IBROX ACE’S FLYING START
Graham’s dream double gives Gers the perfect platform M’WELL 1 Gavin Berry RANGERS 2
FROM Luxembourg to Lanarkshire. From the depths of despair in Europe to the high of an opening-day league win. What a difference a month has made for Rangers. And one man in particular as Graham Dorrans got his Light Blues career off to a flyer with a competitive debut double at Fir Park. Dorrans touched down at Glasgow Airport last month to hear of his new club’s shock Europa League exit at the hands of Progres Niederkorn. Pedro Caixinha knew the arrivals of Dorrans and Bruno Alves would be key and the former proved it in earning this win over Motherwell. Dorrans’s passion for his boyhood heroes and his quality was identified as something Rangers desperately needed and the fans chanted “he’s one of our own” after his brace. The 30-year-old netted after just three minutes and hit the winner from the penalty spot just before the hour after Ben Heneghan levelled HENEGHAN 40ANTHONYDHORARAGNGS4E, HT: 1-1 ATT: 9974 before the break with his first goal in claret and amber.
But Rangers still have room for improvement, particularly at the back where they could’ve been punished by more clinical opposition.
Neil Lennon – taunted by the visiting support on his Fir Park spying mission – might even fancy his chances when he takes his Hibs side to Ibrox on Saturday.
But this was a game Gers had to win and they did. Caixinha had been working towards this fixture ever since the calamitous Euro defeat.
Results and performances in the hastily arranged friendlies in the wake of that suggested Rangers were on the right track.
But this was the real test as Caixinha looked to lay down a marker and show his side can be more competitive in his first full season.
He went with the same team, including six summer signings, that started last week’s friendly win over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. And despite James Tavernier being ruled out by his manager,
the full- back was named on the bench. Well boss Steve Robinson is also looking to make an impact and the home side had five of their 10 new faces in the starting XI.
One of those, goalkeeper Trevor Carson, was picking the ball out the back of the net after just three minutes as Gers got off to the perfect start.
Daniel Candeias swung in a freekick from the right that Heneghan headed to Alves in an attempt to clear.
The veteran stopper then crossed for Kenny Miller and he headed back to Dorrans who fired home with the ball deflecting off Cedric Kipre and Heneghan on its way into the net.
Dorrans displayed his passion in his celebration as he wheeled away clutching the badge on his chest.
Motherwell’s three-man defence struggled with the pace and the movement of the Ibrox side.
Josh Windass had a couple of long-range efforts just off target before the Steelmen should have grabbed an equaliser.
Carl McHugh fed Chris Cadden out on the left and his deep cross found Louis Moult but the striker volleyed over from a great position.
Rangers came within the width of the post of a second goal when Windass showed terrific pace to skip past Kipre down the left and curled a shot off the upright.
It hasn’t been the best summer for the reputation of Scottish fans and Ryan Jack was forced to alert referee Bobby Madden to objects thrown from the ultras section.
But Motherwell were unhappy when Madden rejected a penalty claim after Andy Rose’s cross appeared to strike Lee Hodson’s hand.
But with just six minutes left in the first half the Steelmen found a way back into the game.
Alves conceded a free-kick and Richard Tait took it quickly for Craig Tanner who delivered a brilliant cross to the back post and Heneghan got away from Hodson to nod home.
It was a test to see how Gers would respond and they could have restored their lead before the break when Windass cracked the crossbar.
Candeias was on the end of a sore one early after the restart when Charles Dunne was booked for appearing to go in with his studs.
Moments later the Portuguese got the better of the Well defender down the right before a neat cut back for Miller but the striker shot over.
But just short of the hour the Light Blues were in front again. Candeias had a corner cleared and when the ball broke back to him he floated in a cross and Moult elbowed Fabio Cardoso as they challenged.
Dorrans took responsibility for the penalty, sending a right-foot shot beyond Carson.
Tavernier replaced Hodson and despite the more solid full-back option Gers still gave chances away. Substitute Ryan Bowman flicked the ball off the post and with four minutes to go McHugh set up sub Alex Fisher but Foderingham touched his shot wide
to secure the points.
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