Rangers 1-2 Motherwell: Visitors stun Scottish Premiership leaders to end 11-game winning run
- Published
Dan Casey (left) scores the winning goal at Ibrox
Impressive Motherwell secured their first victory at Ibrox in nine years to end Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers' 11-game winning run.
Theo Bair's early strike - his 11th goal of the season - was cancelled out by James Tavernier's 60th-minute penalty.
But Dan Casey headed the eighth-placed side's winner that swings the title race back in the direction of Celtic.
Philippe Clement's side remain two points clear at the top of the table.
However, reigning champions Celtic can regain the lead they enjoyed for much of the season when they visit Heart of Midlothian on Sunday.
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell told BBC Scotland before kick-off that he felt he had a formula to frustrate both sides of the Old Firm.
His team had lost by a single goal on their last visit to Ibrox and they rarely looked back after making a composed start that was in stark contrast to their surprisingly nervy hosts.
When centre-half John Souttar made a mess of trying to intercept a through ball to Jack Vale, the striker exploited the space behind and set up partner Bair for a 15-yard finish off the far post.
Rangers looked shaken and disjointed, but they gradually grew into the game only to find goalkeeper Liam Kelly and his defence in defiant form.
With winger Ross McCausland forced off after a strong Casey challenge that did not even produce a booking, replacement Fabio Silva ought to have equalised with his first touch only to shoot weakly straight at Kelly.
Rangers thought they had equalised, only for Cyriel Dessers to be ruled offside, but they eventually did after Stephen O'Donnell's slide into Silva produced the penalty from which Tavernier fired his 21st goal of the season off the underside of the bar.
The hosts piled forward hoping to repeat their midweek comeback win over Kilmarnock.
However, Blair Spittal had already fired a warning off the crossbar before Rangers' equaliser and the hosts' defensive frailties were again exposed when the midfielder's cross found Casey to provide the killer blow in a thrilling finish.
Player of the match - Theo Bair (Motherwell)
Motherwell striker Theo Bair (left) not only opened the scoring but gave normally steady centre-half Connor Goldson a torrid afternoon
Clement tinkering backfires as Well boss gets it right - analysis
Few would have predicted this Motherwell victory - their first in the top flight proper in 38 visits to Ibrox since May 1997.
Rangers, who were unbeaten in 14 home matches across all competitions - winning 13 - since Clement's appointment, looked to have the title momentum.
They had won six in a row against Motherwell, who previously triumphed at Ibrox in the 2015 Premiership play-off but had not beaten Rangers in 19 meetings since a 2-0 victory at Hampden two years later.
However, while Clement complained that "luck was not on our side", you have to wonder if his constant rotation of the squad finally caught up with his team.
'Luck not on our side' - Rangers boss Clement
Rangers got away with a warning as they came from behind to win in Kilmarnock, but this incarnation was not as fluent or clinical as the one that dismantled Hearts 5-0 at Ibrox a week ago.
Motherwell had ended ended a run of four games without a win at Livingston on Wednesday and they obviously took great confidence from their first away victory in 13 attempts.
In Blair Spittal they have one of the most potent midfielders in the country and Bair, such a blunt force with St Johnstone, has become a colossus who not only scores goals but can bully the like of Rangers ever-present Connor Goldson.
Kettlewell even had to shuffle his defence shortly before kick-off because of an illness to Georgie Gent, but he did so with aplomb and his side are now looking up towards the top six when they were fearing relegation a matter of weeks ago.
What they said
Rangers manager Philippe Clement: "They gave everything. We missed efficiency today in both boxes from players who were doing well last week, being very solid, the best defence in the league.
"On the other side, Motherwell made several good saves, blocks in front of goal - It was one of those days. We had a disappointing evening because luck was not on our side. We have to move on and hope the luck is on our side next time."
Motherwell 'suffered' for Ibrox win
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "We started really well, got on the front foot. We get in front and then showed great composure and resilience. We suffered really well.
"The last segment almost feels like a different game, when you go into eight minutes of injury time and you need to put your body on the line. Emergency defending, I call it, which takes a different talent and awareness."
What's next?
Home defeat is not the ideal preparation for Rangers as they travel to meet Benfica in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday (20:00 GMT) before visiting Hibernian in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals next Sunday (17:30).
Motherwell are not in action again until hosting Aberdeen in the league on 16 March (15:00).