Star performance nets ’Well praise

Nov 19 2008 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

MOTHERWELL produced one of their best performances of the season last Wednesday to seal a well-deserved point against championship-chasing Rangers at Fir Park.

Earlier in the season, Motherwell boss Mark McGhee had blasted his own players for what he perceived to be a lacklustre performance against the same opponents at Ibrox when they slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

But the 51-year-old was full of praise for his side this time around as they held the Glasgow giants to an entertaining scoreless draw.

Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith made a number of crucial saves, having celebrated becoming a father just 24 hours previously when his girlfriend Cheryl gave birth to a baby girl named Mia.

Equally, Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor made two excellent stops in the second half from efforts by Chris Porter and Stephen Hughes.

Rangers started brightly with Smith pulling off a couple of saves from Kyle Lafferty and Kris Boyd shots.

At the other end, a neat move down the left ended with man of the match Keith Lasley having a shot blocked by McGregor who then scrambled away the rebound.

Kenny Miller had an excellent chance to give Rangers the lead before the half hour mark after being played through by strike partner Boyd. But the Scotland striker delayed his shot and the chance was spurned.

Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson then had a left-footed effort well blocked by Smith eight minutes from half time before Miller again went close for the visitors.

Stephen Hammell tested McGregor with a free-kick effort early in the second half but the keeper managed to smother the shot.

The match was played at a terrific tempo and moments later Boyd went close with a header for the visitors.

Porter then tested McGregor with a shot from inside the box before controversy ensued when another Kris Boyd header with 20 minutes remaining ended up in the back of the net only for the linesman to flag for offside.

Television replays showed the Rangers predator was actually in an onside position having nipped in front of the Motherwell backline.

The Steelmen could have nicked the three points on 79 minutes when former Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes sent a curling shot towards goal that looked certain to beat McGregor only for the Rangers keeper to dive full stretch and tip it over the bar.

Dangerman Boyd sclaffed a good opportunity wide late on and then the home side had a penalty appeal turned down in injury time after Kirk Broadfoot challenged John Sutton in the box.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Malcolm, Reynolds, Hammell, McGarry, Hughes, Lasley, Fitzpatrick, Porter, Sutton.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac (Whittaker 81), Davis, Mendes, Ferguson, Lafferty (Novo 76), Miller, Boyd.

Booked: Bougherra.

Attendance: 9600

SOLID: former Motherwell captain Paul Quinn keeps Rangers defender Papac at bay.

NEAT GLOVE WORK: Motherwell keeper Graeme Smith punches the ball clear during last week’s match with Rangers.

FIRST FOOTING: left back Steven Hammell gets his foot in the way of attacker Steven Davis.