Rangers narrowly avoided a second consecutive league defeat as substitute Hamza Igamane’s second-half double secured a 2-2 draw against a spirited Motherwell side at Fir Park. The result, however, sees Rangers slip 14 points behind league leaders Celtic ahead of their crucial Old Firm clash on Thursday.
Manager Phillipe Clement, under pressure after recent performances, turned to Igamane to rescue his side from a two-goal deficit. The Moroccan delivered, smashing home his first after the ball dropped fortuitously in the box before curling a precise strike into the far corner to level the score.
Motherwell’s First-Half Brilliance
Motherwell, though, will feel aggrieved not to have claimed all three points. The hosts dominated the first half, capitalising on Rangers’ defensive disarray. Apostolos Stamatelopoulos opened the scoring with a sharp finish beneath Jack Butland, before Tawanda Maswanhise produced a moment of magic. The midfielder danced past multiple defenders before firing home a stunning solo goal, giving Motherwell hope of ending a 21-year wait for a home league victory over Rangers.
Stuart Kettlewell’s men continued to threaten and twice had the ball in the net through Tony Watt, but both efforts were ruled out after VAR checks – decisions that left Kettlewell incensed and ultimately saw him sent off for his protests.
Rangers Rally but Fall Short
Despite Igamane’s heroics, Rangers struggled to find the cutting edge needed to snatch a late winner. The visitors pushed relentlessly, yet their profligacy, particularly from forwards Cyriel Dessers and Danilo, cost them dearly.
Clement lamented his team’s defensive frailties after the match:
“If you need to score three or four goals every time to win, it has to be much better. The fans are frustrated, and I understand that because I am too. In the first half, we conceded two goals we can never allow. It made things much harder for us.”
Bright Spots Amid Disappointment
For Motherwell, Maswanhise’s dazzling performance stood out, with his skill and creativity causing problems for a shaky Rangers backline. The home side’s tenacity and discipline in the dying stages underscored their strong campaign so far under Kettlewell.
Kettlewell, though disappointed with the draw, expressed pride in his team:
“I’m immensely proud of the players and what they gave us again. The disappointment comes in our start to the second half, but this was always going to be tough. There’s a bit of disappointment that it’s only a point, but no disappointment in the personality, the character, and what they showed.”
Looking Ahead
The result leaves Motherwell in high spirits despite the missed opportunity, while Rangers will need a marked improvement to challenge Celtic in their next outing. For both sides, the battle for points continues, but the drama at Fir Park will linger long in the memory.