Motherwell Vs Rangers BBC Radio

Motherwell and rangers opening match of the Scottish Premiership campaign, held at Fir Park. Motherwell will be looking to improve on last term’s eighth-place finish, while the Gers will hope to at least close the gap on rivals Celtic after finishing 17 points behind them in second place last season

Big big crowd at third part. The teams are out. Time to get to our commentary team. It’s Mwell against Rangers with Steven Craig and Derek Ferguson and Liam Mloud. It’s a fabulous day here in Motherwell. Fur Park filling up here for the opening league fixture of the season for these two. And it is a fixture at Fur Park that mother will have toiled in over the last couple of decades. They’ve got a better record against Rangers at Ibro recently than they do here, having gone 27 years without a win over them in Govern. They’ve won in their last couple of seasons at Ibro, including the most recent meeting between them at the start of March during Rangers record-breaking run of games without a home win. Armstrong and Sparrow to model two nil up. Deser scored what proved to be a consolation in the second half. was Wells second league winner I box in three visits. Of course they did win in the playoffs in both legs just over a decade ago. It’s a fabulous day for it. Will the players put on a show as two former teammates go head-to-head in the dugouts? and Russell Martin and Yinsberto Ascu were once upon a time at Norwich City together and the teams they’ve sent out today. Motherwell Ward in goal. Katrus, Longo, Gordon, McKinn the captain, just Slatterie. Fading and Watt. Rasamatalopolis. Rangers with Butland in goal. Tavern Jaser. Aaron’s Rascin Rothwell Diamande. Da Gama on his first start and Denilo leads the line as he did against Panathan Aikos in the two legs of their Champions League second qualifying round tie. Rangers are going to kick off all in blue with white flashes. White’s at the top of the socks going right to left towards the Davy Cooper stand. A man who enthralled both sets of supporters of these two clubs. Once in the blue, once in the clarit number as mother this afternoon as they shoot south, left to right. And the first kick of the ball is Joel Rothell knocking it back to who finds Taverner in his 11th season now at the club. His long ball forwards headed clear and into the center circle, but it’s picked up by Slatterie in good goalcoring form towards the end of last season. back on it here. Driving towards the edge of the Rangers box, slipped in behind Tavern and pulled back and almost fell into a wonderful area for Stamatopoulos. Rangers clear out for a throw in over on the far side in front of the East Stanza. A rapid start by Motherwell Steven Craig and I think it’ll do them a world of good lane. I think until you experience this fixture, the atmosphere, the tempo of the game and get a feel for the ball, you don’t really know what to expect. So, a nice positive start. They’ve completed a couple of passes that should give them some confidence. Quite surprised, Liam. You know that the ball gets to Tavanir. You know, you think you just keep possession early doors, but gives it away cheaply. Slack in the back for Mother and Denilo’s onto it and he’s got Gama to his left. That’s where it goes. Little chip ball in. Diamande attacks. It goes down. No foul and Mother can come away with it. But Slattery out to this near side. So both teams having forward. I think Stamatopoulos will be offside. Here he is down the right side. Flags up. Free kick to Ranger. Both teams having a little pop at each other in these early salvos at Far Park and it’s going to be a Rangers free kick which Arens will take on the near side. They’re both coming into this in good form. Steven Motherwell despite an inospicious start against Clyde in the League Cup group. They won their other three. They went through. They’ll face St. Johnston in the second round. And Rangers obviously fresh off such a positive outcome against Panathanos. Yeah. Well, both sides playing against completely different opposition. You know, when you think of Champions League qualifiers and you think about the Premier Sports Cup, there’s a huge difference there, Lane. But the fact that you said Mother four games unbeaten, it just gives you that little bit of confidence, that feelgood factor. But there’s the one risk that worries me. Elliot Wat midfield. He continually gets caught on the ball facing his own goal. He can’t continually do that. He done it in the Sports Cup and he got punished. Sorry, he didn’t get punished. He’ll get punished here if he does it continually. be a throw into Rangers deep inside their own half over on that far side which Tavernir will take. He’s a bit level with his own 18 yd line. No goals in the early exchanges here and he’s bowled it short to Rothwell but he’s passed it straight out of the park. Mother will have a throw in and now they’re going to be level with the Rangers penalty spot. Sloppy. It’s poor from Rangers early on in the game. Tavanir again yet again giving the ball away. Then it’s a simple throw to Roville. Should be a simple pass back but just puts it right out the park. So strangely look a little bit nervous at the moment. Rangers Slatter in the far side. The cross ball’s going to come in here. It was looped into the area, but it’s cleared. It’s nodded towards the penalty spot. Sutter wins it. The header forward for Motherwell as they try and make something work, but Masvini can’t get on to it. In fact, Aaron’s goes down. There’s a flag as well, so it will be a Rangers free kick inside their own penalty area. You surprised Derek? He hasn’t made more changes to the starting 11 given the exertions in the heat in Greece on Wednesday evening. Uh not so much in the middle of the park. I think Rask and Diamande uh you know they can handle those sorts of games you know and the quick turnover. Little bit disappointed in terms of uh young Curtis in the side. Yeah seems to like D. Uh maybe it’s because of maybe his defensive duties does it a little bit better but that’s the only disappointing thing for me. And again, M you know, Mikey Mes have been a lot of made of it, but there’s a lot bit of paperwork because he’s under 18 to get through. So that’s I was actually coming here thinking he’d be involved in some way. Yeah, that hasn’t, as Derek says, hasn’t come through in time. There’s no Lennon Miller for Motherwell either. He’s not in the squad. They’d hoped he would be. Sama doing well to dig himself out of trouble deep inside his own half. back into his own box and knocks it to his right for Tavernir out to the far side touch line for Diamande to Taverner who gives it away but it breaks Diamand’s way and he shifts it into the center circle for Denilo then rolls it out to Gasama wide in the left an impression he made in Europe and he’s cutting inside he goes down right in front of the referee Steven Mlan and he penalizes the mable defender and that’s going to be a free kick to Rangers and this is in a decent area it was Finger’s challenge and this is going to be an opportunity to about level with the edge of the D of the motherboard box left the center nil nil here four and a half in it’s a great opportunity for Rangers for Dinga there just coming back it’s you know a little bit lazy for me you know he tries to get him back but just lazily his arm or his foot but any you know it’s Tavanir he’s had a poor start to the game he’s gave the ball already away two or three times but this is he’s a specialist from this type of range so at least try and work the keeper or even better. Stick it in the back of the net. He got away with one, didn’t he? The other night when he was uh pickpocketed just at the edge of his own box. Came to nothing ultimately and it is Taer who stands over this free kick. Kieran Dow is there too. You would think it would favor the right footer if it’s going to be a shot at goal. It is relatively wide. It is Tavern. He does go for goal and it’s tipped over for a corner by Callum Ward. Nil nil is the first bit of action for either of the goalkeepers here. I think it was comfortable for him, wasn’t it? But Liam, that comes from what I spoke about ahead of the game that when Mother will attack, fullbacks are high, midfield are high. When the ball turns over, ranges have a running power and the pace to catch him on the counterattack. Mother was scrambling back and that’s why I think it was Jon Troubas possibly that had to give away the free kick. They can’t do that continually either. Do not think Ward could have caught that. Corner will be taken by Rothell in this near side. Right footed, floats it towards the penalty spot. Raskin meets it with a head but it’s well over the crossbar and it will be a mother goal kick. So that all comes to nothing for Rangers and Ward takes the goal kick very quickly there just shifting it out to that left hand side where Paul McInn gets on to it and then it’s shifted back to the keeper. goes long with the right foot out to this near side and it’s taken down by Katrumbus. He rolls it into Slatterie along the halfway line for Finger in his own half and back to McInn. McInn will play it back to Fading and then the long ball forward by Liam Gordon’s cut out. Now he goes for a throwing off a Rangers player for a another ball. Katrun mistakes pulled it into the Rangers half. Little cushion headed out to Slatterie on this near side. Back to Finger who turns it back the way to Gordon. Was back to his keeper doing mother no harm at all to just get a feel of it. Get a feel of the ball. Knock it around. It’s over on the far side where it’s picked up by McIn who goes back to Ward again. They’re not hurting Rangers with his possession, Steven, but it can be important to build yourself into the game just by getting a feel of it. It is lame. But this is the hardest bit then is trying to find that piercing pass either into striker’s feet or into the channel. Rangers are working ever so hard. They’re making mother pass the ball. They eventually take a risk, set traps and then try and nick it. It’s collected on this near side. Fading trying to hold off Rasin turns it out to the right wing area from Aspen. Knocks it off an opponent and Aaron some mother will throw in level over the edge of the D. The Rangers box on the main stand side. It will be Katrumis over it. Pulls it infield. And what can they make of this mother? Well, it’s been given away by Watt trying desperately to win it back. It’s flicked forward there into the Rangers penalty area by just, but it’s away by Butland. High ball into the mother half. Gordon nods it forward. It’s going to break to the feet of Rasin though. Plays it back to Sutter. Then out to Arens on this near side just shimmying away from Masui and going back to who finds Tavern. 8 minutes in Manible Neil Rangers nil. Remember already in the premiership just the 1 3:00 kickoff it was two each between Karnuk and Livingston. Killy paying the price having been two up for the red card for George Stanger. Livingston hitting back late equalizer to get a point in the opening day on their return to the top flight. And his jig for Rangers he finds suit. He goes back to Butland. Butland short ball for Rothel. A tidy little flick there. It was a risky ball out by Butland. Rothwell did so well. Now it’s Tavern here playing that more inverted position that his manager wants him to play in. Now it’s with Rashkin up to the edge of the box. Denilo back for Gama who fires first time and it’s wide to the right hand post. Low effort on the the side foot there. And you did fear given the impact Gama has made in the two games against Panathan Aikos. He feared for Motherwell on that occasion, he’s obviously just going to shoot whenever he gets the opportunity, but he’s maybe just a foot wide of that right hand post this time. And it stays mother Rangers nail. Yeah, Liam doesn’t go for power, you know. He’s just trying to stroke it into that bottom left hand corner. Uh he was never going to go for the power. Just going for placement. I tell you what, you you’re quite kind to Rodo there. you know, a lovely little if like I thought you get really fortunate. Uh again, it shows you the press from from mother. Uh and he was under a little bit of pressure. I don’t think he actually meant that, but Rangers took advantage of it. Got themselves up the park and and that’s what Gazama’s got in his locker, hasn’t he? You know, he’s already scored a couple of crackers, you know, so he’s got it in the locker. It’s a lovely ball down the right hand side for Motherwell. And it comes in from the right flank and it’s back into the gloves of Butland off his own player, Fabulous play actually down the right by Johnny Katroumbus Stevens. Really good ball in. It’s into that area where Jica had to deal with it. Well, Johnny Katrum was a player lame. It didn’t see an awful lot off last year. He had a couple of injuries. He couldn’t get into the side. Then when he came in, he get himself set off at Dundee. But the managers liked him. He got great energy. Loves getting forward. I think we’re now starting to see the best off him. But I have to say it’s been a great game to watch. A couple of individual errors, the tempo of the game, the speed of the game, the players want to take part in it. A really good spectacle so far. It was just eight appearances for Katrumbis last season and he’d previously been in his homeland of Australia with Perth Glory and in the air league in Australia he played almost 150 games so he’ll be hoping for a run in the motherball team this seasons collects on the near side goes back to Sutter he finds Arens he’s given it away now and Maswani is all over him Slatterie shifts it out to this near side for Stamatalopoulos tried to return the favor for Slatterie gives it straight to though wins it back for Rangers and Gasama knocks it infield to Raskin and he’s able to nick it back to Taverner back to Rasin to the right there for Diamande who goes across halfway double to his right instead he cuts infield and squares it for Joe Rothell Rothell out to Arens on the left forward to Gasama to Rasin back to Gasama lovely play by Rangers Gasama’s in the box at the by line pulls it back when it’s cut out it was really promising from the visitors on this occasion and he was cut out by Elliot W and he was in the right place to deal with it. Now it’s back with Ward the mother keeper who clears first time. Long high ball up to halfway and on to it under pressure from Stamatopoulos. He finds Sutter who then finds Erons. That was a brilliant little give and go from Gazama you know just playing into Rask and then he’s on his bike down this left hand side. Katrumbus is he’s caught ball watching but I just think when you’re in that position just fire across the sixyd box you know anything can happen off a defender but he’s looking for the cut back didn’t come off from Gasama down the left for Rasin he’s done well he’s holding off Finger gets his cross in but it’s into the gloves of Ward who holds on in a sixyd line but and it’s early days obviously but I think Rangers look like they may be on to a real match winner in Gama it’s Denilo on the ball here for them he goes for goal. It clips the bar. Fabulous ingenuity from Denilo as he reversed it back towards the left hand top corner and just clips off Ward’s bar and over for a goal kick and it stays mother will nail Rangers nil in 12 minutes. I’m talking about Gama potentially being a match winner. Danilo it’s a huge season for him. He needs to make an impression. There’s no doubt. That was a really good effort there. It was more than a good effort. Uh Liam, it was it was it was a little bit of class. you know, he’s he’s what he’s 20 yards from goal. Uh he’s shaping as if he’s maybe going to play a pass and he’ll maybe curl it to that left hand side. Just reverses it, shows the keeper the eyes. And I tell you what, again, like Gazama Prie doesn’t go for the power, just trying to clip into that top right hand corner and just comes off the top of the bar. Well, Derek was talking, Motherwell playing it short from the back. It was Paul McIn, wasn’t it, who panically just outside the sixyd box has dked it straight across his goal and behind for a corner. How costly is that going to be? That’s the risk. We spoke about lame. That that’s what the manager wants. He can’t criticize the player. That’s how the manager wants him to play. 13 in. And here come Rangers again with the corner. Rothwell’s a free header. There’s a goal and it’s Tavern. Six yds out. The header down directly from Rothwell’s corner. And Rangers premiership season is off to a positive start here. Rothewell with a delivery. Tavern in his 11th season at the club. nodded the ball down into the net. Ward couldn’t keep it out and it is mother well nil Rangers one and I tell you what not get an easier goal Roville with that that corner kick to the back post area it’s a clutch of players there but Tavanir you know nobody no contact nothing and he’s only what six seven yards out just nods it down simple as into the back of the net it’s been a cracking game of football but uh I think mother will be kicking themselves you know defensively that should not happen but uh Rangers will take it every day of the week it’s all come from the the error You asked a question how costly would it be? There you go. Yeah. And that’s on the manager, you know. Yeah. That’s one of my fears of this kind of way of playing every single time lane is are the players good enough? Are they good enough to execute it? Masi for mother will out to slatter right hand side of the box. It’s a dreadful delivery over the bar and that will be a goal kick. His mother will look for an immediate repost there but they are still reeling from James Tabern’s goal. But leave mass about decision making for a play. there is a style, a way of playing, but when you know as a player when you’re out there, if it’s not on, you’re not going to play it. But, uh, so that that’s where I would be having a conversation with the manager. Yeah, I get if it’s on, can you play that ball? Absolutely. But if it’s not on, you just don’t go you don’t go there. You don’t you don’t make that decision. And it’s already cost them. Here come Rangers again. Denilo pushing it out to Rasin. left hand side of the mudable box cuts in in his right foot and the challenge comes from Fadingar and Rasin are judged to have fouled the Austrian at the edge of the Mullable box. That’s a free kick to the hosts. I mean there’s a certain degree of naivity about the way that teams play if they’re coming up and we saw we saw Rangers they did it against Panathan Iikos in both legs. If you’re coming up against a stronger team, arguably I know Rangers got through the tie, but it was a a good Panathan Icos team and they rode their luck at times, but there’s there’s a surely you’ve got to try and place. Yeah. Like there there must be some kind of compensatory way you can go about it. I mean, you don’t want to describe as a dinosaur because playing out is absolutely fine, but not in every single occasion, particularly when it’s not on and taking needless risks and putting your team under pressure. I think you have to be flexible. Don’t be one-dimensional. be predictable for the opposition. Mix your game up a little bit. That’s my only query about it. Yeah. And and if it’s that 10 yard pass, if it’s not on, just go a little bit longer. It’s not a lump up the part. And that’s where the guys on the part have got to be switched on. You see your teammate in a little bit of trouble. How can I help him come off at the angle? Go and go a little bit deeper and help him out. At the end of the day, they still had the opportunity to defend the corner and they failed miserably with that as Rangers sweep up at the back of the suitor. Back to his goalkeeper. He didn’t score as many goals last season. James Taverner really small tally actually by his high standards, but that is his 131st goal in Rangers colors. I don’t think he’s uh particularly had a a good start to the game as well. You know, he’s gave the ball away uh a few times. Here we go. Got the back two clar Amber jerseys around him, but he’s found Tavern who gets it to Rothwell. Gets it back immediately forward to Rasin. first time back to Sutter. So Rangers with a lead here at Far Park. They had to settle for a goalless draw in the opening day last season when they went to Time Castle. Of course, as long as Celtic win the league, Rangers will be away from home in the opening day of the Premiership season. Flatting on the slide goes back to Gordon and then moves it to the left for McInn. We wait to see what kind of reaction the Motherwell supporters will get from their team, but they’ve given it away in the far side. Denilo picks it up inside the box, plays it off Gordon, and behind it goes for another Rangers corner. And Motherwall did not deal with the last one. I think a lot of the attacks for both teams is coming because the opposition are getting caught in the ball. They’re indecisive. They’re giving the ball away cheaply. Motherwell’s best attacks have come from turnover balls from Rangers. And Rangers best attacks has been from picking the pocket of Motherwell players. So that’s what I said it would boil down to. Who can make the minimal amount of errors in possession of the ball closest to their box and that’s why Rangers are leading. Outswinging corner from Rothwell this time over on the far side in the northeast corner of the stadium. It’s a poor one and it’s cleared by out that far side by Longo, but the flag’s gone up. sure what on earth went on there, but anyway, it’s a mable ball. Uh really dreadful delivery from Rothell having just teed up Taverner from his previous corner. I think that’s something they might have worked on, you know, because they’re used to going deep to that back post there. You just saw Denilo just making a little sprint towards that front post. I think he went a little bit too early. Uh I think it was he was offside, but I think that was something was worked on. Longo fouled by Dao over on that far side midway inside the mother half. Did you see Paul McIn’s choice lame there? He was in the exact same area of the pitch to give the ball away for the corner and he played it was left foot into the channel. So that’s when you talk about players learning from mistakes which is fine. You can deal with that again has it in the far side. He’s gone back to keeper this time and the clearance from Ward was straight out for a Rangers throw in which is taken quickly by Dao to Tavern here. The ref has blown the whistle of two balls in the pitch will be a Rangers throwing second attempt to take over on the far side for Tar. Berto Ascu down there hands in pockets right now. will be concerned with the way this game’s going because Mother do not have a semblance of control on proceedings here. In the 20th minute, they trail one one n and they look as if they’re lacking a little bit of confidence cuz they have gave one or two balls away caught in possession and sometimes it just eats away at them. So, you can see that just a lack of confidence about them. But on the flip side, Rangers have definitely grown since he scored. They’ve settled a little bit better, a bit more content with the ball. And quite simply, this is the kind of game Rangers have to win this season, particularly on the road. And they did have that long run of seven without victory at Ibro across all competition, but particularly away from home. There were points spelled including here last season, found themselves 2-0 down. They had the wherewithal to get back to 2-2 and take a point the end of December. But this is the kind of game they were shipping points in as Dowo gets on it down the right and he slips just as he was trying to make something of it. Was behind for a goal kick for Mother Welps. They take quick and short again. McGin to Gordon now to this right hand side for Katrus. He plays it back to Gordon to the edge of his box. Good footwork this time by Elliot W. But again they’re running that risk out to Longo on the left bounding across the halfway line. He’s shifting it in field to just the New Zealander. Back to him again and into Longo into Just. He’s got Figer at the edge of the center circle. Instead, he plays it to the left hand side when it’s fired forward towards Slatterie. He goes down. Free kick. Motherwell here. A little bit better from them. And they did work it out from the back on that occasion again. So that is, you know, it’s risk and reward in many ways. It’s a huge risk, but if you get the reward, then fair enough. It was good control, I have to say. Good turn by Elliot. What risky again because he’s faced his own goal. I think that’s the worst position to be as a center midfield player. Face your own goal and turn them blindly because the opposition can just press right in on you. Derek, 18 yds out from goal. That’s and that’s how when you like to receive a ball, you like it just at the angle. So you you kind of know who’s round about you. But yeah, just what Steven’s saying. Back to goal. I tell you what, it’s terrific bit of skill. But yeah, Slatter is at the corner flag. He’s moving towards the box. Chica gets in his way. plays it back the way instead there to Watt and then eventually it bounces off a Rangers man and out for a motherable throw in level with the arc of the Rangers penalty box just inside the area. It’s flicked back out to the left hand side by Elijah just but given away and then it bounces off Steven Mlan and Rascin annoyed with the referee who’s apologizing to the Belgian will be a Rangers ball and it’s mother well Rangers one here we’re approaching the quarter mark here of this opening league fixture of the season for these two earlier it was Karnuk two Livingston two Killy finishing with 10 men in that And tomorrow uh triple header Falerk Dundee United Dundy Habernian and Celtic St. Marin and the Premiership’s opening fixture list of the weekend will culminate on Monday evening with Heart of Midlotheian against Aberdine at Time Castle at an 8:00 kickoff. Sports Sound has full coverage of course of all those matches as Paul McInn picks back up at the edge of his box back to keeper and then infield to Finger who gets it to Gordon and then back to Fading out to Petrumbas on the right up to the halfway line into the Rangers half. He knocks it. It was a wrong decision. He’d stam it a lot was ahead but Diamand’s given it away and now it’s an opportunity to go for goal. But spelled it and stabilis sees his shot saved by the Rangers keeper after long looked like he’s in a wonderful position. Motherwell might still be in here. Eventually it just squirmed away from just then and back into the gloves of Jack Butland who’ll be breathing a massive sigh of relief there because it was a fairly tame effort from Longo which he spilled straight out to Stamatalopoulos and in particular you feel the Aussie striker will be furious with himself that he’s not equalized for the steelmen. It stays one- nothing Rangers and Rangers giving it away again. Both teams guilty of that. Rothewell and again it comes to this near side by Massani hooks it across. It’s clear by but it’s giving hope to mother here and that’s the encouragement that Rangers are giving them that Russell Martin will not want to see. It stays mother Rangers one though almost in 24 and I think it’s something that that certainly I’m going to have to get used to. uh you know losing possession that that that used to be criminal you know losing it around about the 18 yd box but it seems to be the norm certainly in this game but you’re right it was a team effort uh and Jack Butlin that was Jack button six months ago you know very poor and he’s got away with one that’s why he lost his place in the team here come again there’s a an early ball across mass is quick but he wasn’t quick enough to get on to that neither was Stamatopoulos as it was swung across by Katrumis and all the way out in the reverse side for a Rangers throw in on the Rangers right. But the last little minute or two has been it’s been much more promising from a Motherwell point of view. I think they lost their way for five or 10 minutes after the goal. It kind of shook them a little bit cuz they started the game well. Rangers had the upper hand. Now Motherville seem to have wrestled it back into their favor. The Rangers passes and given the ball away. It’s not complicated. It’s simply 5 10 yd balls that should be easily executed but for some reason they’ve been a little bit sloppy and that’s what’s given all the encouragement. It’s out in the far side with Longo. Eventually it drops at the feet of Watt as ball forwards cut out but it will be a mother will throw just beyond the midway point of the Rangers half over in front of the east stand. It’s with Slatterie at the left angle of the box. He’s being forced back the way but it’s been given away by Diamande and just at the edge of the penalty area. It looked like it might drop for Elijah just but it he bobbles away from him and Butland’s able to put it away first time and finds it with Rasin. Couple of sloppy ones from Mohamad Diamande actually just in the last few minutes which is mother eyes lighting up haven’t been able to take advantage of them as Sutar finds Rasin and now it’s with Ja Sutter having to continue on the left side of the center of defense prefers it on the right of course when Connor Goldson was at the club he was playing in that position to accommodate the former as Arens goes back to Sutter. And now it is one of the summer arrivals on loan from Wolves. There’s Danilo goes down shoved to the deck by Liam Gordon inside the center circle and it remains mother nil Rangers one. And how are you reading this game now Steven? Sorry, can I just say I think this is applause is for young Zack Gun who lost his life. You know the young mother fan who had who wasn’t well lame. I think that’s what this is for. And I think both of supporters have been talking about social media just in case someone’s wondering what’s going on in the background. But I’m reading the game now that mother are well in it. So often in the past when the old firm come here you can be done and dusted after 20 minutes but they’re well in the game. It’s just finding that cutting edge and that final pass that can create that clear goal scoring opportunity for them. First opportunity for them to pay tribute to Zach G. I mean that just awful. Absolutely awful. I think his big brother was mascot today and his dad put threw it up and he said he’s the best big brother in the world. So an emotional day for the family. Yeah, absolutely. Young man passed away in June. An opportunity for the Motherville supporters to pay tribute there. But yeah, I can imagine the emotions will be flooding through them after hearing and seeing that there are the tribute. Mother will giving away the corner and it will be a Rangers ball over on that far side and this time change and taker Kan Dao is over this one. Throng of players around the penalty spot swung in and it’s headed away by Stamatalopoulos. bouncing ball facing his own goal. Diamande with Maswines all over him. It’s not ideal but he’s done well to turn it back to Arens. He’s got plenty time to go back to his keeper. And it’s Butland at the edge of his box. We saw the worst of Jack Butland a few minutes ago. Saw the best of him against Panathan Aikos across the two legs. I don’t think Rangers would be going through to face Victoria Pills in in the third qualifying stage of the Champions League had it not been for Butland. Some really important saves in the two matches. There’s a sloppy ball away from Motherwell in the midfield. It’s picked up here by Arens who turns it out to the left for Casama. Casama running at the Motherwell defense. Uses Raskin on the overlap. Slides in to try and at least win the corner. Still in play. just play back to Gordon inside his own box. Shifted by Fadinger out to this near side slatter to Katrus but he’s had it nicked off by Gasama and sliding in is Lucas Fadinger to turn it out for a Rangers throw in on this near side. Mother will nil Rangers one almost in 29 minutes. Tavanir playing left back little switch there. I don’t know if that’s intentional or just because of the the play there. you know, they’ve decided, you’ll just stay in this position at the moment, but uh like to see Ers playing in that right pack position where he’s certainly more comfortable. It was interesting. Russell Martin explained why Max has been playing left back because Jeffy and Yas haven’t done enough, haven’t impressed enough in training and aren’t up to speed. So, that’s probably a a kind of slight on them, but that’s what you have to do as a player. Yeah, Yilas in particular is nowhere near it. Anyway, it’s a corner to Rangers there despite the best efforts of Callum Ward to get onto a throw in that was played back to him and we know what happened at the last needless corner conceded by Motherwell. Not the last corner they conceded, but it was the last one conceded on this near side for Rangers. And Rothell’s over to take. He found the head of Tavern who planted it into the net. Last time he sent one of these into the mother box. Rothewell in swinger with the right foot coming up here. Tavern is in that exact same position and it comes towards him. It’s too high for him this time and it’s clear by Longo. Diamande gets on to the scraps and turns it back on to the halfway line for Arens. To Diamande to Arenss and back to his keeper. Butland rolls it along the grass and what a surface it is. Now it’s with Tavern on the halfway line. Goes back to Dao. Goes back to Jiga who finds Suttors has it on the near side. Rashin up the line to Gasama on his first start for the club. And Paul McIn and Stamatopoulos are making their first appearances in league games since the mid winter. Their injury curtail their seasons. Tavern here. Not sure. Dalo was the intended target, but he’s on to it anyway. Now he’s bursting across the halfway line. Good play by Kieran Dalo. Rolls out to Diamande looking for Denilo. He’s just over hit the pass though. Kum Ward gets down onto the deck and holds on to it and it stays mother will nail Rangers one. It’s brilliant play from Kieran. You know, just breaking from his his own half into the mother half and he goes past two or three players. Lovely ball out of Demand. I just think Demand should take a lot more care with that. You know, I don’t think it’s that hard a pass. You know, Denilo is making that little diagonal run into the box right hand side. I think the weight and the pass should be far better than that. I think when both teams get it right with their passing and their movement is really good, but the problem is it’s not happening often enough. There’s needless passes been given away. Under no pressure at all, Derek, and trying to force balls that should be easily executed. I’ve said it a couple of times. Yeah, both teams have been guilty of it throughout this first half. It’s just sometimes, Liam, when you see a player and you think there’s a forward pass, just roll in there. But this is what I talk about the style of play like keep possession. Often, more often than not, they come out and they like to go, you know, go backwards then go out the other side. You know, when one pass can get you 30, 40 yards up the path. There’s another one given away. This time it’s Finger and Rothwell’s on to it up to the edge of the box. decides to go for goal. It bounces off Mcinn and behind for yet another Rangers corner. They lead 1-0 here. 32 played. Again, a turnover in Mother Wolf’s half. And then suddenly you can see the blue bodies. The minute the ball turns over, they’re on their bike. Savan’s on his bike. Gasama’s on his bike. Rothwell’s driving forward. So real energy wants to turn the ball over and that’s where Mother will have to be careful. Needlessly giving it away. It’s given Rangers lots of encouragement. R’s best chances are coming from Mother been far too sloppy. Sixth corner of the match for Rangers and it will be Keenan Da to take this one in swinger with the left foot in front of the Cooper stand. Bented to the sixyd box headed away by Stamatalopoulos. Bouncing balls awkward for Diamande. Masani is all over him again and he’s done well on the slide to get it back to Arens. He needs to be careful and he’s fled anyway by just that’s a Rangers free kick just a few yards from that far side touch line right of the center circle a little bit lucky there you know I thought it was the wrong decision then Arens I thought should have been going back to Butland but I used to be a little bit clever you know and turning it away for the man and wasn’t much in it but again just that little bit of risk they’ve stuck with the tavern Aaron’s right for now, Derek. Yeah. Uh, obviously the managers want to see how that pans out. It was always a strange one, you think, Tavanir cuz he’s well certainly the most more experienced, been here a number of years. You thought he would have just went slotted in there, but uh, but it is a slight on, you know, Red Van’s never been my cup of tea. I’ve got to be honest with you. Uh but I thought Yfty I thought he would probably had enough uh you know about him you know to kind of retain that left back be but uh not to be certainly the manager doesn’t fancy him. Rangers giving it away. Masini goes down towards the edge of the Rangers box. Steven Mlan’s a referee. He’s not interested in Rangers are clearing up the park on the counter. Double has it. Denilo moves to his right. It’s with Denilo. He’s in the penalty area. Options in the middle. He can only win the corner off McKinn though. The mother supporters giving their reaction to the fact they felt that Masini was fouled up the other end of the pitch. Rangers roared up to the mother penalty area and Denilo I’m not sure if he was caught in two minds or what but one or two option round about the penalty spot for a cut back. I I tell you he does brilliant because he just checks his run then does a little kind of overlap around down that right hand side and yeah you’re right soon as he takes a touch it should be hitting for goal takes another touch then he’s closed down I know Ken Dell isn’t a lot of the Rangers fans cup of tea but this afternoon or this evening his running power when the ball turns over but he’s took Rangers up the pitch so many times but from a central position I don’t think he’s a wide player all his good stuff has come from a central position I think that’s where he wants to be playing Steven that’s the best I’ve seen him with that Ranger Jersey so far this well we got to say it’s afternoon this evening yeah I think we can say it’s evening now Kenan Dell was on load at Birmingham last term that is Saturday isn’t it? Yeah. Yes. Yes. Sometimes I get mixed up. In comes the corner. It’s headed away by Gordon and looks like Denilo’s happy to accept the throw in on this near side which is level with the mulable penalty spot. Denilo bowls it back to Arens. We’re in the final 10 minutes of the regulation 45 in this first half on Sports Sound across the frequencies on BBC Radio Scotland. Here’s Tavern bends the ball in from the right hand side. Sliced by Gordon and behind for another Rangers corner. They’re hurtling towards double figures in that tally. Just the one goal to show for it so far as they take it short there to Dao who gets the cross in away by Gordon. breaks to Arens and then to Rothwell to Tavern. Goes all the way back to his keeper. I think Tavern and Arens have swapped back. It’s with Butland who plays it short to Rothwell. Then shift it to Arens on this near side. Boxing day 2002. The last time Mother beat Rangers here. 19-year-old James McFaden scored the only goal and since that match in 2002, they played each other no fewer than 61 times in the league. And Motherwall have only won two of them. Both at Ibro both in the last couple of seasons. Steven Craig was there to witness both of them and I remember them well. I was there in 1997 as well when Mville didn’t win or sorry when they last won lay of course the Rangers winning 10 about nine in a row that day. He won it a few days later up at Tana Dice, but yeah, that was another one. Owen, it was Owen Coy. It was sure was Palm again going back to Gordon. I mean the that’s the frustration. That’s what I was talking about that that ball was on to go. Play it 30 40 yds forward and he’s in. But it’s as if it’s ingrained. No, we need to go back keep possession of the ball. It’s about decision making. We’re on the ball. Well, the thing for Yensberto Ascu is that Rangers haven’t looked entirely comfortable at the back. The thing is the match has to be within reach for Motherwell to take, you know, before they can take advantage of those kind of errors that Rangers have been making. As many as Mother will have made at the other end, Rangers don’t look comfortable at the back either. So, they need to be within striking distance to capitalize on that. But if Ranger scored a second goal, a third goal, then there’s no way back at that point. You wouldn’t think the problem is when Rangers are sloppy at the back and it goes into the mother’s midfield, they’re then sloppy trying to pass it forward and turns over again. So there’s no real fluency or not enough fluency for both managers. How they see the game, how they speak about the game, what they want from the team. There’s not been enough cohesion from both sides. 38 on the clock. Mother Wall Nell Rangers won. Derek, yeah, it comes down to quality. The quality of players you’ve got at your disposal. uh applaud the way uh the two both managers want to play the game but sometimes you know within that you got to look at the players you’ve got can they adapt can they play that type of football and just having a look at it you know I don’t think mother at the moment have quite get that that quality certainly in in important areas mother will throw in here Katrus over it he’s looking for an option in home colors. Petroumbus pulls it in field and gets it back immediately there from just and then it is Finger just turning it back the way there to Elliot Watt out to the right. Katrus is ball in field cut out by Rothwell just outside his own box finds Arens who was back to Butland slices the high ball forward comes off the head of Gordon right the center but his header goes straight to Diamande up to the halfway line forward there to Casama loses out though to Watt and now it’s Fadinger turning it back the way to Gordon and then out to Katrus infield it comes to Watt this is better from Motherwell. Now it’s with Slatterie Stamatalopoulos ahead of him. Looks to float the ball out to the left. The big switch to Longo and it’s a dreadful ball into the box. It goes high over the bar and that will be a Rangers goal kick and it will remain one- nothing to Rangers as we move towards the final five minutes of the first half. It’s good play from Malo down the right hand side and it gets to Longo. you know, it takes a good touch, but you know, the delivery, I’m just talking about the quality there, and it’s uh you know, that that’s not a difficult uh thing to do. Pick pick a player out with a cross. You know, he’s unopposed. He’s only what 25 yds from goal. Got to do a hell of a lot better than that. Here come Rangers with Rascin Rampaging forward into the motherboard half. Gets up to a bit level with the edge of the D. stops, turns, plays it back to Arenss infield to Tavern, then back to Suttor. It’s left of the center circle. Moves it to his central defensive colleague who finds Diamande to Jiga now to Suttor and then back to Jiga. There’s three multiple players facing him. He’s not under pressure at the moment though as he squares it to Sutter. Forward to Arens, then Sutter and Arens again. Max Aaron spent the second half of last season in Spain on loan at Valencia playing in La Liga. He’s got the opportunity here at Rangers to make that position at left back his own. The aforementioned Jeffy did come off the bench the other night in Athens and is on the bench today. Yilm is in Siberia as Slattery with the outside of the boot finds Maswinise wide in the right. Kamal will strike before the break and it comes. A brilliant ball. Headers missed though. Chance here for Longo where he’s beaten to it by Tavern as he tapped it past D and Rangers clear out for a Motherwell throw in level with the sixyd line. What a boost it would give Motherwell if they were to find an equalizer here before the break. And it can change in an instant. You know Aaron’s caught out of position there. manishi you know down that right hand side a terrific cross and you know Rangers pretty comfortable in the game but they need a second goal you know cuz you you can even feel you can even see it the Rangers fans just a little bit nervous at the moment so yeah Slatter has been bundled over after that throw in and now it’s an even better situation for Motherwell they’ve got a free kick just level with probably midway between the penalty spot and the sixyd line a yard or two away from the east stand and the mother will left as They attack the goal to the right. Here we are watching up high at the back of the main stand just to the left of the halfway line and it is a Motherwell free kick. Slatterie longo over it and it comes fired into the near post by Slatterie. Cleared there by Rasin and out for a throw in over by the corner flag to Motherwell which is bowled in quickly into the box. Damatopoulos with his back to goal back to the defender. And then the trip from the mother player on uh one of the Rangers players was didn’t who was it gone back there. It was uh it’s what I would say it’s the manalopoulos lame. I know he hasn’t had a lot of service and had a lot of ball any ball that he’s had. I think he’s been a little bit sloppy and loose and he’s easy to play against. I think he needs a partner. I don’t think he’s good as a number nine in his own. And I think I think Denilo’s the same. They’d prefer to have another partner beside them to help carry the fight in the battle. I’m not too sure the attributes that they have suit an out number nine where they can come short and hold it up, they can win headers, they can chase into the channels, they can get goals. I’m not sure they have the full package. Obviously, Ranger signing the young man from Spurs who is I think he looks like he’s going to be the real deal in his career. Uh I think he’s already worth about 10 million quid at the age of 17. He’s not available today with continued talk over the futures of Igaman and Desar. Zika man not involved again today having missed the trip to Greece during the week. Desert is there amongst the subs for the visitors. One- nothing Rangers heading towards the final minute of the 45 in the first half at Fur Park. Tavern across the halfway line rolls it out wide right for Dao. Rangers looking for a second before the interval. Long goes out to meet him. Dowel turns low ball in looking for Diamande. Cut out well by Watt and then clears his lines. High ball. Stamatalopoulos with a header out to the left. Picked up by Mcin midway inside his own half. It’s a long ball and it’s a poor one looking for Stamatopoulos. His manager turns away from the pitch and just gusts there. He goes out for a Rangers throw in over on the far side. Another on to their third manager of the year. Yens Berto place Michael Vimemer in the summer. The short spell from the German in the hot seat that he did get that win at Ibro. It was probably his standout moment. It wasn’t too much else to get the Mother Wolf fans excited about. though they were mightily relieved that they weren’t dragged into a relegation battle last season. Eventually finishing eighth in the Premiership as Gordon’s ball forward comes off to Nilo. It’s going to break and then uh it’s pushed out for a throw in there by Fadinger. He’s been so wasteful as Finger and the Masvini with the challenge on Arens and the two of them go headto-head there and we go into the single minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half. Mother 1 nil Rangers won. I have to say Lucas Fandinger’s use of the ball today has been really poor. If you want to play as a center midfield player, you cannot Derek will tell you better than me. You cannot give the ball away as much as what he does. And again, not talking about trying to play 40 yard diagonals or switches of play. I’m talking 5yd link up passes, which is what a midfield player is supposed to do in the system that the manager wants. It isn’t happening. It’s just taking any momentum they’re building out of their play. The ball that was fizzed into him there. You know, he could have quite easily just took a touch, played a pass. He’s opted to go, but decision making. He’s opted to try a first time pass and just gets it way wrong. Yeah, that that’s what I’m talking about. the quality in certain areas. You know, they’re just lacking a little bit to play that style of football. [Music] They played 25 times in the Austrian Bundesliga last season. Fading his team narrowly avoided relegation. We’ve played the one minute of stoppages at the end of the first half. Bit of time on top here. Steven Mlan Swooter’s header to But there is the halftime whistle. Motherwell happy. It’s just 1 nil here. Rangers seeing plenty of the ball. They’ve had the vast majority of the opportunities, one of which was taken. All these new shinings, new takeover, new future for Rangers. But the only goal of the game scored by captain James Tavern here. He will turn 34 soon. Joe Rothwell’s corner came into the box after it was needlessly conceded by Motherwell. Taanir headed it down past Cal Ward into the net to give the visitors the lead. That going in on 14 minutes. Denilo had hit the crossbar. Gasama went close before that. Another couple of half chances for them as well. Both teams though have been guilty of giving the ball away oh so cheaply. And you would suspect there’ll be more goals in this one, but the only one in the first half at Far Park here on Sports Sound at the break has come for the visitors. His mother will nil. Rangers won the Scottish Premiership live on Sports Sound. Scottish football lives here on BBC Radio Scotland. [Music] This August, Edinburgh transforms into the world’s biggest stage. The whole city’s a showstopper. So, where do you begin? Right here with BBC Radio Scotland, your guide to the Edinburgh Festivals. Join Lane Penny and me, Michelle Mcmanis for music, comedy, theater, the arts, and more. All the highlights from across the capital. And if you’re lucky enough to get a ticket. Oh, no. That sellout show was two for one offer. No ticket, no problem. Just turn on your radio. Whether you’re in the city or listening around the country, we’ve got you covered. Afternoons and the arts mix at the Edinburgh Festivals coverage begins next week on BBC Radio Scotland and sounds. You’re listening to Sports Sound on BBC Radio Scotland on the opening weekend of the league season. Plenty to discuss earlier today in the top flight. It finished Karnuk to Livingston 2. We’ll bring you reaction from both managers just shortly. Four games in the championship today. Erdri two, Ross County two, Morton nil and Ferland nil. Wraith Rovers one, Queens Park one, St. Johnson five, Particle One. in League One. Co- Rangers nil, Queen of the South two, Hamilton Aakis 2, Montros nil, Kely Harts nil, Inesse Cali thistle three, Peter Head four, East 5-1, Stenism Mure 1, Alawa 2 and in League 2, Anan Athletic 3, Elgen City 2, Dartan 2, Clyde 1, East Co, Spartans three, Ember City 1, Sterling Albian 2, 4 for one, Strunar nil. So let’s get to our pundits at Fur Park. Steven Craig, from a mother well perspective, what did you make of that opening 45 minutes? Yeah, probably the same as what I thought at the start of the game. I mean, I’m trying to work out, yeah, just if I’m not of enjoying if it’s going to work, what they’re trying to do. Clearly, there’s a lot of passes across the back and midfield have given the ball away far too often for me. They’re maybe just lacking a little bit of cutting edge at the top end of the pitch. I think Tom Massani can be a match winner. he hasn’t had enough of the ball or the quality to him hasn’t been good enough. Elijah just is another one. I think when he’s in possession of the ball, he he finds good spaces, hasn’t had the ball enough. So, I think uh Jean’s birth, I’ll ask you, his tactic has got to be to try and get better quality of the ball to those two players and don’t just stand in wide areas. Can you come in the pitch and take up little pockets of space in behind the midfield players to cause Talanir and Aaron’s full uh the fullbacks issues? They don’t maybe want to go in there. So, can they get them in those little pockets of space, but overall in the game for two managers who speak about possession and style and and finesse and what they want? The goal has come from a set play, which probably wasn’t in the thinking. And the number of times both teams have given the ball away unopposed, not under any pressure, trying to play simple passes, but playing it first time when it’s on just to take a touch and complete the pass. Just always talk to young players, Kenny. one one touch risk, two touch safety and there’s been too many one-touch risks when there hasn’t needed to be. So for all the possession managers speak about it’s been a bit sloppy at both times. Needless given away and it’s encouraged the opposition. But I have to say the intensity of the game’s been there. It’s been a good game to watch because there’s been so many turnovers and it’s up the mother now to go and try and carry the fight and get the equalizing goal. Yeah, Steven’s right, Derek. It has been an enjoyable game from a Rangers perspective. Are you happy with what you’ve seen in that first half? you’re on edge a little bit for both teams because you can see there’s a mistake in them. Uh you know they it’s all about high risk isn’t it? They want to play it from uh from the back rolling balls across the sixyd box, 18 yd box and all it takes is uh one miss time pass one little kind of lack of control and no position are in. I think that’s what makes it uh quite exciting because you’re on aid on edge. Uh for Mville uh I just think in in certain areas of just not quite get that quality to go and play that style. So can they add uh and that might it might depend in Lennon Miller. I think Lennon Miller who’s playing out there, he would give you that little bit of quality in certain areas going forward. For me, uh it’s just at times I I know it’s easy sitting up here in the stand but there’s a ball that can be played forward maybe 30 40 yards forward you know into a front player uh and they the a lot of the times because of that style because it’s embedded in them they decide no we’re going to turn back and you know we’ll play the we safe pass there 10 yards or we’ll go across the back. I just think at times when players, you know, and I I get the manager wants you to play away, but if it’s something, you see it, play it, you know, and I don’t think they do that often enough, but uh yeah, it’s been good. It’s it’s enjoyable because uh you don’t know what’s coming. Rangers need a second if if they’re going to make it comfortable. Uh Ma certainly they’re still in this big time. The the the big plus for me from a Rangers point of view, it’s K D. That’s the best I’ve seen him in a Rangers jersey. uh and playing it’s probably alien to him you know playing wide right but I said best I’ve seen him I thought he did okay midweek I thought he worked hard midweek as well Derek with respect to Motherwell Derek would you have concerned with this style of play for Rangers against a better team yeah yes I have got a little bit of concern watching them yet it’s just uh we know how the the the goal came about Steven just says as I said peace but it’s a a bad mistake from again you know and just try to But I just think I think I I think I sees it in com I don’t know I says it before that there has to be a conversation with the player and the manager and there has to be an understanding that yeah I’m going to try and you know play the way you want us to but at times uh I’m going to kind of make the decision if it needs to go forward it’s going forward because uh and it’s incredible cuz Stephen said at the start this game could be decided on the team that makes the least mistakes And at the moment, I just mean defensively. Yeah, you were bang on. You were bang on. And I don’t mean without the ball. I just mean actually with the ball. And mean Steven, when you say that right at the start and I got it right away because you I’ve watched Rangers uh over the the last few weeks uh and I and then I I had I haven’t watched Mull at all. So you can see Yeah, it’s hot and mouth stuff at times. But uh for a neutral, it’s it’s great. But if that’s your side and that’s your team, oh you’re you’re certainly an edge. Kelly, so I just feel as if both sets of players have taken their managers literally. Mhm. They’re trying to do everything in their power to please their manager rather than sometimes making the right decision because that’s why there’s a little bit of hesitation. You can see them thinking, I want to play it in behind or I want, no, I can’t. I have to play it here. And the managers won’t have told them to do that. the managers will have given a a base to work from and an outline to work from, but because they’re trying to please a manager early on and do everything they’ve worked on in training, the players have to be allowed to make decisions on the pitch that they think are right at that moment in time. And the managers will hopefully encourage that to them, but the players are so literally take and being so deliberate in what they’re trying to do, it’s causing themselves issues. Do you know what it’s been really exciting so far? Halime at Fur Park. Motherwell nil Rangers won two games in the top flight for you today. Earlier on, another really good game as well. It finished Karnik 2 to Livingston 2. Let’s now hear from the Killy boss Stuart Kentwell. He spoke with our reporter Andy Burke. H well Stuart, you got yourself in a fantastic position. How frustrating not to come away with the three points. Listen, it’s really frustrating. It’s really frustrating. I think um you always point to big moments in games and very simply the game turned on its head when Livingston awarded the penalty and the red card to George Stranger. Um, I think we we probably felt we’re really comfortable. Livingston changed their shape at halftime. They go to back three, two strikers to try and kind of match us up. And that probably tells you um that what we’ve done in the first half is is good. Getting getting ourselves ahead, not just by one, but by two. Um, and you feel that you’re probably going to manage the situation. You probably feel as if you’re going to manage the game. The foot being too comfortable. Um, but knowing that we’re going to carry a threat going the other way. Um, and you just felt that there was one or two we things in there that started to conspire against us. Um I think Jarro Daniels coming off and being sick was was a thing. We’re down to 10 minutes. We’re trying down to 10 men, sorry. We’re trying to get him back on the pitch. Uh and then a basic ball kind of down the side of the center backs where George is in the the dominant position. Um he knows himself. He puts his hand up going to the instant itself. Um I do believe it’s rather soft. I thought the initial sort of pull and tug there contact between center back and striker. I thought the initial tug come come from Robbie Murehead and I must admit my angles not clarified that but my eyes did at the time when I seen it live I was kind of on this side. Um so we we we kind of feel harshly done by on that one. Um but also once you go down to 10 men I thought we were resolute you know I thought we limited Livingston a few chances. So you kind of believe at that point you’re probably going to get through it and win the game 2-1. But it wasn’t to be. We learn lessons from it. Making better decisions so that that doesn’t become as chaotic as what it ends up being really uh first stages of the second half. Yeah, as we said, you got yourself in a fantastic position. Two-0. You were pushing for a third early in that second half. Is that just maybe a wee bit of ruthlessness you need to bring in when you’ve got a team on the ropes like that to to put the game away? You say ruthlessness, we all we all want to score more goals. We all want to make sure we’re creating chances. as I say felt we were comfortable enough at the start of the second half albe it we were down to 10 for a little spell with Jarro coming off the pitch but you know what’s my vision of the game matching up in systems matching up in shapes wing back to wing back I felt I felt we were comfortable enough and I didn’t feel Livingston were creating any chances at that point obviously Davy’s going to make a few changes to try and see if they can get back in the game but I go back to it without us being more ruthless or whatever the game turns on one decision it hinges on that one moment of the game um out with that we’ll never know what happens, but you know, I can only give you my feeling and my sense at that point, which was that we were we were pretty comfortable. Yeah. Disappointment, I’m sure, how nothing’s won and lost this early in the season. How important you pick yourselves up and and go next week against Hibs. Yeah, I think that’s that’s exactly it. Tough tough trip to Easter road next week. I watched Hibs on Thursday. I was at the game on Thursday and they put put up an unbelievable performance. Um really really good marker for Scottish football against the top side. Um, so we know it’s going to be a different game and a difficult game. Um, but for us, we need to keep trying to get better over this week. We need to keep working hard at what we want to look like ourselves and what we want to be ourselves. Um, but also understanding that um, these moments in games will will change your thoughts and being 2 in this league. I think you have to be I think you have to be ruthless to go back and use your word and I think you have to be able to worst case scenario see out the game and get your three points. There’s disappointment in it, but there’s also a little bit of pride in, you know, the determination the players showed to make sure that it wasn’t worse than that in the end. That’s no crumb of comfort at this minute in time. But listen, it could have been worse when you’re down to 10 men for the period of time we were. Yeah, the thoughts there of the commander manager Stuart Ket. It was actually a really good game there, Trey. So many talking points and a good few chances for the wayside at the end to snatch it. Let’s now hear from their boss David Martenddale. He’s also been chatting with Andy Burke. David, it was a bit of a roller coaster of a game for you. What’s your thoughts overall coming out with a point? I’m happy we came out with a point. We bit unfortunate not to get the win, but we’re kind of architect downfall going in two nil down cuz I thought that was a we bit harsh on the game and but again we’ve only got ourselves to blame there. So two really poor goals to lose their point of view but I think that was only two shots in target. We created a couple of good things in the first half, done okay, but found ourselves 2-0 down. I spoke to the players about that. That’s the difference between the championship and the premiership. We’ have probably went in there at nil nil in the championship. We’ have got away with a couple of mistakes that we make. Maybe no pressed as aggressive as what Paul done on Adam. So I we got away two nil down. And I thought the performance was it was okay. But we kind of architects our own downfall. Get at Halime speak about how we feel this is going to get us back in the game. So we change the shape. We flip it to a 352. That gets us back in the game. Gets us a penalty kick. Gets a red card and then the opportunities really open up. We change that shape. We stayed a 352 for a while. Changed the shape back to a 4-33. we Surafy came on because I felt that we were going to get a lot of joy in the wide areas. They changed their shape to a 441. So the overloads kind of the plus ones in the wide areas, we felt they would be in our favor. The one v1’s in the wide areas would be in our favor and that’s ultimately where we get the second goal for. I thought we Louis Smith done extremely well when he came on. Um one v1 is probably strongest part of his game and then that gets us in at two each and then we just go on to try and win the game. But unlucky not to, but I think you got to give Kamala a we bit of credit there as well for defending the area. I thought they done that really well. You must have impressed first game of the season. It’s never all going to be perfect, but to find yourself in a hole like that and find your way back out, the character shown must give you a lot of heart. I think the players got to take huge credit for that. I think the players showed real resilience. I felt the subs really helped the game. So, I think the players have got to take a lot of credit from that. But it was something we had in abundance last year. we had that in abundance. So, it’s nice to now see that transitioning into this season. We’ve got new players on the part, but it’s actually really really nice to see that kind of resilience were really robust and the character that the player showed to go and get a game back to each was that’s exactly what you want as a manager and that’s what they gave me. Stuart Kitwell a little agrieved at the penalty and red card incident. What was your reading of that? probably if I was Stuart and it was against me I’d probably say the same thing but as the opposing manager I think I’m going to say I thought it was a penalty soft maybe maybe but I think a pen’s a pen so we spoke about it last last week this week actually we had the referees in um walking over VA and I think we spoke about this as a group well we definitely did as a group yeah the thoughts there of David Martenddale 22 the result at Rugby Park earlier on today. 1-0il advantage for Rangers at Fur Park. Let’s get back to Steven Craig and Derek Ferguson and Liam Mloud. Perfect timing, Kenny. The game just about to restart here. Mother on the clar and Amber will shoot from right to left towards the Davy Cooper stand. Rangers towards their own fans in the southern end as it’s played all the way back there to Callum Ward. No changes for either team at the start of the second half. Mother Clark and Amber Rangers in the blue and white. The header away by Sutter out to the far side of Fadinger, but the referee has given a free kick. Well, in the looks of things, if it’s not a free kick, it’s going to be a Rangers throw. In fact, that is the decision as uh blue smoke billows from the away end off to our right which is just beginning to make its way across the far park pitch here down below us. Mother will pick up that throw in. Rangers couldn’t take any advantage of it. So Mother will ball. They’ve got Ward in goal. The Trumas Longo, Gordon and Mcinn the back longo playing out at left back just Slatterie Fadinger and Watt with Masui supporting Stamatopoulos Rangers with Butland in goal Taverner Sutter Aaron’s Raskin Roth Diamande Dao Gasama Denilo Paul McInness to head it back to keeper gets just enough on it to get it back to Ward to come to the edge of his own box. He plays it short to his right for Liam Gordon. We’ll roll it back to his keeper. Plays it short to the mother. Will skipper Mcinn then to Ward and then back to Paul McInn. 34 years of age now. The veteran stage of his career as he finds Longo but he can only slice it out for a Rangers throw in on this near side. He’s been taken quickly towards Denilo. He’s on to it right hand side of the mother penalty area. His ball backs cut out. breaks to Dalo, gets away from Longo, gets his cross in towards the back post. The header from Gasama is held on to by Ward, but once again it’s come from Motherwell giving it away. Two minutes into the second half, Rangers with a one- nothing lead and looking for a second early in the second half here. It’s excellent play by Kieran Daryl. I was saying earlier, I don’t think he’s a wide right, but he’s a lovely little crow turn to get away from Longo. Stands the ball up lovely to the back post. Casama with a good header. There’s not enough power on the cross. He had to try and generate the power himself. Kasama and all he could do was put it into the hands of Callum Ward in goal. But that’s another warning sign from Motherwell. If you’re stopping possession, losing possession around your box, Rangers are ready to capitalize. Collected by Mcin as he comes up towards the halfway line. Longo wanted it. Eventually he slips. McInn plays it short infield for just. He goes back to Longo. Was he fouled there? Yes, he was. Says Steven Mlan. That will be a free kick to Motherwell. then over on this near side maybe about seven or eight yards from the main standside touch line and on the cusp of the attacking third team here pretty much in it. The referee there whose uh brother was on the books of both these clubs stages in his career and he’s got the magic spray out and Gama is forming a one-man wall there and Longo and Slatterie are both over it. What Kam will come up with here? It’s going to be Longolo left footed, bends it along the 18 yd line. He’s going to break to the right hand side. The shot is wildly over the bar. And the slap of the hands and frustration from Stamatalopoulos as an opportunity comes and goes for Mothery. Clearly going by his reaction feels he should have done better there. Stays Mother nil. Rangers won. I thought that was a big chance the Matalopolis there. He should certainly do a little bit better. He gets a little breaks. not dealt with particularly well with Rangers. Just breaks to them. He’s what about 16 17 yd from goals at the angle right hand side. He’s got to at least wh the keeper or hit the target. Does none of it. Just thrashes it well of the target. I think he’s been starved of the ball and opportunities and that probably sums it up cuz he’s snatching at it. He’s just desperate to get the shot away. Tries to go for power and over hits it. John Suta gets it from again. Rangers this time playing it out from the back down the left. It’s Aaron. Sweeps it down the line for Gasama. Back to Arens, fellow new signing. Was back to Sutter. Then passes it along the grass back to Butland. He’ll play it to his right for Tavern. The goal scorer. He’s given it straight to Slatterie and then brings him down. And the mother of fans I rate about the challenge of James Tavern. He knew he’d given it away and his reaction to trying to make up for his mistake sees him commit the foul on Slatterie and Mother will have a free kick level with the Ranger sixyd line. No card, but it is a free kick to the home team in a positive area for them. Yeah, he’s very fortunate not to get a book. I don’t know what Steven thinks. Uh it’s a Rangers over playing. They’re going to do it. We know that Tavanir gives the ball away then it’s a lunge. There’s uh he lunges at the player. He catches him. So very fortunate not to get. So big opportunity for Mother down this left hand side. Someone’s got to get across Rasking in the front sixyd box. He had one in a corner kick and he won it. If you’re going to put it in flat which Slatter is going to do. He’s going to have a shot at goal. Someone’s got to try and disrupt the front of that zone. Slatterie over it. This near side. Bends it right towards the back post. And the huge opportunity is spun by Elijah just at the back post. really massive chance and he just couldn’t get the header on target and Rangers have a goal kick. Well, the pace was all on the ball this time as was critical earlier of GSA. Not not critical, the observation there was enough power in the cross. There’s enough power that time. All he’s got to do is just guide it into the net. Big let off for Rangers. Huge chance. Mother massive opportunity. Rangers come away in a counter here. Denilo though can’t find Dao. It’s got to give them hope. Motherwell that they can score in this. just giving it away in the midfield though and Rascin slips it out to Gasam on the left attacking them box. He’s into it now. Left hand side, checks his run, looks for support in blue. Back to Rothwell. Low ball to the left. Raskin who finds Arens level with the 18 yd line. Rasin goes back to Sutakart who finds Pushes it forward there to Rothwell. The momentum in this attack’s gone for Rangers. Came after just gave it away in the midfield. Arens back to left to the center circle now finds Tavern to the right of it out to Diamande 51 and a half on the clock. Rangers leading 1-0. It’s with Kieran Dao. Rolls it back to He steps forward. His ball is cut out there by just but it breaks fortuitously back to Tavern. He plays it to Sutter. The number of turnovers in this game is frightening. Here come Rangers with Aaron’s really good run into the box and away from Masvini. Forced out wide left still he’s on it to Rascin infield to Rothwell. Back to Square ball first time to Suttor. Right footed side foot out to the left hand side for Max Arens. Back to John Sutter. Rangers having to be patient here as they look for a potentially crucial second goal. Tavern out to the right for Diamande as they switch the play. Double still out here. Diamande checks in field. Low ball looking for Denilo is cut out by McInn. Then back to his own goalkeeper from Watt and cleared by Ward. Picked up on this near side by just this is better for Mother. Well shifted in field for by W there for Slatterie. Knocks it through to Statalopoulos against Ja. Suits inside the box. could challenge Chica but it’s behind for a Motherwell corner. Their first of the match comes in almost 53 minutes. They trail 1 nil. Derek Ferguson. Yeah, brilliant play from Rovo out of position. Uh the mother will just find the ball sling middle of the park breaking on Rangers. Uh Statalopoulos again just he says he’s maybe been starved of the ball again. That’s a great opportunity. He’s got to get the shot off earlier. You could say it’s great defend defending from Giza, but Stamatalopoulos got to do a hell of a lot better than that. This is how close it is because that chance for just that should been in the back of the net. In comes the corner. McIn hooks it well over the bar. A couple of Malaw players optimistically looking for a corner, but it’s just a goal kick to Rangers and it remains one nil to Rangers as Butland smashes a high ball forward looking for Denilo. defended well in the end there by Katrumbis on the left side. He’s playing on the right down the line here for Longo taking on Tavern here level with the sixyd line. Now goes out of play and it’s going to be a Rangers throw in much to the anger of the Mal supporters particularly those right on top of the incident to our left in the main stand. It is a Rangers ball deep inside their own half and the goal scorer taverns over it. There’s been three good chances Mull already have have had into the second half. He headed and the Matalopoulos with a couple of, you know, strikes that he should be doing a lot better. So, it’s Rangers again. They need this second goal. They’re going to make it more a little bit more comfortable, but at the moment, Mullo really threatening. It’s Monal in possession midfield and it’s shifted out to this near side by just and then in from Longo. It’s a good ball. Masani takes it down. He’s spinning and turning and trying to find some space. Still he has it. Then he gives it away and Rangers able to clear. It just wouldn’t sit for him. But you could see there Steven Craig and how desperate he was for an opportunity to pull the trigger. I’ll get Steven in a minute. Still Motherwells McKinn in the box. Shoot. Saved by Butland. Stabilis misses out on the rebound. Sutter gets there before him and clears. And the Rangers number five’s taken a sore one. But all kinds of encouragement for Motherwell in the last few minutes and Steve’s mother Motherwell nil Rangers won 10 into the second half. Yeah, there generally feels like a momentum swing in the game that Rangers can’t get out. Denilo’s isolated. That’s what I was talking about in the first half when you’re under pressure and you throw the ball forward. You need your center forward to get hold of the ball physically go and fight the center halves. He’s picked off far too easy by Paul McInn but spoke earlier about Massi trying to regle the shot and again does brilliant left center half ends up left wing. Really good strike. Lovely save by Jack Butland. You’ve got to give John Su a lot of credit. He’s sharp on to it. It’s a matterless thought he had a tap in, but he didn’t. But the game has really arrived in the second half. It’s brilliant from a an attacking point of view from Mother. Uh you know, again, we’re talking about chances. That’s four great chances this second half. That’s more like Jack Butler’s a great save, but uh you’d expect John Stor to get there. Last ditch defending and it had to be because I tell you what, it’s the Matalopoulos. you know, he was just goes gaping for him. So, it’s a brilliant tackle. But MVO are the dangerous side at the moment. They’re the the ones who shown the intent getting forward and look to get back in level terms. Shooters in trouble. Statopolis for Masani on the edge of the box. He shoots over the bar. Another opportunity for Mwell. Rangers did a bodies back. You saw the goal scored here against Martin in the League Cup from the other side of the penalty area. And you did wonder if he’d be able to repeat the trick there. It’s over the bar and it stays one- nothing Raiders. He was too ambitious and I hate saying that about players, but if he just lifted his head, I think Elijah just on Longello were in in the left hand side. There was another pass in that move rather than having the shot. But this is when you have to capitalize. There’s no point dominating the game and having four or five chances. This is the cutting edge in the clinical side of the game that they need. I think it’s fair to go as far as saying Rangers have been poor since the start of the second half. Yeah. Or else you could look at the other way. Mother would have been really good. I tell you what, they look a little bit leggy in the middle of the park. Rodwell was caught out of position a couple of times. Diamond and Raskin maybe not getting back in as quick as probably they should. So, uh it’s Mullible with all the energy. Uh but just lacking if they had that little bit of quality in the final third, h they could even have found themselves in a lead. But uh it’s not so much the Rangers riding a lot. I just think it’s bad finishing from Mo. Another ball in for Stamatopoulos and manages to hook it away from danger at the edge of his own box. Rothwell’s on its shot out to Diamande on this near side. Still he’s on it despite the attentions of two mother players. Diamande turning it back to Tavern. It was boiling hot in Athens the other night and Rangers was an energy sapping evening for them. You do wonder how much longer Russell Martin will give it before he looks to his bench. He should go there now, Liam. I think he needs to go to the bench just now. We’re just coming out up to the hour mark and uh this is that energy, that momentum is with Mville. So, I think he’s got to look to to change things up a little bit. Not not so much the shape, but certainly personnel. Two minutes shy of the hour mark for a park. One- nothing Rangers. And Cassama comes forward for them attacking the Malo box and then trying to turn back onto his left side. Two Mal players around him. He emerges with it and passes it back to Tavern. Not that he knew much about it. Tavern on his left side. Edge of the D. Plays it to the left for Rascin. Arens to his left. Rascin has it and goes back to Diamande. Now out to Max Arens. Level with the edge of the D in the middle box. Under pressure from Masvini. Back to Sutter. Forward to Rothwell. Square ball for Jigat. Just outside the center circle, but he plays it low out to Tao who goes back to Tavern. Tavern looking for options ahead of him. decides to go back to Sutter and a lot of this Rangers they seem quite happy at times to there’s no obvious option ahead then go back the way not enough energy not enough movement in the play there caught yeah Slatter is on it and he’s won it he plays it through to Statopolis it rolls under his right foot and all the way through to Butland the benches today Oxford as the subable keeper O’Donnell Balmer Sparrow Holidayiday Wilson White Ross for Rangers. Liam Kelly’s a goalie, Cortez, Baron, Desert by Ramy, Cameron, Jeffy, Fernandez, and Curtis. You do wonder if the likes of Connor Baron, Nadine by Ramy, Lyall, Cameron’s waiting for his Rangers debut. And we’ve already seen Finley Curtis start the two Panathanos games as Rangers pick up Diamande. And there a really late challenge there. It’s going to be a yellow card for the challenge on Kieran Da down there. And the card is out for Elliot Watt. I’m looking at Steven and I said I’m shaking my head. I don’t think that’s just a ball there to be won. You know, he’s in wholeheartedly. It’s not a booking. You know, you look back at Tavanir’s one. I thought that was more of a booking. But uh no m you know the last 15 minutes in this half they’ve been absolutely superb energy uh driving forward wave after wave of attack. Rangers just at the moment it’s they’re passing for passing sake uh no injection of pace certainly in that final third big concern is it’s still nil that’s a big concern for mother well when you create the chances and you all the play and you’re exerting a lot of energy and you don’t get the goal it can deflate you a little bit and suddenly the sucker punch can arrive. So they have to stay switched on. Rainderson in possession. Tavern and now back with Rothwell just right of the center circle and out to the left for Arens. Knocks it forward to the outside of the right foot looking for Kasama asking too much of Kasama and behind it goes for the goal kick to Motherwell. as they look as Derek was saying there. Steven was saying try and take advantage of the fact that they have been on top. I think they had something like four touches to the ball in the Rangers box in the first half. That’s up to 14 in the 16 minutes of play in the second. Rangers have had the same number of touches in the opposition box as Stamatopoulos goes down. Is he fouled by Chica? The referee doesn’t think so. Stamatalopoulos having a long lingering look at Steven Mlan. No free kick. Rangers play on with Rothwell and in that midfield area at the moment. Diamande and Raskin. They’re certainly they’re looking leggy. They’re looking tired. Uh changes coming Derek. Yeah, looks as if it’s Deserts coming up. I think they’ve been anonymous, haven’t they? They haven’t the ball. They’ve been no impact in the game. And that’s when you know as a manager you need to put oxygen into your side. Sel deser will be getting his debut as Arens comes comes into the mother wall box shoots and it’s a comfortable take for Callum Ward the low left feeted effort for the mother wall keeper it’s played short and fading and given away Tavern with the challenge going to break kindly for long though goes back to his keeper as to take a touch in his box now slides in but he can only knock it behind for the goal kick so the change is coming Denilo coming off and Desert he scored 29 times last season he’s been maligned at times times during his two years at the club. He will come on to replace Denilo Diamande who is actually in fairness he’s looked like he’s struggling for energy since the start of the game Cameron will replace him. Yeah. So he looks dead in his feet. It’s just it was a little give and go around about him and his reaction to it you know was he had nothing left in the tank. He couldn’t get back there. So, uh, you know, certainly Rangers in that engine room, they need they need more energy and Cameron will certainly give you that. Yeah, Rangers bringing Lyall Cameron to the club after another fine season in the Dundee first team. He scored those two crucial goals in the final day at McDermad as well to ensure they stayed up. They’ve played it out the back end and they’re so fortunate that didn’t land at the foot of Serial Desert who just on. They’re coming away with it now. That’s going to be a free kick. Ly Cameron is going to be booked 20 seconds into his Rangers career. So L Cron’s got more yellow cards than he has touches in his Rangers debut so far, which is mad. Which is love at that play. Chaos. Absolutely. I think that is madness. I don’t know how they’ll get away with it, but uh that I think that’s crazy playing one twos in your sixoot yard box. It’s astonishing, Derek. I cannot get my head right when there’s about three or four blue jerseys round about you. That’s If you’re going up against a superior team, and that is the case here. Why do you still play that way? I can’t understand it. As Mü will come forward this time. Raiders haven’t looked too great in the back. M will have a chance here. It’s lofted over the bar by Elijah just he’s had a couple of opportunities in the second half but he fires it high and wide and it stays Motherwell nil Rangers won 64 minutes on the clock. If this stays 1 nil at full time I’ll be equally astonished Rangers from the back. It’s well from a neutral point of view it’s entertaining. Well that’s Rangers saying to mother well anything you can do in your sixyard box we can do worse. We can’t do it either. It’s not going to change. Both managers aren’t going to change. So in mid December lane, you come here to watch Mother on the pitch is a mess, which it usually isn’t. It’s going to be the exact same way by all accounts as in Rangers. Tavern clears deserts and now Raskin gets it in defeat. Driving up towards the halfway line. Desert to his right and Gazama to his left. Still it’s Rasin can’t make up his mind what he’s doing and he eventually squares it to Dao. Rangers with a one- nothing lead looking for a second here. Cameron plays it infield to Tavernir. Then play it short to Dao and then to Cameron and then back to Dao. Infield to Tavern then Arenss to Suttor. Sweeps it with the right foot out to Casama on the left. Going to try and take on Katrus here. Gets the low ball forward into the box for Ras. And he wins the corner. That was certainly better from Rangers uh that time. B just played to Kazama down that left hand side and it’s a lovely weighted pass to Raskin making the run into the box left hand side and well defended but uh Rangers you know they need this because they’ve been under severe pressure for the last what 15 20 minutes. So need a breather here. Joe Rothell was out to take the corner on the Rangers left. Attacking the goal to our right to the two dugouts right as well from Rothwell. It’s a deep one towards the back post. Tavern wins the header, heads it back towards Desert and it’s back to goal and can’t control. Mother will come away with it in the far side. Masmani up the line now. What can they make of this on the counter? Motherwell, it’s swept out to this left hand side for just looking to knock it in towards Stamatopoulos. He’s on to it. Right footed shot is blocked by Arenss and Butland holds on. It’s good counter by Motherwell. They’re desperately trying to feed Stamatalopoulos. It’s just not quite happen for him yet. 66 played and it’s mother well Rangers one. I just think sometimes when you get into that position l as much as you’re counteratt attacking Rangers had an overload against the man a lotless rather than forcing it just take another touch chop inside allow a little bit more support when he was galloping up as well to try and get in touch so rather than continually trying to force the issue and panic in a little bit of composure just settle yourself and play that extra pass if you have to came here with good pedigree Stamatopoulos from his homeland Australia played for Newcastle Jets scored 17 goals in 25 appearances is before moving here. There’s an injury interrupted debut season as Rangers come forward down the right with Cameron. Dowels out here on the near side uses him infield to Rothwell. Prods it through there for Desers. He’s bobbled away from him though. And Motherwell can clear their lines. They’ve given it away again. And Rangers have it back with Rothwell. Nicks it to Rasin to his left. Rasin into the box. Shoots. Blocked corner. Rangers well into double figures now. Motherwell nil, Rangers won the final quarter of the match here. And just a little pointer for BBC Radio Scotland listeners who are waiting for Take the Floor. That will follow at 7:00. There will be a frequency split in just over 5 minutes time. The football will be extra and on mediumwave and on digital. take the floor on FM and on sounds. You have been warned. Rangers corner. Rothewell to take in swinger with the right foot. The referee’s not happy. They’re a big group of players just to the right of the penalty spot who are pushing and grabbing each other. Rothewell waits to take the corner. Now the ref’s ready. This is the source of the only goal of the game, a Rothwell corner. In it comes. This is another deep delivery again. Taverner wins it. It’s played back to Cameron who shoots and it’s right down the middle and it’s held on to by the keeper. Decent hit actually from Lyall Cameron. Difficult one for him to take and it was a comfortable save cuz it was straight at the goalkeeper Callum Ward and it stays one- nothing Ranger. Yeah, again Ta at the back post. He’s won so many headers. Obviously he’s got the goal with a head at the back post area but uh yeah, good strike from Camel. just couldn’t put it towards a post uh either left or right uh to really work the keeper and then it was a comfortable save but uh oh it’s been all mother in this second half it’s just you just can’t quite believe that here we go again yeah long kept it in play down the left driving in the box pulls it back towards the 18 yd line it’s blocked kept alive just swings it’s a brilliant ball and Stamatalopouloolis heads over another chance goes out begging for the steel 10 and with just over 20 left, it stays one- nothing Rangers. They’re going to have to take one of these. How it’s still one n I don’t know. I have to say Elijah just it’s a tremendous pick out because he gets to the by line if he fizzes it low and hard across. There’s too many Rangers players there. He has to take Jack Button down to play. He does and Stamat Lopas is clamoring all over the top of John Sudter. John Sudter I think just does enough. He doesn’t get a clean header. Hits the top of his head and just lands on the crossbar. But wow, they’re coming closer, getting closer, but not close enough. I mean, this is an even game. It’s a very even game. Mother will have been the better team. Does it feel that way at the moment? It feels all motherable. Uh to me, and I was just going to say earlier this this is anybody’s game. Uh I know Rangers across the match as a whole, I mean. Yeah. Oh, yeah. That one is as if Statalos was he was up just as he was maybe coming down. He gets his head on it, but it is it’s a brilliant cross. so as because Butler knew he’s coming in near post. He’s got to and he just takes him out the equation and and I think he’s just coming down. He’s Josh fighting with Sutter that back post there. But again, what a an unbelievable chance. I mean, Rangers can’t keep conceding these uh these chances because uh one’s got to go to the back of the net. What I would say, Liam, is I can’t remember a Mother Wolf and Rangers game here at Fur Park being as close for the entirety of the game as what we’ve got tonight. That’s what I was getting at. Yeah. And there’s been spells where mother will have been good in games, but not 50/50 as it is at this moment in time, which is either Mother been better or Rangers not being as good. I’m not so sure how how that pans out. Well, the guys were talking their mother making a change and bringing Steven O’Donnell on for Liam Gordon, former Scotland international on the two-time cup winner at St. Johnston. Liam Gordon, Rangers of a goal kick after that Stamatalopoulos chance. Just a reminder that frequency split is almost upon us. We take the floor on FM and BBC radio Scotland. Sports continuing on extra an 810 medium wave and on digital. Slattery for Motherwell knocking it through looking for Stamatopoulos at a last ditch challenge by Sutter. It’s going to go out for a mother well throw in about level with the Ranger sixyd line on this near side and it’s going to be left for Longo but there’s an equalizer in this for Motherwell if they can find it trying their utmost a little bit proflegate in this second half a couple of these opportunities they might have done better with long over the throw There’s not much movement in clar at the moment. He’s getting some from Slatterie in Marshall by Cameron. So, it’s played to watch his little flick drop straight to Cameron who wins Rangers a throw in deep inside their own half here on this near side. And I’m sure change coming. Sorry Steven. I tell you what, we’ll get the frequency split out the way and then we’ll get Steven’s thoughts. Connor Baron meantime is going to come on for Nicholas Rascin. Now they’ve looked they looked leggy certainly in this second half. Basically the mother midfield. They just ran over the top of them. Robo as well is coming off. So that’s that midfield area where I thought rangers were really strong but take the floor. BBC Radio Scotland FM coming up and on sounds. We continue here. field on eight medium wave on extra and on digital with marble nil rangers one there is 73 minutes on the clock can mother well salvage something out of this game got to say lame sorry I’m not sure that that Jan’s birth can ask an awful lot more from his players you know be brave be adventurous get yourself forward hard running everything you want from your team and the only thing that smithing is the hardest part of football putting the ball in the back of the net the only separating them is an awful goal from their point of view. And that will be the biggest frustration of all, particularly if this ends up being the final score. And Russell Martin has said uh previous in a few interviews that he wants his team to outrun, out sprint the opposition. Well, I think it’s uh there’s only one team doing this at the moment in the second half and it’s Malo. Rangers in possession over on the left there with Casama just loses out. Breaks to the edge of the box and turning back towards his own goal. Was risky there Finger but he’s fortunate it drops to O’Donnell. Goes with a long ball forward. Clips off the top of Tavernir’s head. Just gets on to it. Nods it to his right for Slatterie. The Mother fans roar in hope that they can find an equalizer here as it slip through just in the box. The challenge from Baron and it bobbles back to Butland who holds on and it stays Motherwell nil. Rangers one. How many times have Motherwell counteratt attacked Rangers in the second half? I’ve lost count because Rangers attack ball turns over and suddenly Mother will take off and the Rangers team even though there’s three fresh midfield players in and wide players, they’re struggling to cope with the running power. I’m amazed. Double rolling it back to Sutter. at walking pace at the moment. Just slipping it forward to the left there for Cameron. Goes back to Arenss. And now Sutter Sutter then rolling it with the right foot low out to the left hand side for Cameron. Cameron finds Arens going back the way. They just look one paced at the moment Rangers. It’s an but soon as Mville gained possession of the ball, you know, there’s that change of pace, that acceleration, they get forward numbers. Rangers, it’s just uh it’s a civil second gear. They’ve also in the midst of all that brought on Nadine Bay, try and shake some life into the team. He’s been sorely lacking in this second half. Mother will have taken the game to them. without success though so far. Panami came on for Rasin. Big switch for Motherwell just evades Longo and out for the throw in on this near side to the visitors. Problem is lame, see when you slow the game up the way Rangers are, you allow Motherwell to filter in back behind the ball. So that space that you had initially is gone and you’ve got to move it and move it, but you’ve got to move it a bit quicker. Try and draw a mother player out and then pierce it. thought they were just sitting waiting for Rangers to give the ball away and then counterattacking and it’s happened time and time again. Baron out to Tavern rolls it forward here for by Ramy out to Dao back to Bay Ramy right hand side of the Motherwell box. Well read by McInn though for Motherwell. He turns it back in field and encouraging his teammate to just get rid of it but it wasn’t the most decisive clearance in the world and it breaks to Tavern. Not a great ball out the defense by Finger. Here’s Tavern. Goes all the way back to Sutter. Rangers generally do okay in the opening weekend of the league season. They lost one of them since 1998 when they were beaten at Karnuk two years ago. Did drop points at Time Castle 12 months back. Goalless draw. Sterner picks up right of the center circle and switches it to Sutter. Little chip ball forward in behind the defense. Gasama trying to get on to it and he is on to it now. plays it back to Desert. Bubbles between his feet. He’s still on it. Back out to Gasama. Rangers looking to kill the game here on the left hand side. Gisama pulls it back. Baron takes a touch and shoots over the bar. It’s not a massive goal scorer. Connor Baron. That’s well over the bar. And on 77 and a half, it stays Motherwell nil. Rangers one. A little bit better in terms of getting the ball to Gasama and that lead left hand side. you know, a little bit of trickery, but ends up just lays it into I think it was a corner bar there and then uh n you never looked he’s never set you weren’t confident he was going to even hit the target at the moment but uh it’s not even we’re talking about running power uh from Mullo it’s a little jewels as well gives it away Gama through for Desar might get a second chance here the keeper has come out committed himself got nowhere near it but he’s fortunate because deser has given it away as well and now will come in a counter and that’s when he say managed to pop it through Stamatalopoulos is driving down the right hand side. Masuan and just waiting in the middle. Stamatalopoulos across. Blocked by Gads. A poor ball. Bounces back to the Aussie though. And now to just the edge of the box, but he scuffs his effort well wide. That looked like it opened up beautifully for Apostto Stamatalopoulos. But he couldn’t take advantage of it. Again, he’s had so many opportunities himself in the second half. And it stays mother well nil. Rangers won. And that will be Stamatopoulos’s final action because Ibrahim Sid’s going to come on. Steven, well, you can’t fault him for effort and for energy and desire. I thought the first half he was quiet. His hold up play. His link up play wasn’t good. It’s been much improved in the second half, but that final attack, he’s running with the ball. M is just running in a straight line. Elijah just is running in a straight line. They needed to make some sort of movement a little bit earlier just to disrupt the Rangers back line and give him a better choice of pass, but unfortunately he couldn’t make it. But they’re still there. They’ve now got the pace of Maswani. He’ll play center forward. Uh Sead will play on the right hand side. So a different threat for Rangers again. 23-year-old Nigerian who’s here after 5 years at Vyborg in Denmark as shanks it out for a mother well throw in on this near side. Bow backed him again I think. You could say Derek that up to this point just over 10 minutes to play and this has been unconvincing from Rangers today and that’s been extremely kind Liam. Uh well we see how this pans out. Mother away in a counter again here. He’s rolled into the box for Maswini. Well covered by Giggat who’s dealt with everything that he’s had to deal with today. Well Liam there’s a difference with Mother when they get the ball they go at pace. There’s intent to get forward you know get past your man. Rangers when they get the ball they’re so passive in their passing and it’s one pace slattery from mother well we are on 80 minutes 1 nil Rangers might decide on the far side turns it back the way it’s a poor ball in though Rangers can clear des goes down wanting the free kick and Steven Mlan duly obliges dreadful referee I have to say it’s such a soft free kick there’s a little coming together Steve Mlan could not wait to blow the whistle not blaming the Rangers player for because Kay’s gone down trying to win the free kick. He’s looking for it. Yeah, which is what you do as players, but the referee doesn’t need to be as soft with his whistle. It’s not been a really over physical game at all. Tavern back to Sutter and then to Jiga out to Bay Ramy on the near side as it picked off and looked like it came off him last indeed. The referee and his assistant agree. It’s a poor touch by Finger. He gets away with it again. Managed to hook it away from Desert who had been in goal there. He’s done that way too often for Motherwell today. Fadinger and that’s played down that right for side up against Arens. A misunderstanding there with his teammate just in behind them and Rangers have it back with Arens in the far side. The question is do Motherwell have another big chance before the end. The slatter he lets fly. It’s a poor effort in the end up and then he’s dragged it well wide past the left hand post low shot a goal and it will stay mother nil Rangers one they’re going to bring on Oscar Cortez our Rangers and he’s joined the club full time in the summer after that previous big fee was agreed following his long loan spell at the club and he’s got plenty need to prove cuz he’s right for big money as well. Yeah, they look so disjointed as well. You know that they’ve been they’ve been extremely poor in this second half. Uh the changes I thought would have give a little bit more energy, a little bit more drive. It’s not really materialized. Cortez, as you see, came for a few a little bit of money. you’re looking for them to make an impact, but uh they look they look just a group of players in this second half that have just been through together and they’ve they’ve not get the you talk about the little relationships you have in the part understanding there’s nothing at the moment coming from Rangers. It’s actually quite worrying. Cameron wins it back for them on the far side. Now it’s Arens. It was Gama came off there incidentally. Cortez replacing him. Slatterie fouled by Baron. Free kick. Motherwell just inside the Rangers half on that right side almost on 83 minutes now. Rangers hanging on and have done since the interval. Do you know Liam? I thought when Mull started the second half really well that 15 20 minute period I thought then Rangers would start to grow back into the game. It’s it’s been nothing like that. It’s been relentless from Mull wave after wave of attack, chance after chance and it is still it’s 83 minutes and it reads Mull Rangers one which that’s what I find quite incredible. Derek, if I was to ask you what’s Rangers tactic, what are they trying to do? I I’ve not got a clue at the moment. I’ve not got a clue. And even when they get the ball, uh, it’s so passive. It’s just find a blue jersey, go back the way, go side to side. There’s nothing. He tried to create one v1s, 2 v ones, little overloads attack. There’s nothing, Steve. Nothing. I don’t I don’t see it at the moment. Another foul by Tavern and there’s a yellow for someone. Not sure. Was it D got that? Ta could have been booked earlier and he could easily have been booked for that one. He got booked for neither of them. It’s a free kick to Motherwell though and it’s right the center just about midway inside. the Rangers half and Slatterie is over it. But the clock is ticking down on Motherwell if they want to take something from this opening Premiership fixture. Slatterie with it and there’s a breakdown in communication with a couple of his teammates cuz he just floated it harmlessly behind for a goal kick. St. Mother will nail Rangers one, but this is as well his mother will have played against Rangers here. probably since that playoff for an extended period of time in a long time l and a long long time and I’m saying I’m trying to work out is it because mother will have been better or rangers are poorer side for mother well picking up the center of the pitch Arens gets there though it’s played out to Cortez Rangers know that if they get to full time 1 n it doesn’t matter in that’s a great example the ball goes to Cortez uh way out wide in that left hand side and the first thing he should be doing is taking that ball carrying it forward First thing he does, he looks to pass it backwards. You know, get a grip of the ball, get forward, get your team up the park. Steven asked the question. I I don’t quite see what they’re trying to do at the moment. Final five minutes at Far Park. Earlier it was 2-2 between Karnuk and Livingston. Killy finishing with 10 men after was by all accounts an entertaining affair in air. Daniels and Watson and Kar two up at the break. Nearheads penalty after the red card. Pitman scored the late equalizer. Rangers come forward. It’s a long ball. Deserts can’t get on to it and it’s held on to by Ward. Tomorrow 2 p.m. kickoff. Fal Dundy United. 3:00 start at Den Dundy Hibs 4:30 start flag day for Celtic who hosts St. Mirin who they played there on the final day of last season and on Monday it’s hearts against Aberdine Rangers Victoria Pills in on Tuesday partisan heads Rapid Vienna Dundy United on Thursday here come Motherwell Longo bounding into the box his efforts blocked breaks back to the edge of the area surely be an offside flag here but it’s been turned into the net and the flag has stayed down and unbelievably Emanuel Longo pops up to rattle it into the bottom my corner and you cannot say that Motherwell do not deserve the equalizer that’s just been bestowed upon them by Emanuel Longo with three and a half of the 90 to play. It is Motherwell one, Rangers one. I have to say I thought there was an offside in there but the linesman’s flag stays down. I think when the strike comes in from Jonica Trumbus, it’s possibly James Tabiner at the back post is coming out. The deflection then goes up in the air and the ball’s delayed getting to Elijah just I think he is just on side. That was my initial thought. He’s on side cuz Tav here and him crossed. Var will clear it up for his lane. If the goal stands, we’re waiting to see the referee pointing to the spot. You’re right. If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. and a mother will have been knocking on the door the whole second half and they deserve what they’ve got for their effort, for their energy, for their desire, for their quality and for their resilience not to give in. They deserve to be level in this game. Yeah, the goal does stand. Rangers kick off. Their lead has gone. Motherwell with a deserved equalizer based on their second half performance as Rangers come through. Cameron is found by Ramy. Can they get their lead back here? It’s pulled back and it bounces behind for the corner off Elliot Watt. Rangers looking to restore their advantage and this is where Motherwell will have to be so concentrated. They’ve been poor at set pieces as well. Tavanir winning quite a number of balls at the back post. But you’re quite right mother it’s it’s the least they deserve that equalizer because it’s it’s been they’ve been sensational in this second half and certainly deserve to draw level. There could easily be more drama at either end in the closing stages here. The final two of the 90. In comes the corner. Mother will head clear. It’s volied for goal by by Ramy. It is blocked and Rangers on yet another corner. This time over on their left hand side. Why is it taken Rangers to concede a goal to bring them to life? The game’s there. They’re one n up. Go and kill it. Suddenly it’s taken a little bit of adversity for them to think, right, we got to get a even even leaders. Some some players, you know, they’re not getting a grip. Other players deing them up, getting them going. There’s been nothing. In comes Baron’s corner onto the goal line. Beaten away by the goalkeeper and then preventing the corner was the mother goal scorer. Longo took his goal really well. It’s a second scored. It was Peter Head scored against, wasn’t it? And a fabulous finish here. Mull have a man down inside their own box. It’s Slattery that’s down there inside his own penalty area. Rangers have a throw in which is le over the mullable penalty spot as we go into the 90th minute. One a piece. One a piece as Taverner picks up having taken the throne and got it back from Bayami. Byami gets it back. Finds D. Byrami across and blocked brilliantly there just as it looked as though Cortez was going to slide it home. Rangers open at the back. His mother will come forward on the counter with just who I think is in a very good game. Chance here to knock it out wide, but it’s cut out by Cortez. It was the sub who gives it away. Arens for Rangers driving down the left. It’s a good challenge by Fattinger going to keep it in play. It’s going to go out, I think, for a mother throw in anyway. And then a little bit of afters there, not once but twice. Aaron’s pushing Steven O’Donnell to the deck and he’s been booked as well, the Rangers left back. Couple of changes coming for Motherwell for the stoppage time and we await to see Ian Snedden’s board to tell us how much is being added on. Four minutes. Four minutes being added on for one of these teams to find a winner. Malawa one Rangers one. There’s been plenty going on out there. It’s been played at a frenetic pace at times. And for the players who are new to Scottish football, I’m talking about from both sides. This guy’s been good. He’s coming off here just you know what? picks up really good positions. His understanding of the game, he recognizes where the ball is, where the space is. Lovely touch. He’s very slight, not the heaviest, but he glides across the ground. And I have to say, he’s got a lovely left foot and technically very, very good. On comes big Kofi Balmer for him. Tom Sparrow is going to be on as well. And he’s going to replace Slatterie in the closing stages of the game. But the as much as clearly there will be plenty talk about the performance of Rangers in the second half, so much grinds for optimism for the Motherwell supporters given the way they’ve taken the game to Rangers in this second half. They’ve been at full tilt all second half and Rangers you know it’s said they’ve been going through the motions which is you know you can’t quite believe it because uh it’s such a big game they needed to get off to a good start try and win it but uh they’re lucky to even be be drawn at the moment. But uh and that’s why you can see the mother fans applauding the mother players because they are giving it everything. But the men in blue doing that I don’t think so. That’s a real concern for Russell Martin that if that is the case will have it s on this near side but movement ahead. It’s a lovely turn. Has he fouled? Yes he was free kick. Motherwell yellow card tavern here and look there’s plenty of other well supporters are turned around to us basically saying that should be him off now yellow card from the Rangers captain can’t disagree with that that’s some other fans you’re hearing I tell you this that’s the loudest I’ve heard the home support and against an old firm team for a long long time not just because of drawing the game but because of what the team have put in and what they’ve enjoyed watch and I said at the top of the game I wasn’t sure what we were going to get because sometimes the Pender Sports Cup can be a false gauge but tonight they’ve been absolutely on the money. V kick mother well it’s been taken into the box by what towards the back post pushed across the face of goal and it drops kindly for Serial Desert but doing a defensive job. The whistle’s gone anyway for offside, the new mother manager, his league bow today. And it looked like it was getting off to an inospicious start with that cheap goal conceded scored by Taverner relatively early in proceedings and they came rolling out of the traps at the start of the second half. The time Rangers haven’t lived with them. Rangers can still win this football match as well though and they’re coming forward double loop for by Ramy but that’s a brilliant bit of defending there by longo he’s been outstanding in the second half not just for his goal but they might be in here Motherwell it’s played through for Tom Sparrow he’s at the edge of the box on his left foot shoots to the outside of the boot and it’s saved by Motherwell so close to a sensational winning goal there got down to his left to make the save flicked it with the outside of his and he couldn’t put it home having scored in a recent win at Ibro. He stays 1-1. It’s a brilliant attempt at goal. Uh it’s caught kind of under his feet a little bit. You know, you’re seeing the outside even as if it was his toe, you know, he just gets it. So, it comes off at real pace. I tell you what, what a save it is from Butland down to his left hand side. I just could see that there 2-1 Müller. And you couldn’t have argued with it because they probably deserved it in this second half performance because they have been exceptional. Free kick or drop ball rather for Rangers in their favor. Let’s stay back to Now it’s Tavern nearer midway inside them half. We’ve played the four minutes by Ramy bends the cross in. It’s claimed by the keeper eventually Callum. He flops down onto it as well and bounces straight up and gets ready to launch it forward. But we are in added time and added time. It is 1-1. Long ball up towards Masvin. But that’s it. It’s all over. It looked as though it was. It looked like it was when it’s an offside. It was blown for there. But the final whistle’s coming. Hoping it was going to be all over. Derek saying that not because he’s not enjoyed the game as a whole, because it’s been very entertaining, but he’s very concerned about the performance from Rangers today. Yeah. And you tip your cap to Müller because I love when players go at it 100% and they’ve done that. The only thing they’ve lacked that little bit of quality in the in the final sub. That is the final whistle. Now, the mother will fans celebrate a point well earned on the opening day. A brilliant second half performance by the men in Clarit and Amber. They’ve battered Rangers for spells in that second half and probably should have won this match. But the strike from Emanuel Longo has earned them a point here as he rifled it home and bobbled back towards him and he smashed it into the bottom right. that after James Tavern’s headed opener on 14 minutes nodding home Rothwell’s corner neither team looked particularly solid defensively today there probably should have been many more goals than the two that were scored but it is a point a piece for these two and it’s the mother fans who are celebrating many of them wildly over on the far side and little wonder given what they’ve seen from their team in that second period. Rangers were not bad in the first half, but they dropped their levels dramatically in the second. Now, perhaps you do have to take into account the the match in the searing heat in Athens the other night in the Champions League qualifiers and the travel that had to be done as well. It’s been a long week for them and I’m not sure there’ll be too many of those supporters in the south stand behind the goal there will be wanting that to be made as an excuse for what was a really poor performance by and large. Rangers dropped points in 16 of their league games last season. This is game one and they’ve dropped points already. It finishes here at Far Park. Motherwell won, Rangers won.