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Motherwell vs Rangers. Scottish Premiership.

Fir ParkAttendance8,498.

Motherwell 1

  • S McKinstry (77th minute)

Rangers 2

  • M Tillman (53rd minute)
  • J Lundstram (69th minute)

Motherwell 1-2 Rangers: Malik Tillman solo strike sees Gers close to within two points of Celtic

Report as Rangers win 2-1 at Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership; second-half goals from Malik Tillman and John Lundstram put the visitors 2-0 up; Stuart McKinstry's free-kick gave the hosts hope of a draw; Rangers move back to within two points of Celtic, while Motherwell stay eighth

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Highlights from the Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Rangers

Malik Tillman's sensational solo goal helped Rangers overcome Motherwell 2-1 at Fir Park to close the gap on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership back to just two points.

After a lacklustre first half, Rangers made the crucial breakthrough eight minutes after half-time when Tilman won back possession on halfway, before dribbling past five Motherwell players and finding the bottom corner of the net with a delicate dinked finish.

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Malik Tillman's superb solo goal gives Rangers the lead against Motherwell

If that strike was eye catching, then John Lundstram's near-post header to double the visitors' lead midway through the second period was more perfunctory and it appeared to put his side on course for a comfortable win.

However, Stuart McKinstry's floated free-kick caught out Allan McGregor to set up a tense finale, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst's team holding on for a vital three points as they closed in on the champions, while the hosts stay eighth in the table.

Rangers' Malik Tillman scores to make it 1-0
Image: Rangers' Malik Tillman scores to make it 1-0

Player ratings

Motherwell: Kelly (6), McGinn (6), Johansen (6), Lamie (7), Penney (6), Slattery (6), Goss (7), McKinstry (7), Tierney (7), Morris (6), van Veen (7)

Subs: Mugabi (6), Cornelius (6)

Rangers: McGregor (6), Tavernier (6), King (6), Davies (6), Barisic (7), Lundstram (8), Arfield (6), Matondo (6), Tillman (8), Kent (7), Colak (7)

Subs: Davis (6), Morelos (6), Scott Wright (6)

Man of the match: Malik Tillman

How Rangers closed the gap on Celtic

Rangers arrived at Fir Park on the back of a 7-1 mauling at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League and in desperate need of a morale-boosting display, only to produce a lethargic first-half showing in their first meeting with Motherwell this season.

Perhaps still feeling the aftereffects from midweek, the visitors barely threatened before the break, bar a couple of early efforts from Ryan Kent and Tillman.

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John Lundstram heads in from a corner to make it 2-0 to Rangers against Motherwell

However, Rangers stepped up the pace after the interval as they went in search of the opener, breaking the deadlock thanks to a goal-of-the-season contender from their on-loan Bayern Munich forward.

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There appeared little danger when Tillman won back possession near the halfway line, only for the United States international to skip past five opponents on his way into the area, before keeping his cool to chip the ball over the advancing Liam Kelly and into the left-hand corner of the net.

Team news

Motherwell boss Steven Hammell made three changes from the side that lost to Hibs last time out. Connor Shields was banned, while both Joe Efford and Blair Spittal missed out, with Ross Tierney, Josh Morris and Stuart McKinstry all starting.

Rangers, meanwhile, made three changes from the midweek thrashing to Liverpool in the Champions League, with Leon King, Malik Tillman and Rabbi Matondo all coming into the starting lineup in place of the injured Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack and Fashion Jr.

That lead was doubled after 69 minutes as Lundstram met a left-wing corner with a near-post header that looped into the far corner as Rangers appeared to be cruising towards all three points.

That is until McKinstry briefly gave Steven Hammell's side hope of an unlikely draw when his free-kick from the left edge of the area somehow found its way past McGregor before dropping under the bar for just the hosts' third league goal at home all season.

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Stuart McKinstry's free-kick sails in over Allan McGregor to give Motherwell hope against Rangers as they trail 2-1

But it was too little, too late as Rangers hung on for what could yet prove a vital win to end a tough few says for Van Bronckhorst and Co.

Rangers' John Lundstram (centre) celebrates making it 2-0
Image: Rangers' John Lundstram (centre) celebrates making it 2-0

What the managers said...

Motherwell boss Steven Hammell:

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Motherwell manager Steven Hammell says he was disappointed with the way his side conceded what he described as 'two poor goals'

"It's frustration and disappointment," he said. "I think we put a lot into the game but, again, the goals we concede aren't good enough. They are too cheap.

"From our point of view, it's nowhere near good enough.

"If you're going to defend like that, you're going to get punished. Attention to detail is nowhere near where it should be. At this level, there's no way we should be conceding them. Both goals are equally as poor.

"I think it's a red card (Leon King's 87th-minute challenge on McKinstry). Not for where it is on the pitch and where Stuart's going to - that's up for debate - but for the actual tackle in isolation.

"It's poor, he catches him high and there's a lot of force in it. I think Stuart's lucky not to come away with an injury on the back of it. It's not something we are going to be overly concerned about but in my opinion, it's a poor tackle."

Rangers boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst:

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Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst says it was vital for Rangers to bounce back from their defeat to Liverpoool with a win at Motherwell

"It was vital to us to win this game," he said. "I think first half we started well and had two great chances to score the first goal. We didn't.

"After that we weren't in the game as we wanted. Second half we did much better and scored two goals, which gave us a cushion.

"In the 15 minutes before time, they made it 2-1 with a free-kick from that side in the top corner.

"You have to give the player credit for the goal. It doesn't happen a lot these kind of goals. But once you concede a goal like that you have to be ready because they were pushing for the equaliser.

"I think we defended well after that and didn't give any chances away. That is why I am pleased that in the end we got the three points."

The win ensured Rangers finished the weekend two points behind title rivals Celtic but Van Bronckhorst admitted his side must improve in "every area".

"That is obvious," he said. "The performance we had overall wasn't as convincing as the previous wins in the league.

"We need to improve that. The build-up in the first half, we couldn't come into the next phase as we weren't good enough in our build-up, not quick enough and not trying to get a free man in midfield.

"I think we were too slow in our passing and movement. Second half we did much better."

Man of the Match - Malik Tillman

Rangers have the option to turn Tillman's season-long loan from Bayern Munich into a permanent move at the end of the campaign and if the exciting 20-year-old carries on scoring wonder-goals like his opener at Fir Park, then we can assume Van Bronckhorst will be exercising that.

The US midfielder, who has also represented Germany at various youth levels, was the standout performer against Motherwell, and not just for his wonderful solo effort that broke the deadlock early in the second half.

Tillman was a constant threat for the visitors, even in a low-key first period, and expect the youngster to now be one of the first names down on the Rangers team sheet given his impact on the club so far this season.

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Rangers players John Lundstram and Malik Tillman reflect on their 2-1 win against Motherwell in what Lundstram described as a 'proper performance'

What's next?

Rangers have a Premier Sports Cup match against Dundee on Wednesday night while Motherwell take on Celtic.

Both sides return to Scottish Premiership action on 22nd October with Rangers at home to Livingston and Motherwell against Livingston. Both games kick-off at 3pm.

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