Motherwell defied the odds and the history books by securing a hard-fought but deserving three points at Ibrox for the first time since 1997.
Theo Bair fired Motherwell into the ascendency within the opening phases of play, adding another strike to his goalscoring pedigree, finding the target inside the opening 10-minutes.
Rangers skipper James Tavernier netted from the penalty spot on the hour mark moments after Motherwell were narrowly denied their second of the evening. Rangers pressed the Motherwell defence, but the backline stood resolute, with centre-back Dan Casey demonstrating his attacking capabilities, powering home a second from Blair Spittal’s floated delivery.
The hosts continued their barrage of opportunities in the final moments of the game, but countless exceptional saves from captain Liam Kelly kept the scoreline intact, with Motherwell shattering a 27-year winless league record at Ibrox.
As the midweek victory over Livingston remained firmly within memory, Motherwell started on the front foot, with Bevis Mugabi almost securing the early breakthrough after latching onto Spittal’s dangerous delivery, but the towering defender’s headed effort fell agonisingly over the crossbar.
The decisive moment came minutes later, as Bair expertly escaped his marker within the centre of the Rangers penalty area, drilling an unstoppable strike into the bottom-left corner.
Motherwell skipper, Kelly was called into action as the first-half progressed, reacting instantly to parry Mohamed Diomande’s effort beyond the reach of the Rangers forward line.
The half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the frustrated home support, with the drum of the jubilant traveling fans echoing throughout the stadium.
Motherwell came agonisingly close to doubling their advantage as the second-half progressed, with Spittal’s left-footed effort from Stephen O’Donnell’s whipped cross rattling the hosts crossbar.
Directly on the counter-attack, Rangers penetrated through the Motherwell defence, with substitute Fabio Silva brought down under O’Donnell’s challenge. The defender looked to have perfectly-timed his interception, but the referee was instructed to the VAR monitors and subsequently reversed his decision. Tavernier stepped up and coolly dispatched his strike to draw his side level.
Un-wavered by the deafening motivation of the home support, Motherwell stood firm, hitting the hosts on the counter-attack. With less than 15-minutes remaining, Motherwell restored their advantage, as Spittal’s chipped delivery sailed invitingly across the Rangers six-yard-box, with Casey diverting his teammates cross into the bottom-left-corner.
Rangers flooded the Motherwell penalty area in search of a late equaliser, but the Steelmen prevailed to secure their first league victory at Ibrox since 1997 and the first league victory over Rangers since 2002.
