Summary

  • Rangers win to close gap on leaders Celtic to 11 points

  • Arfield slid in third following Defoe pass; midfielder netted twice in first half

  • Missile thrown near Rangers' Tavernier just before visitors' second goal

  • GET INVOLVED #bbcsportscot

  1. Hosts displaying 'attacking intent'published at 11 mins

    Motherwell 0-0 Rangers

    Scott Mullen
    BBC Scotland at Fir Park

    "Eleven minutes gone and the home side have probably settled the quickest. Certainly there is more attacking intent from Stephen Robinson’s team, although as of yet both keepers are untroubled. Jake Hastie’s two off-target attempts about the best of it."

  2. Is Hastie the main outlet for Motherwell?published at 12:41

    Motherwell 0-0 Rangers

    Billy Dodds
    Former Rangers striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Motherwell will be saying 'get it to Hastie'. He looks quicker than Flanagan and the Rangers defender is not naturally left-sided

  3. 'Exhilarating' Well shifting through the gearspublished at 12:40

    Motherwell 0-0 Rangers

    Rob Maclean
    BBC Scotland at Fir Park

    Quote Message

    There is something exhilarating about Motherwell when they're on the move...

  4. Hosts spurn openingpublished at 7 mins

    Motherwell 0-0 Rangers

    Rangers partially clear a Motherwell free-kick whipped into the box. The ball drops from the Lanarkshire sky onto the boot of Jake Hastie, but his volley is high and well wide of goal. And still travelling...

  5. Motherwell 0-0 Rangerspublished at 5 mins

    Rangers captain James Tavernier does brilliantly to nullify a Motherwell attack and then mop up possession as the visitors clear their lines.

  6. Frantic startpublished at 3 mins

    Motherwell 0-0 Rangers

    Neither side able to fashion an opening in a frantic start to the final Premiership fixture of the weekend.

    Jermain Defoe tries to change that but is penalised for a foul on Tom Aldred.

    Curtis Main holds off Rangers defender Nikola KaticImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Curtis Main holds off Rangers defender Nikola Katic

  7. Motherwell 0-0 Rangerspublished at 1 min

    A sore one for Rangers defender Nikola Katic who comes to earth with a bump following an aerial tussle with Motherwell striker Curtis Main.

    A free kick for the visitors and we're back under way.

  8. KICK-OFFpublished at 12:30

    We're under way at Fir Park!

  9. Dugout ban 'not ideal' for Gerrardpublished at 12:27

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard says watching from the stand is "not ideal" but adds that his backroom team has "plenty of experience".

    He tells Sky Sports: "I'll take notes and try to get clear communication to our bench. I've spoken to all of the players collectively and individually.

    "It's about them going across that white line and getting the job done."

  10. 'Priority was to stay in division' - Robinsonpublished at 12:24

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson on BBC Sportsound: "When the big boys come to town it adds a bit of spice to the occasion.

    "It's what we all want to be involved in. Motherwell's aim at the start of the season is to stay in the division, based on what we have to play with. We've done that comfortably, yet I'm disappointed we're not in the top six, as are our group of players.

    "But we've come long way and have had a lot of transition.

    "We are aware of the threat from Rangers but we will focus on us and we intend to take the game to them."

  11. Stat attackpublished at 12:22

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    • Motherwell are without a win in their past 42 league meetings with Rangers (D12 L30), last beating them in December 2002 under Terry Butcher
    • This will be the third league meeting between Motherwell and Rangers this season, with each played on a Sunday. The previous two have featured a combined 14 goals (seven per game; four for Motherwell, 10 for Rangers)
    • The Steelmen have won five straight home league games; they have never won six in a row in either the Scottish Premiership or Scottish Premier League
    • Rangers lost 2-1 at Celtic in their last away league match - they have not suffered back-to-back league defeats on the road since September 2018
  12. Kilmarnock boss critical of Premiership fixture schedulepublished at 12:18

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke has criticised "amateur" scheduling as the Premiership splits in two.

    The Rugby Park side go into the final five matches of the season in third place.

    And Clarke thinks it odd to stage the league climax over six spring weeks, having played seven times during December.

    "It's one of the vagaries of the Scottish amateur league, sorry the Scottish football league", he said.

    Kilmarnock manager Steve ClarkeImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Steve Clarke is unhappy with the fixture scheduling

    "We've got two weeks off for an international break, pack three games into a week and then have another two-week break before we play another league game.

    "We've got five allocated Saturdays between now and the end of the season. So when we get really good weather we spread the games out but in the winter we pack them all together. It's really clever."

    The SPFL has yet to respond to Clarke's comments.

  13. Rangers playing diamond formation?published at 12:15

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Kenny Miller
    Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    We've been sitting trying to decipher how Rangers are going to play. Is it going to be with a diamond with Daniel Candeias up front with Jermain Defoe? Or do they maybe ask Scott Arfield or Steven Davis to maybe play in off the left?

  14. Change of viewpoint for Gerrardpublished at 12:11

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has been taking a look at the pitch from the dugout area but he will have to take a seat in the stand later since he is serving a one-game touchline ban in the aftermath of last Sunday's Old Firm derby.

    Rangers manager Steven GerrardImage source, SNS
  15. 'Motherwell pose threat to Rangers' - Doddspublished at 12:08

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Billy Dodds
    Former Scotland striker at Fir Park

    Quote Message

    Motherwell will be a potent threat to Rangers and this is a fixture that's caused Rangers problems.

  16. Gillespie fit for Well; two changes for Gerspublished at 12:05

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Mark Gillespie is fit to start in goal for Motherwell despite coming off injured during Wednesday's defeat by Aberdeen.

    Stephen Robinson makes just one change to his line-up with Alex Rodriguez Gorrin replacing the benched Carl McHugh.

    Steven Gerrard restores Nikola Katic and Daniel Candeias to his starting XI with Joe Worrall dropping to the bench and Ryan Kent beginning a two-match suspension.

    Mark GillespieImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Mark Gillespie came off after 68 minutes at Pittodrie on Wednesday but is fit to face Rangers

  17. Gearing up for kick-offpublished at 12:00

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    From top left: Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, Rangers' backroom staff and players on the Fir Park pitch, and Ryan Jack and Eros GrezdaImage source, SNS
  18. Fir Park blockbuster in store?published at 11:55

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Scott Mullen
    BBC Scotland at Fir Park

    On the face of it, there shouldn't be much importance attached to today's game. Motherwell have come up just short in their bid for a top-six place, Rangers' title flame appears to be heading towards its final flicker.

    Yet, it's a intriguing game. Rangers manager Steven Gerrard will demand his team build on the midweek win against Hearts, but must do so without Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.

    They also must overcome a Motherwell side going for six home wins on the bounce, a record that has stood for 44 years.

    We had a 3-3 blockbuster last time Rangers came here, I have a feeling in my water we will get the same again. Either that or I need to go to the doctor again...

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 7 April 2019

    #bbcsportscot & BBC Sport Scotland Facebook page

    How do you see the game panning out at Fir Park?

    Tweet using #bbcsportscot or visit our Facebook page to offer your thoughts.

  20. Premiership tablepublished at 11:52

    Motherwell v Rangers (12:30)

    Scottish Premiership tableImage source, BBC Sport