Rangers roar back amid fan protests to thump Motherwell on Cantwell’s big day
Rangers emerged victorious from an eventful and exciting encounter against Motherwell.
Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen tapped in after three minutes but Rangers captain James Tavernier levelled midway through the first half with a curling free-kick from 20 yards.
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Fashion Sakala headed Rangers in front just after the break before Motherwell substitute Bevis Mugabi equalised in the 59th minute only for Todd Cantwell to restore the Light Blues’ lead with his first Rangers goal.
Rangers substitute Malik Tillman grabbed the fourth before Motherwell’s Callum Slattery was sent off in the 76th minute for picking up a second yellow card in an exhausting game that took part against a background of protest from both sets of supporters.
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The away fans held up banners with the faces of Rangers sporting director, Ross Wilson, and managing director, Stewart Robertson, on them, crossed out with a red stripe, saying ‘Time for Change’, a continuation of a theme among a section of the Rangers support.
A section of the Motherwell fans were late in taking to their seats – although it appeared they were watching the game from the back of the John Hunter stand – as a protest, claiming they had faced “concerning decisions” which “impacted on our ability to give the team the backing they deserve”, and their banners read: “Heavy Hands- Empty Stands”.
Rangers fans had more to complain about when Motherwell stormed into the lead through their in-form Dutch striker.
Sean Goss sent Max Johnston scarpering down the right in acres of space and his delivery across the box was converted by Van Veen, with a VAR check confirming the home side’s lead.
It was a far from storming response from Rangers but, after Slattery was booked by referee Nick Walsh for hauling down Rangers’ John Lundstram just outside the box, their resistance was broken.
Tavernier opted to curl the ball into the near post and Well keeper and captain Liam Kelly got across his goal too late to stop the ball.
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Rangers still did not hit their heights. In the 34th minute Lundstram’s half-volley from outside the box rebounded off Kelly’s chest and Sakala turned the rebound .
However, the Zambian made no mistake just after the restart when Tavernier planted a cross from the right on to his head as he rose above Motherwell defender Paul McGinn at the back post to nod in.
Cantwell fired high into the netthe third with VAR ruling out the suggestion of a possible offside.
Alfredo Morelos and Tillman replaced Antonio Colak and Sakala and they both combined before the Bayern Munich loanee thumped a shot high past Kelly from 14 yards before taking the acclaim of the travelling support behind the goal.
Slattery was sent off after fending off Cantwell with a forearm which saw the Rangers midfielder go to ground and, in the end, the visitors finished in control.