Steelmen are forced to play second fiddle

Sep 24 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL slumped to second bottom of the SPL on Sunday after losing to Rangers at Ibrox.

The Fir Parkers failed to turn up for this match until well into the second half and were made to play through second-half goals by Steven Davis and Nacho Novo that extended Rangers' home record to 21 matches undefeated and leaves ‘Well without a win in September.

For the first 15 minutes of the contest, the ‘Gers had all the pressure but the Fir Parkers stood firm.

New Rangers signing Pedro Mendes was the best player on the park in the opening quarter, and his dominance earned Paul Quinn an early yellow card.

It was not long until fellow defender Stephen Craigan was also booked for a challenge on Kenny Miller a foul that saw furious Rangers stopper Davie Weir also yellow carded for dissent.

Despite Rangers having the majority of possession, it was not until the half hour mark that they created their best opening.

Kenny Miller turned sharply in the box and his shot appeared to be heading into the net but Graeme Smith continued his fine form parrying the ball round his left hand post.

Miller had another shot on goal before half time and then American DaMarcus Beasley had a decent chance ten minutes into the second half.

Miller had some luck with a deflection and played in Beasley, whose shot was parried to safety by Smith.

The first Rangers goal finally came on 57 minutes however.

Clever work by Boyd and the impressive Miller teed up Steve Davis, who evaded the offside trap and curled a lovely goal home.

Despite a brief Motherwell rally that saw David Clarkson make Neil Alexander work in the home goal, the Ibrox club killed the game off on 76 minutes when a Kenny Miller cross was only half cleared by Smith and substitute Nacho Novo bundled the ball into the net.

Clarkson was again thwarted by Alexander near the end of the match before the Scotland internationalist smashed the ball into net from close range with three minutes remaining from a Chris Porter cross.

But in the end it was a mere consolation for the Fir Parkers who now go into tonight’s (Wednesday) derby clash with Hamilton looking to record only their second victory of the season.

Rangers: Alexander, Broadfoot, Bougherra, Weir, Dailly, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Thomson, Beasley (Novo 72), Boyd, Miller.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Edu, Darcheville, Niguez, McMillan, Fleck.

Booked: Weir, Boyd.

Goals: Davis 57, Novo 76.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Hughes (Darren Smith 67), Malcolm, Lasley, Clarkson, Porter, Sutton (Murphy 54).

Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Fitzpatrick, O'Brien, McGarry, Connolly.

Booked: Quinn, Craigan.

Goal: Clarkson 87.