Rangers 2-3 Motherwell: Gers Scottish Premiership title hopes dealt a blow as defeat drops them to third
Match report as Rangers lose to Motherwell; Lukas Fadinger and Emmanuel Longelo scored for the visitors in the first half; Youssef Chermiti pulled one back and Nico Raskin equalised; Longelo scored a late winner for the Steelmen; Rangers are now third in the Premiership on 69 points
Sunday 26 April 2026 19:45, UK
Rangers' Scottish Premiership title hopes were dealt a huge blow as they dropped to third with a defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox.
Danny Röhl's side needed a win in their first post-split game to remain above Celtic at least, but made a dismal start as Lukas Fadinger stunned the Ibrox crowd with an early opener.
They were then trailing 2-0 before the half hour after Emmanuel Longelo knocked the ball in at the back post.
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Rangers changed formation at the break and it looked to have paid off when Youssef Chermiti and Nicolas Raskin pulled them back level as Ibrox burst into life.
But Motherwell, who had drawn with the Gers twice at Fir Park this season, had the last say when Longelo's shot was deflected into the net late on.
It leaves Rangers on 69 points - and four points behind leaders Hearts with four games remaining. Motherwell are fourth as they chase European football next season.
Boos back at Ibrox
Rangers had fought back from two down in their previous game against Falkirk to win 6-3 but they could not repeat the feat against the determined Steelmen.
The visitors cut them open at ease with Fadinger and Longelo taking advantage early to the fury of the home support.
Röhl changed personnel and tactics at the interval, moving from a 4-2-2-2 to his preferred 4-3-3 and the impact was almost instant.
Chermiti reduced the deficit in the 51st minute before the striker and Raskin were involved in drawing the Light Blues level in the 70th minute, with the Belgian midfielder getting the final touch.
However, in the final minute of normal time, Longelo's drive came off the head of Ibrox defender Emmanuel Fernandez and ended up in the back of the net to give Motherwell their first league win in six.
For a team in a title race, Rangers offered little in front of their home fans with a trip to Hearts next on May 4, live on Sky Sports.
'It's not over'
Rangers head coach Danny Röhl speaking to Sky Sports News:
"My job is to go forward, lead them, I will lift them.
"We can be disappointed, but we lift them again, I give them the belief.
"It's not over, this is the part in this split, you have to carry on. It makes no sense to think it's over.
"If there's the final whistle at the end of the season, then it's over.
"My team did well so far and I have no doubts that we can do again, to take four wins, but it's not easy, we know this, and with this point we go forward.
"We keep believing in what we are doing and we have the chance to turn the next game back to our side."
