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It was a case of ‘what if’ last week against St Mirren for Motherwell, when the failed to add the finishing touch to an impressive display and with a trip to Ibrox looming, Stuart Kettlewell’s team had to add quality in the final third. 

A bright start in Govan for the ‘Well would fill the near 400 travelling supporters with optimism, with Harry Paton and Callum Slattery each going close.

Brodie Spencer was an ever continuous threat but despite the good start, it was the hosts who take the lead through a very fortunate Cyriel Dessers deflection.

Motherwell would continue to create time after time as Oli Shaw was presented with the best chance of the game in the second half as he was put through 1v1 with Jack Butland.

Blair Spittal seen two efforts cleared off the line as the Steelmen went back to Lanarkshire quizzing themselves how they haven’t scored or recored a point in the last two outings.

Despite being arguably the better team in the match, Motherwell came away with nothing from Ibrox on Sunday afternoon, with Robbi Matondo’s deflected effort off of Cyriel Dessers deciding the match. 

Paul McGinn returned to the side, while Conor Wilkinson made the bench, having recovered from injury.

Harry Paton was the first to go close after just five minutes, he worked the space on the edge of the box before striking the ball just past Jack Butland’s post.

Blair Spittal’s delivery from a free kick was good and Sam Lammers could only header the ball back into the danger area where Bevis Mugabi looked like he would get on the end of it. However, Conor Goldson hooked the ball over the bar before the Ugandan could get a touch.

Paton and Callum Slattery linked well before the latter drove into the box and slid the ball wide on 16 minutes.

Despite a promising start, Motherwell fell behind on 24 minutes. Matondo struck towards goal and his effort came off of Dessers in the area to wrong foot Liam Kelly in the goal and the ball drifted into the net. 1-0.

As the half drew to a close, there was another opening for the visitors. Spittal crossed the ball into the box with Theo Bair flicking on behind him, wing back Brodie Spencer came rushing in however he couldn’t get a connection with the ball in the area.

Just before the hour mark and with the score still 1-0, Kelly came rushing out of his net and wiped out Dessers in the box with the Ibrox crowd pleading for a penalty. Fortunately for the Motherwell captain, the linesman had his flag up to save his blushes.

With Rangers creating a couple of openings that were dealt with by the Motherwell backline, the game was nearing it’s conclusion and Motherwell had a flurry of chances to equalise.

Spittal seen his low effort cleared off the line by James Tavenier, with Oli Shaw also being presented with a golden chance. The ball was fed through by Bair for the substitute but his effort was saved by Butland.

Georgie Gent set Spittal up right at the death but once again, the midfielder seen his effort cleared off the line by Goldson before the flag went up for offside.

Stuart Kettlewell reacts to the defeat to Rangers.

• Players deserved to get more out of the game

• Operating at a good level

• A bitter pill to swallow

Manager Stuart Kettlewell was full of praise for Sunday’s opponents Rangers, having watched them overcome Real Betis in the Europa League on Thursday night. 

Kettlewell has reinforced the message that matches against the old firm are not Motherwell’s fight however, that doesn’t mean they will lie down and not show fight and spirit.

Stephen O’Donnell discusses his recent return to regular action and how much he has benefitted under Stuart Kettlewell.

Once a Scotland national team regular, O’Donnell says the manager’s detail and thoroughness towards his work ensures there is clear clarity when he steps onto the pitch.

With one of the most difficult matches of the season on Sunday, a trip to Ibrox, O’Donnell knows the challenge that awaits and says if Rangers are even the slightest bit off of their top form, that the Steelmen need to make the most of it.

It’s the most important time of the year for a professional football player, as they find out their ratings on the new EAFC game.

From finding out who is the fastest to who is the highest rated in the squad, the Motherwell players are shown their newest cards for the year.

Motherwell take on Rangers this Sunday at Ibrox. 

Kick off is 3pm.

How to follow the game

Ambulant supporters pay the age-appropriate price with carer free of charge. All wheelchair and ambulant supporters should contact the ticket office to purchase.

Tickets are on sale from the ticket office and online.

We have been sent physical tickets so no there will be no e-tickets available for this match, postage and collection from the Fir Park ticket office only. Postage will be available until Wednesday 20th September.

There will be no ticket sales at Ibrox. The Fir Park ticket office will be open from 10am to 12pm Sunday morning.

Tickets can be purchased online.

If you are outside the UK, you can watch the game via Motherwell TV.

Should you be in the UK, it will be live commentary only.

Kit Watch

We will be wearing our home kit for this match.

Team News

Jon Obika, Calum Butcher and Mika Biereth all remain missing for this match.

Conor Wilkinson and Pape Souare are doubts. Paul McGinn returns from suspension.

Motherwell Fortunes

Despite a defeat in their last match against St Mirren, Motherwell have started brightly in this cinch Premiership campaign.

A second-half Scott Tanser volley was enough to ensure the three points went to St Mirren, however it was Motherwell who had all the chances and showed ample creativity throughout the 90.

It was the Steelmen’s first loss in the league this season and only Stuart Kettlewell’s fourth as Motherwell manager.

Last time out against Rangers, Stuart Kettlewell suffered his first defeat as Motherwell manager, when Rangers won the match 4-2. Kevin van Veen opened the scoring in the first three minutes of the match, before Bevis Mugabi drew the sides level in the second half.

Fashion Sakala scored in controversial fashion in the second half before Callum Slattery seen red for a supposed elbow on Todd Cantwell.

Opposition Report

Rangers got off to the worst possible start in the league this season, losing 1-0 to Kilmarnock on the opening weekend at Rugby Park.

Since then, the Gers have won five, drew two and lost in all competitions. They have dropped into the Europa League group-stage, where they begin their campaign at home to Spanish side Real Betis on Thursday night.

In their last outing in the league, Rangers beat St Johnstone 2-0 on the road, with Danilo and Robbi Matondo scoring, with the former picking up a head injury in the process.

With plenty new faces at Rangers this season, it has been a familiar one who has made a bright start to the season. James Tavenier is on four goals and one assist already this season. A revived Matondo will also be looking to add to his tally this season, with the Welshman on two goals and an assist in seven games.

With the September international break over, Motherwell returned to action at Fir Park. 

St Mirren made the trip through from Paisley, with the Steelmen looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat to St Mirren last month in the Viaplay Cup.

With both teams undefeated so far in the cinch Premiership, Motherwell continued where they left off prior to the break. With a continual stream of chances presenting themselves to the home side, nobody could find the breakthrough in the first half.

Those missed chances would cost Motherwell when Scott Tanser netted the opener after the interval, against the run of play.

The chances would keep coming for Motherwell with Theo Bair, Bevis Mugabi, Callum Slattery, Blair Spittal and Oli Shaw all having the opportunity to score, but nobody could.

A performance that warranted a win, Motherwell’s afternoon would be summed when substitute and debutant Georgie Gent rattled the bar with a half volley in stoppage time to somehow prevent Motherwell from getting on the scoresheet.

Stuart Kettlewell discusses today’s loss against St Mirren.

• The best we’ve played since February

• A draw would have been disappointing

• Avoiding this becoming a habit

Motherwell’s hopes of extending their fabulous unbeaten run to 11 games were ended as a rather fortunate St Mirren took all three points back to Paisley.

In a battle for second place, Stephen Robinson’s men survived a first half which the Fir Park dominated in terms of chances, before snatching the lead through Scott Tanser nine minutes after the interval.

Despite the Steelmen producing the bulk of the chances, they couldn’t find the killer touch in front of goal that would have earned them a point their efforts richly deserved.

Following some injury concerns to key players Stuart Kettlewell made only one change from the side which won at Tynecastle a fortnight ago, Shane Blaney replacing the suspended Paul McGinn.

With both sides boasting an unbeaten league record a tight contest was envisaged.

The Fir Park set the tone for the first half closing down Saints and pressing them deep into their own half.

And with Theo Bair warming to his role as target man, the Canadian’s touches released Blair Spittal and Callum Slattery on either channel.

Repeatedly the pair got in behind the Paisley side’s back three and a better final ball would have punished the visitors.

After 15 minutes Slattery’s deep cross was headed back by Spittal for the waiting Harry Paton but his firm strike on goal was blocked by Marcus Fraser with loud appeals for handball.

That move was repeated a couple of minutes later when Bair released Slattery on the right and his high cross found Spittal but from a tight angle he could only direct the ball straight at the Zach Hemmings.

A quick exchange at the edge of the box ended with Paton being blocked by Fraser. Spittal’s free kick was powerful but again straight at the waiting ‘keeper.

The ‘Well midfielder had another chance to test Hemmings following a fine pass from Lennon Miller but the Saints’ ‘keeper was well positioned too comfortably hold Spittal’s curing shot.

At this stage Liam Kelly was largely deployed as an additional defender sending searching passes deep into the visitors’ half.

The ‘Well ‘keeper was untroubled when Saints only chance of the half arrived after 30 minutes when his former team mate Mark O’Hara curled the ball high over the bar from 25 yards.

‘Well’s best chance came a minute later. A surging run from Stephen O’Donnell allowed Miller to thread a ball into Bair’s path. After advancing towards goal the striker dragged the ball beyond the advancing ‘keeper and a few inches beyond his far post.

There was still time before the interval for Bair to find Slattery who cut inside before presenting Spittal with a shooting opportunity only for his drive to be blocked.

Within a minute of the restart it was Spittal who was first to test Hemmings from 20 yards but again the Saints’ ‘keeper held firm.

A patient build up after 52 finished with Paton slashing the ball wide of target but ‘Well’s pressure a seemed likely to earn them the opening goal.

When the goal arrived, though, it was at the other end as Saints took the lead largely against the run of play.

Ryann Strain’s deep cross found Tanser lurking at the back of the six-yard area and his first time volley sent the ball racing past Kelly and into the far corner of the net.

That gave the Paisley Buddies in the Tommy McLean stand the chance to get on their feet for the first time.

They were almost silenced in the 63rd minute when Slattery’s curling free kick was sneaking inside Hemming’s left hand post until the ‘keeper at full stretch pushed the ball the behind.

As the Steelmen pushed for the equaliser Saints had chances to double their lead.

But it was the home side and Bair who passed up two chances to level. Firstly, the striker’s turn and shot from 15 yards was deflected behind. From the resultant corner Dan Casey nodded the ball down but Bair, from three yards out, could only nudge the ball to Hemmings.

That was his last opportunity as he was replaced by Oli Shaw after 78 minutes.

And within a minute the former Ross County man had an ideal chance to make it a dream home debut. But after Paton’s pass found him unmarked on the left of the penalty area, Shaw tamely side footed the ball to the waiting Hemmings.

Georgie Gent came on for his debut and his first contribution was whipping in a cross from the left which Shaw met but could only guide his header high towards goal allowing the ‘keeper to make yet another routine save.

In the final minute of regulation time, the on loan Blackburn Rover’s youngster was within inches of making it a dream debut.

His inswinging corner was only cleared as far as Paton. And when he lofted the ball back into the box it gave Gent an opening, only to watch his stunning left foot drive rebound from the underside of the crossbar and keep the Saints’ goal intact and leave the Paisley side with three points they scarcely deserved.