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Sports

Rangers extend lead to 16 points after comeback against Motherwell

Rangers extend lead to 16 points after comeback against Motherwell
Newsexplored
19th December 2020
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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard celebrates
Steven Gerrard was delighted by his side’s comeback as Stephen Robinson was left disappointed

Rangers came from behind against Motherwell to secure a win that stretches their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points.

Cedric Itten struck in between a Kemar Roofe double in the final 17 minutes to ensure Rangers avoided a second defeat within four days.

Rangers struggled to break down the visitors after they had taken the lead through Callum Lang on six minutes.

But their comeback consigned Motherwell to a fourth consecutive defeat.

Stephen Robinson’s side remain fifth, 10 points behind Aberdeen, despite a run of six games without a win and will view this is an opportunity missed.

Rangers benefit from Hibernian’s draw with Dundee United and Celtic’s involvement in Sunday’s Scottish Cup final to take further command at the top.

Steven Gerrard’s side had not lost all season until their shock midweek League Cup quarter-final loss at St Mirren and, for much of this game, it looked like Rangers defeats were about to arrive like buses.

Buses was the correct description for the way the Motherwell defence was parked around their own box as they repelled and frustrated the increasingly desperate home side after Lang’s early strike.

Rangers looked like they were determined to sweep aside the memory of that midweek disappointment as restored striker Jermain Defoe tested goalkeeper Jordan Archer shortly after kick-off.

However, as Dundee United had shown despite defeat last week, the Ibrox side still struggle to break down a side determined to pack their defence. As St Mirren showed in midweek, they have suddenly showed a fragility at the back.

Motherwell scored in their first attack as Declan Gallagher held the ball up on the edge of Rangers penalty box and fed Scotland colleague Stephen O’Donnell, whose low cross found Lang ghosting in unmarked at the back post for his fifth goal of the season.

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Ryan Kent headed wastefully wide before the break and Steven Davis had a goal disallowed for offside as Rangers looked to be running out of time and ideas to break down opponents that gave them some nervous moments on the break.

However, Kent made up for his miss by poking the ball into the path of Roofe to score from close range and signal a late Rangers rescue act.

Itten headed in at the back post after a corner evaded everyone else in a packed six-yard box before Roofe supplied yet another close-range finish as the ball bobbled the packed area.

Man of the match – Kemar Roofe

Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten celebrate
Kemar Roofe (centre) and Cedric Itten were the difference between victory and another shock result

What did we learn?

While Rangers end the day with their lead enhanced, the way they laboured to subdue a struggling Motherwell will add to the question marks raised by their League Cup exit.


However, Gerrard will point to their determination to come from behind as proof that they can avoid the collapse in form they have endured in recent seasons once the pressure builds in the second half of the campaign.

Motherwell will take heart from the way they were able to limit the league leaders to so few clear-cut chances until that late collapse – and their ability to worry Rangers on the break.

There will, though, be concerns about that poor run of results, which would have them toiling in the table had they not been awarded two wins because of their opponents’ Covid-19 rule breaches.

What’s next?

Rangers continue their pursuit of the title in Perth on Wednesday, when they face in-form St Johnstone (18:00 GMT), while Motherwell host fourth-top Aberdeen (18:15).

Player of the match

LangCallum Lang

with an average of 6.95

Rangers

  1. Squad number11Player nameItten

    Average rating

    6.93

  2. Squad number15Player nameZungu

    Average rating

    6.11

  3. Squad number7Player nameHagi

    Average rating

    6.04

  4. Squad number25Player nameRoofe

    Average rating

    5.83

  5. Squad number17Player nameAribo

    Average rating

    5.51

  6. Squad number9Player nameDefoe

    Average rating

    5.21

  7. Squad number14Player nameKent

    Average rating

    5.17

  8. Squad number10Player nameDavis

    Average rating

    4.99

  9. Squad number2Player nameTavernier

    Average rating

    4.92

  10. Squad number6Player nameGoldson

    Average rating

    4.88

  11. Squad number31Player nameBarisic

    Average rating

    4.83

  12. Squad number1Player nameMcGregor

    Average rating

    4.79

  13. Squad number18Player nameKamara

    Average rating

    4.78

  14. Squad number37Player nameArfield

    Average rating

    4.76

  15. Squad number5Player nameHelander

    Average rating

    4.72

Motherwell

  1. Squad number29Player nameLang

    Average rating

    6.95

  2. Squad number7Player nameO’Hara

    Average rating

    6.80

  3. Squad number31Player nameGallagher

    Average rating

    6.74

  4. Squad number33Player nameO’Donnell

    Average rating

    6.74

  5. Squad number6Player nameCampbell

    Average rating

    6.70

  6. Squad number32Player nameWatt

    Average rating

    6.68

  7. Squad number8Player nameCrawford

    Average rating

    6.67

  8. Squad number2Player nameGrimshaw

    Average rating

    6.66

  9. Squad number13Player nameArcher

    Average rating

    6.65

  10. Squad number16Player nameMugabi

    Average rating

    6.64

  11. Squad number4Player nameLamie

    Average rating

    6.61

  12. Squad number5Player nameMcGinley

    Average rating

    6.10

  13. Squad number9Player nameWhite

    Average rating

    5.11

  14. Squad number17Player nameSeedorf

    Average rating

    4.35

  15. Squad number19Player namePolworth

    Average rating

    4.29

  16. Squad number44Player nameCole

    Average rating

    4.15

Line-ups

Rangers

  • 1McGregor
  • 2Tavernier
  • 6Goldson
  • 5Helander
  • 31Barisic
  • 37ArfieldSubstituted forHagiat 62′minutes
  • 10Davis
  • 18KamaraSubstituted forAriboat 45′minutes
  • 25Roofe
  • 9DefoeSubstituted forIttenat 71′minutes
  • 14KentSubstituted forZunguat 83′minutes

Substitutes

  • 3Bassey
  • 7Hagi
  • 11Itten
  • 15Zungu
  • 16Patterson
  • 17Aribo
  • 21Barker
  • 24Stewart
  • 33McLaughlin

Motherwell

  • 13ArcherBooked at 82mins
  • 33O’Donnell
  • 16Mugabi
  • 31Gallagher
  • 4LamieBooked at 77minsSubstituted forSeedorfat 85′minutes
  • 2GrimshawSubstituted forPolworthat 85′minutes
  • 6Campbell
  • 8CrawfordSubstituted forColeat 85′minutes
  • 7O’Hara
  • 32WattSubstituted forMcGinleyat 65′minutes
  • 29LangSubstituted forWhiteat 76′minutes

Substitutes

  • 5McGinley
  • 9White
  • 15Maguire
  • 17Seedorf
  • 19Polworth
  • 26Cornelius
  • 27Johnston
  • 34Chapman
  • 44Cole

Referee:
Don Robertson

Match Stats

Live Text

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Sports
19th December 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

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