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Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell beat Rangers 3-0 to seal a 6-1 aggregate win in the Premiership play-off.

‘Well boss Ian Baraclough dedicated the clubs’ 6-1 aggregate win in the SPFL Premiership Play-offs to the supporters.

The Steelmen were sensational over both legs, with goals this afternoon coming from Marvin Johnson, Lionel Ainsworth and John Sutton.

It capped a super end to what has been a disappointing season for the Fir Parkers and the sense around Fir Park at the end was one of relief.

‘Well boss Baraclough: “When you get a result like that you have to enjoy it with the fans because we’re all in it together.

[pullquote]They’ve got us over the line as well, it’s been a real team effort, and hopefully now we can strengthen in the summer and get ourselves back to some sort of normality when it comes around, but we’ll be ready.[/pullquote]

“There’s a lot of emotions gone through in the last few weeks and you have to celebrate in some sort of fashion, because it could have been catastrophic for the club to have gone down and had to build ourselves back up from the Championship.

“The boys were absolutely magnificent again, we dealt with an onslaught initially, and then settled into the game and put the chances away when they came.

“You give Rangers credit because Stuart (McCall) and Kenny (Black) have shown so much dignity after both games.”

Action pictures from this afternoon’s 3-0 victory over Rangers at Fir Park.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee Fir Park

Motherwell rounded off an indifferent season with a stunning double win over Rangers for a sensational 6-1 play-off aggregate and ensure their Premiership safety.

Similar to the performance at Ibrox in the first leg, ‘Well contained Rangers for the first half hour before controlling the game and the three second half goals from Marvin Johnson, Lionel Ainsworth and substitute John Sutton erased any faint thoughts of a remarkable Rangers’ recovery.

And while previous end of season celebrations have coincided with European qualification, the Fir Park players and fans thoroughly enjoyed the relief of a fairy tale finale after the final whistle.

Stevie Hammell and Stephen Pearson were both declared fit allowing Baraclough to start with the same eleven and tactical line-up which served ‘Well so superbly at Ibrox.

Before this second leg tie the pre-match debate was on the importance of the first goal and whether Motherwell’s intentions would be to defend their two goal advantage.

With Keith Lasley sitting between two banks of four across the ‘Well half of the pitch, Rangers were given plenty of outfield possession. Apart from a Kris Boyd header which was comfortably held by George Long and volley wide from the recalled ‘Gers striker there were few goal threats.

Having weathered the early pressure from the visitors for the first 30 minutes and amidst a storm of summer hailstones, ‘Well then applied some sustained pressure on Cammy Bell’s goal.

The first threat came when Lionel Ainsworth raced down the right but his low cross along the six yard area was just beyond the inrushing Scott McDonald.

Three minutes later Louis Long, in the opposing box for a corner, played in Lee Erwin who turned and slashed his shot narrowly across thee face of goal.

Motherwell sensed a crucial goal was on the cards and Johnson’s cross found McManus unmarked but his low header was off target.

The first half ended with ‘Well threatening and Johnson came with inches when he accepted a pass from McDonald at the edge of the box before curling a left foot effort wide of the diving ‘keeper and his left hand post.

The all important first goal duly arrived seven minutes after the restart and it was a disaster for the Rangers’ ‘keeper and his side’s slim chances of promotion.

Johnson, whose pace caused problems all afternoon, evaded a couple of tackles as he headed towards the visitor’s box. Although his powerful shot took a wicked deflection off Maruis Zaliukas to spin high in the air, Bell should have dealt with it under his cross bar but the’keeper’s punch sent the ball over his shoulder and into the net.

That effectively killed the tie but it also knocked the stuffing out of the Ibrox side who threw former ‘Well man Lee McCulloch forward to try and rescue something from the game.

While it made little impression on the home goal with Long without a single second half save, the visitor’s rearguard looked exposed and it was no surprise when the Fir Parker’s added a second goal to make sure of a memorable second win over Rangers.

This time Johnson was the architect with a storming 60 yard run from his own half before rolling the ball across the box for Ainsworth to once again drill the ball past Bell to make it 2-0.

‘Well had chances to add a third as ‘Gers committed six players to attack but had to wait until injury time to round off the scoring. Erwin was clipped in the box by Lee Wallace and John Sutton calmly stroked home the resultant penalty for his 13th goal of the season and emphatically secure Motherwell’s win and leave ‘Well fans looking forward to next season in Ladbrokes Premiership.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Fir Park

MOTHERWEL REMAIN IN THE PREMIERSHIP!

IT’S ALL OVER!!!!!

GGGOOOOAALLL!!!

PENALTY TO MOTHERWELL!!

2 minutes added on

88′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Corner for Rangers, taken early and headed clear by Lasley.

83′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Motherwell sub, Ramsden on for Johnson

80′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Foster with a late challenge on Johnson. High and reckless and its a yellow.

79′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Great chance for Sutton as the ball falls to him 10 yards out but Bell gets down to make the save and keep it at 2-0.

76′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Motherwell sub, Sutton on for Ainsworth.

73′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Motherwell sub, Grant on for Pearson.

71′ | 2-0 | #MFCvRFC
Johnson broke with speed, squared it to Ainsworth whose shot was deflected by Bell. 2-0 to ‘Well!!

LIONEL AINSWORTH MAKES IT 2-0!!!!

GGOOOAALLLL!!!!

66′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRFC
Vuckic has a shot from 25 yards but it is comfortable for Long, who catches with ease.

62′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRFC
Rangers win a corner, volleyed over acrobatically by McCulloch.

58′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRFC
Rangers sub, Boyd off for Clark

55′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRFC
Rangers sub, Walsh on for Ferguson

52′ | 1-0 | #MFCvRFC
Johnson’s speculative strike from range takes a deflection and loops over the head of Bell. 1-0 to ‘Well!

JOHNSON SCORES FOR MOTHERWELL!!!

GGGOOOOAALLLL!!!!

51′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
McDonald enters the ref’s book for a tackle on Vuckic.

49′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Foster fails to clear his lines and is dispossessed by Johnson, who wins a corner. Headed clear by Rangers though.

45′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Pearson and McDonald get the second 45 underway.

HT | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Both sides now back out for the next 45 minutes. COYW!

HT | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Motherwell 0 – 0 Rangers

45′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
2 minutes added on.

42′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Great chance for Zaliukas, with the goal gaping, he blazes it well over the bar from 8 yards!

42′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
McDonald sets up Johnson who is so unlucky to see his shot from the edge of the box fly inches wide!!

bMcCulloch booked for a tackle on McDonald

38′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Vuckic booked what the ref says was simulation. Replays show there was a little contact.

36′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
McManus with a free-header from Johnson’s free-kick delivery but he nods it wide of the post!

34′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Inches away by Erwin, who got a left-footed shot away from just inside the box!

32′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Ainsworth crosses to McDonald bu the Aussie is just inches away from connecting!

29′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Lasley nods Law’s ball in wide for a corner to Rangers….Pearson does well to head clear under pressure.

25′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Rangers clear then there is a late challenge by Murdoch on Hammell. Booking for the Rangers man.

25′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Erwin does well to force a corner…

20′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Laing does enough to put off Boyd who was lurking at the back post, looking to get on the end of Foster’s cross.

13′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Corner to Rangers, Laing heads it wide. Another Rangers corner, which Boyd heads wide.

10′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Corner to Motherwell….Johnson’s delivery is far too deep and it goes out for a throw in.

9′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Very late challenge by Wallace on Ainsworth. Just a talking to, though.

6′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Boyd volleys a shot from inside the box on his left foot. Wide of the post, maybe had more time than he thought.

3′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Ferguson whips in a deep ball which Boyd gets his head to. Comfortable stop for Long, in the end.

1′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Lasley gets out quick and blocks Boyd’s free-kick!

1′ | 0-0 | #MFCvRFC
Early chance for Rangers as they are awarded a soft free-kick some 35 yards out….

Kick-off | #MFCvRFC
Boyd and Miller get the game underway. COYW!!!!!

Pre-match | #MFCvRFC
Out come the teams to a busy and sunny Fir Park. COYW!!

[tab:Reaction]

Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

 Coming soon

Rangers manager Stuart McCall:

Coming soon

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Louis Laing is playing for his own future as well as Motherwell’s as he bids to finish the off the job against Rangers.

The on-loan Nottingham Forest player was impressive alongside Stephen McManus in the heart of the Motherwell defence as Ian Baraclough’s team won 3-1 at Ibrox in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership play-offs.

Motherwell are looking to retain their 30-year top-flight status on Sunday and Laing could stay at Fir Park if they do so.

Forest looked set to take up a one-year option on the former Sunderland defender’s contract but the dismissal of Stuart Pearce in February – he was replaced by Dougie Freedman – means Laing is in limbo.

The 22-year-old said: “I’m out of contract in the summer so to stay in the league and help the club would be a massive advantage for me having another option next season, because I might like to come back.

[pullquote]I’m not sure what’s happening next season. As far as I know, I am a free agent.[/pullquote]

“I have really loved it here. Would I like to stay? Yes, probably, but you never know what’s going to happen.

“Motherwell is a great club, it’s a great fan base, the manager is fantastic, everyone here is a great guy and I am really enjoying it. First and foremost we need to concentrate on Sunday and stay in the league.”

Laing, who has returned from a groin injury in time for the crucial double-header, added: “Obviously the situation we are in isn’t ideal but last night was the highlight of my career.

“Playing in front of that many people, the pitch was fantastic, and the magnitude of the game was brilliant. I think Sunday is going to be pretty similar and it will be a fantastic, fantastic atmosphere if we stay in the league.

“Playing in front of that many people, some people may have thought that the pressure might have got to us. It’s been said that we can’t play under pressure but we proved that we can, especially in front of their fans, who were fantastic. But I’ve got to take my hat off to the Motherwell fans because I could hear the Motherwell fans over the top of the Rangers fans. They were brilliant and helped us get through the game.

“My ears are still ringing now but I feel refreshed after a good sleep. It’s easy to keep the feet on the ground. We know Sunday is going to be a very, very tough game. We still have a massive job ahead. We just need to defend well, stick to the game plan. The tactics were perfect last night and we go into the weekend full of belief. We can’t go into the game with any complacency.”

Extended highlights from Ibrox as a great performance gives Motherwell a 3-1 advantage going into the Second leg of the Play-Off Final.

Ian Baraclough praised his side after their 1-3 win at ibrox, but cautioned the Play-off Final is far from over.

The Steelmen battled for every ball during a pulsating ninety minutes.

The Claret and Amber men took the lead through a deflected Lee Erwin shot before Stephen McManus headed home Marvin Johnson to give the visitors a 0-2 lead at the break.

Lionel Ainsworth added a third shortly after the break to stun the huge support inside Ibrox.

However, Darren McGregor’s late header will give Stuart McCall’s men hope ahead of Sunday’s return leg. Baraclough was certainly ensuring his players knew there is still a huge job to do.

[pullquote]It’s not going to be easy. No-one in our dressing room is kidding themselves, none of them are celebrating tonight. All the clichés are true – it’s just half-time.[/pullquote]

He said: “It’s not going to be easy. No-one in our dressing room is kidding themselves, none of them are celebrating tonight. All the clichés are true – it’s just half-time.

“But tonight, to a man, the lads were fantastic. We have come here with a game plan, drawing them in and then countering with pace. We did that fantastically well.

“We could have had a couple more but I can’t fault them when they’ve scored three goals away from home.

“They dealt with the crowd and with the magnitude of the situation. We were fantastically calm when Rangers put the pressure on with balls into our box.

“We will have to wait and see if 3-1 is enough. To have a two-goal lead is great but we now have to work even harder than we did tonight to make sure get over the line.”

Action pictures from tonight’s 3-1 Play-Off Final first leg win over Rangers at Ibrox.

Snaps courtesy of SNSPix.

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