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Rangers manager Michael Beale extended his unbeaten Scottish Premiership start to 14 games after his side fought back to earn victory in a pulsating six-goal thriller at Motherwell.
The visitors trailed early to a Kevin van Veen strike, but James Tavernier’s free-kick levelled before the captain delivered for Fashion Sakala to net.
Motherwell responded through Bevis Mugabi, but two goals in six minutes from Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman took the game away from the hosts, who had Callum Slattery dismissed.
The win for Beale’s side narrows the gap on leaders Celtic to six points, but Ange Postecoglou’s men can restore their nine-point advantage with victory at home to Hibernian later on Saturday.
Defeat for Motherwell, who remain ninth and are now winless in 55 top-flight games against Rangers, brings an end to Stuart Kettlewell’s four-game unbeaten start as manager.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Kelly
- 22Johnston
- 16McGinnSubstituted forMugabiat 53′minutes
- 66Butcher
- 52CaseyBooked at 20mins
- 24Furlong
- 8SlatteryBooked at 76mins
- 27GossSubstituted forTierneyat 71′minutes
- 18CorneliusSubstituted forMandronat 71′minutes
- 9van VeenSubstituted forBlaneyat 84′minutes
- 7Spittal
Substitutes
- 2O’Donnell
- 4Lamie
- 5Mugabi
- 13Oxborough
- 17McKinstry
- 20Blaney
- 21Mandron
- 26Tierney
- 38Miller
Rangers
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 26Davies
- 3YilmazSubstituted forArfieldat 71′minutes
- 13CantwellSubstituted forKamaraat 78′minutes
- 4LundstramSubstituted forSouttarat 78′minutes
- 8JackBooked at 45mins
- 14Kent
- 9ColakSubstituted forMorelosat 65′minutes
- 30SakalaSubstituted forTillmanat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Hagi
- 16Souttar
- 18Kamara
- 20Morelos
- 23Wright
- 33McLaughlin
- 37Arfield
- 44Devine
- 71Tillman
- Referee:
- Nick Walsh
- Attendance:
- 8,610
Live Text
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Match ends, Motherwell 2, Rangers 4.
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Second Half ends, Motherwell 2, Rangers 4.
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Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Malik Tillman.
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Attempt missed. Ryan Kent (Rangers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Glen Kamara.
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Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Malik Tillman.
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Attempt blocked. Scott Arfield (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Malik Tillman.
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Attempt blocked. Ryan Jack (Rangers) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Kent.
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Attempt missed. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Ryan Kent with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) header from very close range misses to the left following a corner.
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Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Bevis Mugabi.
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Attempt blocked. Alfredo Morelos (Rangers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by John Souttar.
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Substitution, Motherwell. Shane Blaney replaces Kevin van Veen.
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Attempt missed. Scott Arfield (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Ryan Jack.
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Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Ryan Kent (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Blair Spittal (Motherwell).
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Substitution, Rangers. John Souttar replaces John Lundstram.
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Substitution, Rangers. Glen Kamara replaces Todd Cantwell.
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Second yellow card to Callum Slattery (Motherwell) for a bad foul.
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Todd Cantwell (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Motherwell
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Squad number1Player nameKelly
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Squad number22Player nameJohnston
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Squad number16Player nameMcGinn
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Squad number66Player nameButcher
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Squad number52Player nameCasey
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Squad number24Player nameFurlong
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Squad number8Player nameSlattery
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Squad number27Player nameGoss
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Squad number18Player nameCornelius
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Squad number9Player namevan Veen
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Squad number7Player nameSpittal
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Squad number5Player nameMugabi
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Squad number20Player nameBlaney
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Squad number21Player nameMandron
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Squad number26Player nameTierney
Rangers
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Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
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Squad number2Player nameTavernier
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Squad number6Player nameGoldson
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
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Squad number3Player nameYilmaz
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Squad number13Player nameCantwell
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Squad number4Player nameLundstram
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Squad number8Player nameJack
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Squad number14Player nameKent
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Squad number9Player nameColak
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Squad number30Player nameSakala
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Squad number16Player nameSouttar
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Squad number18Player nameKamara
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Squad number20Player nameMorelos
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Squad number37Player nameArfield
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Squad number71Player nameTillman
