Motherwell

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell were hit with the pre-match blow of losing 18-year-old Miller for up to two months with an ankle injury.

His composure and passing ability was badly missed in midfield as Motherwell struggled to keep the ball, resulting in failure to register a single shot before the break, and one touch in Hearts' box.

Kettlewell's side also looked fatigued having played Celtic and Rangers in the space of three days before this one as Hearts overwhelmed them.

The Motherwell boss made three half-time changes to demonstrate his disgust, but they made little difference until late on when finally they threatened.

Dan Casey should have scored from six yards but headed over, and Jack Vale was certain he had equalised from point-blank range in stoppage time - but Gordon's heroics left the substitute stunned.

Motherwell will put this down as a bad day at the office, but the scale of the drop off Miller's absence is a concern.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dan Casey has become Mr Consistency in the Motherwell defence since arriving in February 2023 after exiting Sacremento Republic.

But the 27-year-old Irishman's future is just one of a number facing manager Stuart Kettlewell.

The Fir Park club also have an option to extend forward Callum Slattery's stay by a year and there are also options for veteran captain Paul McGinn and midfielder Ross Callachan.

Other contracts expiring: Andy Halliday, midfielder; Shane Blaney, defender; Steve Seddon, defender; Davor Zdravkovski, midfielder; Harry Paton, midfielder; Moses Ebiye, forward.

Read more: Premiership summer free agents facing uncertain January

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Motherwell forward Tony Watt says his side "aren't going to start crying" about their disallowed goal against Rangers.

Stuart Kettlewell's men were 2-1 up against Rangers when Jack Butland bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Watt.

But the goal was disallowed after referee Kevin Clancy deemed the Motherwell striker had impeded the Rangers goalkeeper and was not called to review the footage.

Since then, the Scottish Football Association's key match incident panel decided the goal should have stood.

"I think the most frustrating part is, we've probably been on the wrong side of a few now," Watt said.

"I think we've got a system in place, we've had that, it's "fool-proof". I think 99 per cent of the time you should get the right results and I think there's probably too many every week now that are wrong.

"I said to Kevin Clancy during the game, I felt that he should have been sent to the screen because of how long the check took.

"I knew there was no contact. I had my arm up at Butland's ear. When he's ready to punch it, it looks as if there's a touch, but you can see that now that there's not.

"The wind obviously plays a big part in it. And it was a great ball too from Andy [Halliday].

"For me, he's one of the best referees in the country and he didn't get a chance to correct it.

"But that's life, obviously. We're not going to start crying about it, we've got a game on Thursday.

"You've asked me the question, that's why I'm speaking about it, but I don't really want to speak about it because it happens.

"The best time I had with everyone was in the Championship last year because there was no VAR. You maybe have two mistakes for you and two mistakes against you, it evens itself out."

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Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller will see a specialist after suffering a foot injury against Rangers.

The 18-year-old is set to miss Thursday's Premiership match with Hearts at Tynecastle as a result.

Miller was forced off in their 2-2 draw with Rangers after making a challenge on Oscar Cortes that earned the Motherwell man a yellow card.

"Lennon is, unfortunately, probably a little bit more than just being assessed," assistant manager Stephen Frail said.

"He will see a specialist.

"He left here on Sunday in one of those protective boots, so he will be assessed by a specialist over the next couple of days.

"In the tackle that he gets booked for, it's the way he's landed and banged his foot. So he'll see a specialist in the next couple of days to assess the full extent of his injury.

"It's a blow for us because he's such a talent and he's been a terrific player for us. Hopefully, he'll be back with us very, very soon."

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• Heart of Midlothian have won four of their last five home league meetings with Motherwell, losing the other 1-0 in September 2023.

• None of Hearts and Motherwell's last 11 league meetings have been drawn, with the Steelmen winning five and losing six since a 1-1 stalemate in March 2020.

• Hearts won their opening Scottish Premiership match in 2022 (2-0 v St. Johnstone), 2023 (3-0 v Hibernian), and 2024 (2-1 v Livingston).

• Motherwell haven't won their opening league game of a calendar year since 2020 (1-0 v Aberdeen), failing in four years since (D2 L2).

• Heart of Midlothian's Lawrence Shankland has been directly involved in eight goals in his last eight league appearances against Motherwell, scoring six and assisting two.

Watch Sportscene analysis of Motherwell's 2-2 draw against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

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Motherwell's third goal against Rangers should not have been disallowed, according to the Scottish FA's key match incident panel.

Stuart Kettlewell's side were 2-1 up when Jack Butland pushed the ball into his own net but referee Kevin Clancy adjudged Tony Watt to have fouled the Rangers keeper and disallowed the goal.

The majority of the KMI panel deemed the onfield decision to be incorrect and believed VAR should have intervened and recommended an onfield review.

Motherwell went on to draw the game at Fir Park 2-2.

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We asked for your views on Motherwell's 2-2 draw against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Edward: On Tony Watt's disallowed goal, please watch the Crystal Palace goal against Southampton and tell us what is different. Same scenario with the goalkeeper timing his jump wrong. Goal for Palace. Fully understand the frustration Stuart Kettlewell felt and shows what a farce VAR has become!

Fraser: I was getting tired of the manager's referee comments in previous games but I totally concur on the disallowed goal. Jack Butland slapped it in. The 'Well were good for a point and if that had been adjudged to be in for a 3-1 lead, different outcome and we would have been leaving Fir Park three points for the good.

Derek: Excellent performance first half. Great that we had a go. Shafted by another referee and a shocker in the second half. This will be brushed over because the small teams lose out against the Old Firm all the time.

James: Seems churlish to moan about the officials, but, for the second time against the big two, decisions go against us. A tremendous effort from the players, and Kettlewell was only voicing what the fans felt. Apologies at a later stage from the SFA won't change the result.

Alan: Let's celebrate an impressive team performance from all! It's never easy playing against Rangers but our tenacity, verve and commitment did us proud. And to lose two goals to VAR suggests we were far superior than our opponents. Keep up the good work 'Well.

Former referee Bobby Madden suggests Motherwell captain Lennon Miller was fortunate not to be sent off for a tackle on Rangers winger Oscar Cortes during Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fir Park. (Record), external

Meanwhile, former Motherwell forward James McFadden believes Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland was lucky to be awarded a foul after punching the ball into his own net. (Sun), external

Motherwell head of coaching Richard Foster says the 2-2 draw felt like a defeat after being two goals up on Rangers. (Herald - subscription), external

Hearts supporters plan to stage a protest against the club's hierarchy before Thursday's home fixture against Motherwell. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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• Rangers have scored in each of their last 10 games in the Premiership, scoring 19 goals in that run.

• Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Motherwell player.

• Rangers have attempted 35 crosses in this match, higher than their season average of 23.7 in the Premiership.

• Lennon Lee Miller has assisted six goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no player has more.

Watch all the highlights from Motherwell's 2-2 draw with Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

(Available to UK users only).

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I'm immensely proud of the players and what they gave us again today. The disappointment comes in our start to the second half.

"We spoke about getting a fast start, cementing that advantage and we didn't do that. We concede the goal at 2-1, then for me we score a perfectly good goal to go 3-1 up and that obviously doesn't go in our favour.

"That frustration boils over from myself and for that I would always apologise to the players but it's because I'm in there with them.

"There's a wee bit of disappointment that it's only a point for us today, but no disappointment in the personality, the character and what they showed. This was always going to be tough but I think we showed an unbelievable effort."

On Tony Watt's first disallowed goal: "I'm flabbergasted, and it's complete over-protection of the goalkeeper, I think he gets it all wrong. I'm baffled with the whole thing but it's another huge decision that goes against this football club - adding to the many in the last few weeks."

Substitute Hamza Igamane's second-half double rescued a Scottish Premiership point for Rangers at Motherwell in a frantic game at Fir Park.

Two goals down at half-time and staring back-to-back league defeats in the face before Thursday's Old Firm game at Ibrox, manager Phillipe Clement called on the Moroccan to make amends.

He did so clinically, first lashing in after the ball fell at his feet, before hauling second-place Rangers - who are now 14 points behind leaders Celtic - level with a sweet strike into the far corner.

Stuart Kettlewell - who was sent off after voicing his frustration at a string of decisions - side took the lead through Apostolos Stamatelopoulous' instinctive play, as the Australian pounced on a bouncing ball to poke beneath Jack Butland.

Tawanda Maswanshise's magnificent solo second had Motherwell dreaming of a first top-flight win against Rangers in Lanarkshire since Boxing Day 2002, but the cards didn't fall.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

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It might seem churlish for Motherwell turn their nose at a point against Rangers, but they will feel three were well within their grasp here.

In the first 45, they outmuscled and outsmarted their visitors, particularly in the midfield and attack, and were ruthless in their finishing.

In Maswanhise, they have a real maverick. The skill he showed for his goal was superb and he often left a wretched Rangers defence in a spin.

A spark of some sort was always likely to come from Rangers, but when it did, it wasn't as if Motherwell lay down and let them shine.

The fight, through the tired legs, was still there late on. All 100-odd minutes of it.

There will no doubt be a whack of disappointment at the first disallowed goal especially, where Watt was merely brushing against Butland, but it's another point in a fine Premiership campaign for Kettlewell's side.

If you missed it, be sure to catch Tawanda Maswanhise's goal on Sportscene tonight.

The touch, the turn and the finish were fantastic and fired Motherwell into a well-earned two-goal lead.

He caused Rangers all sorts of trouble and impressed once more with his creativity.

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Motherwell have doubts over striker Apostolos Stamatelopolous and an unnamed player through illness, while Liam Gordon is hoping to shake off an issue that led to the centre-half dropping to the bench at Celtic Park.

Captain Paul McGinn is back training, but Steve Seddon, Ross Callachan, Callum Slattery, Jack Vale and Zach Robinson remain out.

Rangers will assess Leon Balogun after the centre-half came off injured in the first half of the defeat by St Mirren.

John Souttar and Neraysho Kasanwirjo remain sidelined, while Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo continue their return to fitness.

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Motherwell defender Shane Blaney is relishing being back in the thick of the action after a "frustrating" injury kept him out for the opening period of the league season.

Blaney suffered medial ligament damage against Ross County in Motherwell's league opener and missed about 10 weeks before regaining his place in the starting line-up against St Mirren earlier this month.

Motherwell took seven points from three matches with the Irishman in the back three, and he is ready to bounce back after the Boxing Day defeat by Celtic.

"I'm loving it," Blaney said. "It's been great to get back in.

"It was really frustrating in the first game of the season to pick up the injury. It was at a time where I felt really good throughout pre-season. It was probably the strongest pre-season I've had so far in my career.

"It was really frustrating because obviously you're so excited for the first game of the season, you're so excited for the season, and then to be hit with that was a nightmare.

"But I'm delighted now to get back in the team in the last four or five games. There's been a good few positive results, barring Boxing Day.

"Hopefully now we can just kick on again Sunday and throughout the festive games."