Motherwell - 1 Rangers - 0:Scottish Premier League: Motherwell revitalised the title race yesterday when, in one of the upsets of the season, they inflicted on leaders Rangers their first defeat of the season to enable Celtic to close the gap to one point.
Motherwell, bottom of the table at the start of the day, were only being even-handed. Earlier in the season they had beaten Celtic.
Typically, the goal, prodded home by James McFadden from a nod down by Dirk Lehmann midway through the second half, carried an element of controversy. But Alex McLeish, the Rangers manager, said he would not let this be used as an excuse.
Lorenzo Amoruso said he was fouled by Lehmann seconds before the German supplied the header for McFadden to finish.
McLeish said Motherwell deserved all three points regardless - for being the better side.
"It was difficult to say. Lorenzo said he had been fouled and Craig Moore backed that up, but the referee said the striker was on the wrong side of Lorenzo and was only looking for a way out.
"Motherwell won the individual battles and this was a game we have to look back on and say, 'Have we learned from it'? We have been on a phenomenal unbeaten run for a long time and now we have to start again, but I'm sure we have the character to do that."
Amoruso showed his commitment to the team by refusing to be substituted after picking up an injury during the last 10 minutes.
Despite limping heavily, the Italian snubbed McLeish's offers to be replaced and opted to move up front instead in search of the equalising goal - but McLeish admitted he was lucky he didn't cost Rangers a second goal.
"He was limping heavily and we nearly got caught out for the second goal and I was planning to put another player up front anyway because we had to gamble. But he moved up front and waved to us to say that he was okay."
Motherwell manager Terry Butcher said his players admitted the goal could easily have been given as a free-kick to Rangers.As it is, the three points take them above Dundee United.
"Dirk said it was a possible foul and, if it had come when we were on our bad run, it would probably have been given as a free-kick.
"I told the players that it doesn't matter if it's the scruffiest, messiest goal because it could turn out to be the best of the season.
"Our game plan was to not allow them to settle and it isn't rocket science. If you allow teams like Rangers and Celtic to string together passes and become comfortable on the ball, then you're in for a doing.
"We set our stall out to frustrate them and I knew it could end up one on one, so I told the players, if that happens, stand up and be counted."
Guardian Service
MOTHERWELL: Dubourdeau, Kinniburgh, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Adams, Cowan, Leitch, Pearson, McFadden, Lehmann. Subs Not Used: Woods, Ramsey, Ferguson, McDonald, Clarkson. Booked: McFadden, Adams. Goals: McFadden 65.
RANGERS: Klos, Malcolm, Moore, Amoruso, Muscat, Ricksen, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, de Boer, Mols, Caniggia (Dodds 72). Subs Not Used: McGregor, Nerlinger, McLean, Reid. Booked: Ricksen, Moore, Mols.
Referee: W Young (Scotland).
