Rangers squander crucial points after poor Motherwell showing

Nico Raskin gave Rohl's side the perfect start as he rounded off a free-flowing attacking move with a lovely finish from inside the area. That strike after six minutes was as good as it got for the visitors in the first half as Motherwell's attacking endeavours were repeatedly thwarted.

Jens Berthel Askou's side were reduced to ten men in the closing stages as Lukas Fadinger saw red. Motherwell still had a comeback in them and Stephen Welsh converted in the last minute to earn a point.

Read more:

• How Rangers signed Ryan Naderi - Data standout, ten week scouting, Rohl references
• Inside Rangers’ window: Why no 5th move, story of rejected bids, summer targets

Another twist in the tale

Rangers reported for duty on Monday morning following their Scottish Cup win over Queen’s Park knowing that they had the chance to move top of the table in the days that followed. That opportunity did not present itself at Fir Park, however. And now it won't at Ibrox, either.

Rohl insisted pre-match that he wouldn’t be keeping an eye on events at Tynecastle that evening as he focused on the form and fortunes of his side but the late winner for Hearts ensured that they would be top of the table heading into the meeting between the sides this weekend. Rangers couldn't even take care of their own business first and foremost and will now count the cost of this latest stumble.

The Jambos were the real winners from this dramatic evening. Celtic left it late to overcome Livingston. Within minutes and a few miles away, one of their own denied Rangers three points.

The message emblazoned across the away end was ‘Fight For Glory Every Game’ as blue cards filled the bottom tier and red filled the top. It was a support that travelled with huge demands and expectations, and rightly so. They were let down.

Rohl spoke about the ability to win then win again and again earlier this week. Even when the performance isn’t there, the points must be. Finding a way to win at this stage of the season is worth its weight in gold. Just ask Hearts and Celtic. On a night where the win was all that mattered, Rangers failed.

Profligacy strikes again

The last time Motherwell conceded a goal here, Rohl had not even signed a contract to become Rangers boss. The run game to an end five minutes into the tenth Fir Park encounter.

The name of Mikey Moore erupted from behind Jack Butland’s goal in celebration. The Englishman was given the credit initially, but it was Raskin who had in fact put Rohl’s side ahead. The move started with Butland and was incisive, the ball worked to Mohamed Diomande before he drove forward and slipped a pass into the path of Raskin. The finish was cool and composed from the Belgian as Rangers took an early lead.

It was a moment that Rohl would have been even more grateful for at the break. Outside of a chance that Youssef Chermiti spurned, Rangers were shot-shy.

The second period followed a similar pattern. The visitors could not be accused of a lack of effort as bodies were thrown in front of shots, space was closed down and tackles were made. There was a lack of quality in the final third, however. An early turn and shot from Moore that Ward saved wasn’t the precursor for sustained periods of pressure from Rangers. A late Tavernier free-kick was wide of target and Rangers could have no complaints about failing to win here.

Well get their rewards

The way in which Motherwell carved out their first opening of the evening was symptomatic of their play this term as the ball was moved with pace and purpose. It ended with Emmanuel Longelo being denied by Butland as the keeper saved well at his near post.

Rangers may have been ahead on the scoreboard but Motherwell were in their rhythm on the park. Elliot Watt forced Butland into action from a free-kick and Tawanda Maswanhise hit the woodwork from a tight angle after collecting a ball over the top. Raskin somehow won a header on the line, and won a foul in the process, as Stephen Welsh and Paul McGinn challenged for the ball.

The Steelmen would have returned to the dressing room at the break wondering how they were behind, if not ahead. They had 10 shots compared to the two that Rangers registered and it was the hosts who continually looked the more dangerous and more likely to score. Motherwell had 21 touches in the opposition area in the first 45 minutes. Rangers had four.

Rohl’s side were resolute. It was Motherwell who played the better football but the clock ticked on without Butland being beaten. Steven McLean rightly waved away penalty calls after Callum Slattery was bumped by Ryan Naderi and Butland saved from Elijah Just.

With 15 minutes remaining, Fadinger saw red. McLean was sent to the monitor and upgraded his initial yellow after a lunging challenge on Moore. There was still time for a hero and Welsh stepped forward as he finished into the bottom corner.

Boss gambled with team

Rohl has earned the right to select who he wishes and to set this side up in the manner that he sees fit. It is safe to say that few of those who took their seats in the away end would have agreed with the line-up that Rohl selected here. That is the life of a manager, and certainly a Rangers manager. The criticism will now follow.

Of the four players that Rohl recruited in January, only one started at Fir Park as Tochi Chukwuani partnered Raskin and Diomande. Tuur Rommens was a surprise omission at left-back, but not as much as the call on the right as Djeidi Gassama was preferred to Andreas Skov Olsen. Through the middle, Chermiti returned to the squad and the team as Ryan Naderi and Bojan Miovski dropped out.

On the plus side, Rangers had a strong bench. Rohl turned to it after an hour as Naderi replaced Diomande and the German changed the shape of his side. Manny Fernandez took over from Gassama in a switch designed to help Rangers see this one out. Dujon Sterling, Thelo Aasgaard and Bojan Miovski got the final minutes but the ending was far from a happy one for Rangers.

Chermiti doesn’t repay faith

The double that Chermiti netted at Parkhead at the start of last month breathed fresh life into the title bid. The challenge here was for the Portuguese to fire Rangers another step closer to the summit of the standings. Chermiti missed the wins over Kilmarnock and Queen’s Park after sustaining a cut that required stitches in the draw with Hibernian. His return straight into the head of the attack was a show of faith from Rohl that had to be repaid.

His opening half an hour or so was largely spent on the fringes in terms of an impact in an attacking sense. To be fair, he had little service.

When his chance came, he couldn’t convert it. A long ball from Tavernier wasn’t dealt with by Welsh and Chermiti could only direct a poor attempt straight at Calum Ward. His follow up was blocked. It was a miss that would have seen his detractors utter ‘I told you so’ once again.

Calls for a penalty as Chermiti was bundled over under pressure surprisingly came to nothing when it looked like the claim was strong. The forward spent a couple of minutes on the ground after being caught before limping back into position.

A near post header was wide of target. An attempt to rally the away support wasn’t met with a rousing response. Tavernier’s cross was met with a swinging boot but Ward gathered. Once again, there just wasn't enough from the £8million man.