Rangers 1-0 Motherwell: Deflected Dessers goal sends hosts third
- Published
Oli Shaw spurned a big chance for Motherwell during a late flurry for the visitors
Rangers "got away with one" said Michael Beale as his side laboured to a narrow win over Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership to make it three wins from three since the international break.
Rabbi Matondo's first-half shot took a huge deflection off Cyriel Dessers for what would be the winning goal to settle a nervy Ibrox.
The visitors, who began the day third in the table, started the game confidently, but failed to convert their play into goals or capitalise on intense late pressure.
"Our decision-making was really poor," the Rangers manager told BBC Scotland.
"They say it's a good sign when you win when you're not playing well. I'm not taking much comfort from that. That performance concerned me.
"We gave them lots of opportunities to counter. We just about got away with it. I'm wanting and demanding more from my team.
"We need to decide what team we are. Are we the team that perform at that level on Thursday, or the team that played today?
"It's a win today, but it doesn't feel like one."
Beale's side, who beat St Johnstone last weekend and then Real Betis on Thursday, leapfrog the Fir Park side in the table.
Motherwell started very brightly with Sam Lammers close to gifting a glaring chance before Callum Slattery found space and tried to bend one to the far corner. It was off target with Jack Butland exposed.
Rangers knew then they were in a game as they struggled to connect in key areas. On the first occasion they did, it paid off.
Nice interplay outside the area led to a powerful Matondo strike. It seemed to be arrowing slightly off target but struck Dessers, who seemed to be trying to evade it, and the ball flew high past Liam Kelly.
A much-needed stroke of luck that proved decisive. For Motherwell, luck proved elusive.
Rangers did engineer one or two good chances in the second half with Lammers volleying wide and Kelly denied Dessers and Lammers in quick succession.
However, they were so close to conceding several times late on with Butland superbly denying Oli Shaw and Brodie Spencer when a goal seemed certain.
James Tavernier then somehow bailed his side out, getting back on the line to knock Blair Spittal's shot away as Motherwell pushed on in an impressive display that deserved more.
Rangers manager Michael Beale says he's concerned after Rangers' win over Motherwell.
Player of the match - John Lundstram
John Lundstram was the one standout for Rangers in a performance lacking quality. He offered impetus and drive to get things moving and drew the acclaim of a largely frustrated home crowd
'Job done but more needed for Rangers' - analysis
Job done, points in the bag for Rangers but performance levels will need to be way, way better.
This was far from vintage against an excellent Motherwell side offering composure, a strong game plan and a nice balance of threat and solidity. They came ever so close to an equaliser with Rangers increasingly ragged as the clock ticked on.
Injuries, fitness and a tight schedule are hampering options at Ibrox in terms of chopping and changing the starters up top. The result seems to be impacting fluidity in the final third.
That may come in time, but it still feels like Dessers and Lammers lack a little bit of confidence and quality at times. There's also another injury blow to contend with after Matondo limped off in the opening half.
The reaction from both sets of fans at full-time said it all.
The visitors were never overawed, stayed in the game but just couldn't find that one moment of execution to get on level terms. They certainly had the chances.
What they said
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I don't want to become like a broken record by saying we've performed exceptionally well, we've carved out all kinds of chances, we've had real good possession of the ball in good areas of the park and we've got nothing to show for it.
"But again, when you are coming to a place like this and the team performed in the way that they did, I would love to think that 50-odd thousand in here acknowledged that the team were excellent today."
What's next?
Rangers return to Viaplay Cup action on Wednesday (20:00 BST), looking to reach the semi-finals in another home fixture against Livingston.
Motherwell will look to find a formula to trouble a Celtic side who are clear at the top of the Premiership next Saturday (12:30).