Report: Motherwell 1 Rangers 2 – Tillman and Lundstram goals seal victory for Gers
GOALS from Malik Tillman and John Lundstram ensured Rangers were victorious against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Tillman and Lundstram struck after the break to put the Ibrox club 2-0 up before Callum Slattery pulled one back for the hosts to set up a nervy ending. The win means Rangers stay within two points of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Rangers, aiming to put their mid-week Champions League battering by Liverpool behind them, started the better side, with former Anfield man Ryan Kent seeing his effort saved by Liam Kelly.
In the sixth minute, Tillman found some space inside the Motherwell box but his powerful effort failed to hit the target.
In the 21st minute, Kent and Tillman combined, but the latter’s effort was saved well by Kelly.
Motherwell responded in the 33rd minute with Sean Goss firing a left-footed towards goal, but his effort was blocked as the hosts failed to register a touch in the Rangers box in the first half – the first time in the Scottish Premiership this season that a team have failed to have a single touch in an opposition penalty area.
The Glasgow side started the second half in a similar fashion. Antonio-Mirko Colak headed wide from Borna Barisic’s cross.
Motherwell did respond. Former Scunthorpe striker Kevin Van Veen was played in by Goss by Allan McGregor was in his way.
Rangers took the lead in the 53rd minute. Tillman heading in James Tavernier’s free-kick. That lead was doubled in the 69th minute. Lundstram headed in Barisic’s corner to the delight of the travelling fans behind the goal.
Motherwell’s main threat was from Goss. He found Callum Slattery, who was the second Motherwell player to see his effort blocked by the Rangers’ defence.
The home side did get themselves back into the contest. Stuart McKinstry fired home a free kick after Josh Morris was fouled by Tavernier. With seven minutes to go, McKinstry tried his luck again from a free kick, but this time, his effort dropped the wrong side of the post.
Rangers could have added a third, but Lundstrum was unable to convert after being found by Barisic.
Image: Rangers FC