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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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[tab:Match report]

Phil McGhee at Ibrox 

Motherwell produced their best performance under Ian Baraclough to record their first win at Ibrox since 1997 .

‘Well’s hopes of finding a result which would keep the play-off alive for the second leg at Fir Park on Sunday, were surpassed as first half goals from Lee Erwin and Stephen McManus put the Fir Parkers in the driving seat.

When Lionel Ainsworth made it 3-0 at the start of the second half it sent the small band of ‘Well fans into ecstacy and only a late goal from Darren McGregor dampened their spirits and raised Rangers’ hopes that they can stage a dramatic recovery on Sunday and relegate ‘Well.

Ian Baraclough deployed Lionel Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson in wide positions to check the overlapping runs of Rangers’ full backs but also use their pace and hopefully catch the Ibrox side on the break. And with Scott McDonald dropping back to join Keith Lasley and Stephen Pearson in the middle of the park ‘Well’s intentions to stifle ‘Gers early in the gamewere clear

The 950 ‘Well fans in the far corner were relieved to see Kenny Miller break away from Lasley only to curl his shot beyond George Long’s post.

In the 23rd minute Long produced the first save of the game getting down well to block Nicky Law’s drilled shot from 10 yards.

Motherwell’s reply was a cross from his brother Josh which found Lee Erwin but his tame header was comfortably held by Cammy Bell.

The next effort on goal,though, caused Bell a bit more concern as ‘Well took the lead.

Josh Law was again the provider finding Erwin wide on the right and after dragging the ball into the box the striker tried his luck with an angled left foot shot with Darren McGregor’s outstreched leg sending the ball past his ‘keeper and give Well the upper hand.

It could have been 2-0 minutes later when a Louis Laing header from Ainsworth’s corner seemed netbound until it was deflected past the post

However, it took another great save from Long to block Nicky Clark’s snapshot and deny Ranger’s an equaliser.

That would have brought the Ibrox side right back into the game. Instead a stunning second goal five minutes from half time set ‘Well on their road to an historic victory.

Five minutes from the break Wallace pulled back McDonald to concede a free kick on the right touch line. Johnston curled the ball into a packed box where McManus rose unchallenged to power a header past Bell and silence the 42,000 Rangers’ fans.

Having left the field to a barrage of boos the Ibrox crowd loudly welcomed their side back onto the pitch in anticipation of a second half fightback.

However, any hopes of a ‘Gers recovery were killed within 90 seconds when’Well added a terrific third goal.Pearson nicked the ball in the centre circle before racing upfield. He fed the ball to Erwin who played in Ainsworth who rounded off the move in style smashing the ball past the helpless Bell.

Rangers’ reply was a thumping drive from Haris Vuckic which was turned round the post by Long with another impressive save.

In Final attempt to grab a goal and life-line Stuart McCall then sent on Kris Boyd to partner Miller up front.

Motherwell, though, were confident and calm in possession and looked the Premier side. As Rangers chased the game ‘Well carved through the home defence a had a few more chances which should have produced another goal. McDonald and Johnston curled efforts over the bar before Johnston’s run and cut back set up Ainsworth but from 10 yards only he hammered his shot over the bar when he should have really made it 4-0.

That miss almost proved costly when at the other end when Long had to produce a wonderful relflex save to prevent Boyd snatching a goal with a trademark back post header.

With eight minutes remaining Simon Ramsden replaced the limping Pearson and just before Rangers pulled back a goal that gave them some hope. A floated corner into the six yard area was met by McGregor who headed the ball past Long to raise the decibel levels from the Ibrox stands and set up furious finish.

But as Rangers continued to hoist the ball into the penalty box Laing and McManus in particular stood tall and strong to preserve Motherwell’s two goal lead and hoist them halfway to Premiership safety as the teams prepare for the second leg on Sunday.

[tab:As it happened]

 Ally Reilly at Ibrox

FT | #RFCvMFC
Rangers 1 – 3 Motherwell.
The Steelmen go back to Fir Park with a 2 goal advantage over their Glasgow rivals

FULL TIME!

93′ | 1-3 | #RFCvMFC
30 seconds left….

4 minutes added on.

91′ | 1-3 | #RFCvMFC
Vuckic advances forward and gets a shot away from the edge of the box. Narrowly pas the post.

90′ | 1-3 | #RFCvMFC
A let-off there as Boyd has the ball in the back of the net but the flag is up and he is correctly ruled offside

87′ | 1-3 | #RFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, Moore comes on for Erwin.

82′ | 1-3 | #RFCvMFC
Goal, McGregor pulls one back for Gers, heading home from a corner.

82′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Pearson limps off for Ramsden.

77′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Rangers corner….ah, ‘Well almost break away but Murdoch tracks back and intercepts Ainsworth’s ball to Erwin.

73′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
What a save! Boyd powers a header from 8 yards and Long somehow manages to get it over the bar!!

69′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Motherwell sub, Straker on for Hammell.

66′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Rangers sub, Zaliukas off for Ferguson

66′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
What a chance for Ainsworth to make it 4 but he blazes it well over from 12 yards!

65′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Laing booked for a tackle on Miller as he broke away.

60′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Ref misses two clear fouls on Erwin then Johnson…..

58′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Erwin does well to win a corner…falls to Erwin but he can’t get it out his feet and Rangers clear.

55′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
And another Rangers sub, Boyd on for Clark.

53′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Rangers sub, Walsh on for Shiels.

46′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Quick throw-in by Miller allows Vuckic in behind the defence but Long makes himself big and makes the stop.

46′ | 0-3 | #RFCvMFC
Ainsworth makes it 3, after Pearson and Erwin combine on the breakaway!!!

GGOOOAALLLL!!!!

45′ | 0-2 | #RFCvMFC
Lasley and Johnson get the second 45 underway…

HT | 0-2 | #RFCvMFC
Big 45 minutes ahead as The Steelmen come out the tunnel at Ibrox with a 2 goal lead….

HT’ | 0-2 | #RFCvMFC
Rangers 0 – 2 Motherwell

42′ | 0-2 | #RFCvMFC
Miller goes in late on Long and the Rangers man is down receiving treatment.

40′ | 0-2 | #RFCvMFC
McManus flick in a header from Johnson’s free-kick!!!! 2-0!!!

GGOOOOAALLLL!!!!

38′ | 0-1 | #RFCvMFC
McDonald’s free-kick lack the power required to test Bell. Routine stop for the ‘keeper.

37′ | 0-1 | #RFCvMFC
McGregor booked for a challenge on Erwin. Free-kick in a good position….

27′ | 0-1 | #RFCvMFC
Erwin cuts in off the right and his shot is deflected past bell by McGregor! 1-0 to the Steelmen!

GGOOOAALLLLL!!!!

24′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Half-chance for Erwin as he gets on the end of Law’s cross but the ball comes off the back of his head and Bell gathers

22′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Ainsworth wins a corner off Wallace…..decent delivery but McGregor heads clear.

21′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Good save by Long, denying Law from 12 yards after a bit of a defensive mix-up!

12′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Miller gets away from Pearson and Lasley and gets a shot away. Curls it about a yard away from the post.

11′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
McDonald has to concede a corner as Foster looked to go past him. Lasley nods the delivery away at the front post.

10′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Johnson swings it in…but it’s a routine stop for Bell who gathers at his back post.

10′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Erwin wins a corner…
0 retweets 3 favorites

8′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
‘Well counter and Johnson bends in a cross past Foster towards Erwin but Bell gets out and gathers.

7′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Wallace gets down the left wing and gets a ball across goal. Thankfully the ball ricochets off Mcmanus to safety.

3′ | 0-0 | #RFCvMFC
Good recovery by Law as he gets back to cover Laing who has lost out to Clark inside the box. Wins a goal kick..

Kick-off | #RFCvMFC
Clark and Miller get the game underway. COYW!!!!!!!

Pre-match | #RFCvMFC
Here we go then, both teams just coming out the tunnel….

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Motherwell manager Ian Baraclough:

 Coming soon

Rangers manager Stuart McCall:

Coming Soon

[tab:Man-of-the-match]

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Stephen McManus says he relishes the big game atmosphere ahead of Motherwell’s play-off double against Rangers.

The former Scotland International, who was capped on 26 occasions and skippered Scotland, spent seven years playing for Celtic, including Old Firm matches and big European nights.

The 32-year old is well versed in what it takes to get the job done in front of a ruckus crowd and he has encouraged his ‘Well teammates to relish playing at Ibrox in Thursday night’s big clash.

[pullquote]As a player you want to play in the biggest atmospheres, the biggest occasions.[/pullquote]

“It’s massive; a huge game for both teams,” he said.

“This might be the biggest Premiership/Championship play-off there will ever be, who knows? It’s a big stage but as a player, that’s what it is all about. Our fans will be right up for it, there will be passion and it’s great for them as well.

“As a player you want to play in the biggest atmospheres, the biggest occasions.

“As you get older you appreciate that a bit more because you don’t know when your next chance for a cup final will be and this has a feel of that because it’s a pressurised situation.”

The  first leg of the Play-off final with Rangers will be broadcast in the Davie Cooper Suite tomorrow evening.

If you missed out on tickets for Ibrox, this is the perfect location for Motherwell fans to take in the ninety minutes with their friends as The Steelmen and Rangers battle it out for their place in the SPFL Premiership.

The club have invested in two new large screen tv’s, as well as the existing set-up, and there will be a fully stocked bar to take advantage of.

Doors will open from 6.30pm with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Entry is free.

‘Well boss Ian Baraclough insists his side will relish the tag of underdogs as they prepare to take on Rangers tomorrow night at Ibrox.

The Steelmen have already been written off by some quarters, but the former Scunthorpe Utd and Sligo Rovers manager believes his side can prove the doubters wrong and stay in the SPFL Premiership.

The Fir Park boss believes the media have unfairly labeled the upcoming clash with Stuart McCall’s side as a foregone conclusion, but hopes to upset the odds that are supposedly stacked against his team.

“They’ve written us off from the off for this one,” stated Baraclough.

“And that feeling of upsetting the odds really appeals to me. I’d say a lot of the media build up has been that the winner of the Rangers vs Hibs semi-final was going on to be promoted.

[pullquote]So I’d love to turn that on its head. There’s two teams in this play-off and whichever team comes out on top will have earned the right to be in the top division.[/pullquote]

‘Well’s current side have numerous players who have big-match experience at Ibrox and Baraclough will look to call upon his own experiences of similar occassions.

He said: “”I’ve been involved in play-offs down the years as a player – unfortunately beaten by a Bradford team at the old Wembley – and it wasn’t nice to take.

“I’ve been involved as a coach at Scunthorpe where we beat Millwall at Wembley to get promotion.

“They are great days when you win and everyone wants to feel that side of it and you learn as well from the negative experience of losing.

“We’d rather not be involved in the play-offs, but now it’s here, I’ll relish it and enjoy it for what it is because, when you win in these situations, it’s a great feeling.

“I want us to experience that winning feeling. The idea is not to be intimidated by it and be inspired by it.”

Motherwell FC is today pleased to confirm Josh Law has signed a new two-year deal with the club.

Law has made the right-back position his own following Ian Baraclough’s arrival before Christmas, winning many plaudits for his performances on the flank.

And now the 25-year old, who has been a virtual ever present this campaign, has committed his future to the club by agreeing a deal to stay until the summer of 2017, knocking back offers from South of the Border.

[pullquote]This is the club who showed faith in me, gave me my chance and the people at here are good to me so I feel as if I owe them so loyalty.[/pullquote]

Speaking to MFC TV, Law said: “I’m delighted to get things sorted early in the summer and I can fully concentrate on another two years at Motherwell.

“This is the club who showed faith in me, gave me my chance and the people at here are good to me so I feel as if I owe them so loyalty.

“My focus, first and foremost, is to try and ensure Motherwell stay in the SPFL Premiership then hopefully we can kick on from there.”

Ticket details for the Play-off Final against Rangers can now been confirmed.

After discussions between both clubs, Motherwell fans have been allocated 950 tickets for Ibrox for Thursday night’s game, priced at £5.

These will be sold from 3.30pm today on a first come, first served basis, with the modest number of fans who have already renewed their 2015/16 season ticket guaranteed a ticket.

For the 2nd leg, Rangers have been allocated 1,500 tickets for the Maxim Office Park South Stand. These will be delivered to Rangers today (Monday), who will distribute via their normal channels.

Home tickets, priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, are still on sale – but will now only be available to Season Ticket holders, Well Society members or ‘Well fans who are on the club’s ticketing database and have purchased home end tickets before.

Any Motherwell fans wishing to buy tickets for the home end, maximum three per holder, should do so by bringing their 2014/15 season ticket or ‘Well Society membership card and some sort of photo ID, a maximum of three tickets per Season Ticket / Society member.

Any Motherwell fan who isn’t either a Season Ticket holder or a ‘Well Society member or isn’t registered on the club system for previous home end ticket purchases, should contact a friend, family member or colleague who is, in order to obtain a ticket.

‘Well fans should note that they are responsible for any tickets they purchase.

Extended highlights from Fir Park as Motherwell and Partick Thistle play out a dull 0-0 draw in the final league game of the season.