that to your advantage if you get off to a good start and the crowd get on their back.”

    Facing off against Barrie McKay on FIFA 17, the ‘Well star drew 0-0 and won 4-3 on penalties.

    The midfielder joked: “We won on penalties and I think we were the better team so we probably deserved it.”