GIO MADE WRIGHT CALLS
Squad players come good for gaffer as he rests stars ahead of crunch Euro clash
It didn’t look like it before kick-off.
And at 1-1 and down to 10 men, it certainly didn’t feel like it after half an hour at Fir Park.
But by full-time it proved to be the Wright call by Gio van Bronckhorst.
The Rangers boss decided to rest some of his main men against Motherwell, wrapping them in cotton wool before a Europa League semi- f inal against RB Leipzig on Thursday.
Fringe men Scott Wright and Fashion Sakala were given their shot to stake their claim – and keep Rangers al ive in the Premiership title race.
When Ross Tierney levelled for Well after Leon Balogun had been sent off, it looked like a dubious decision by van Bronckhorst. But in the second half, Wright delivered when it mattered – scoring a brilliant second before James Tavernier sealed the points with a penalty.
Managers will never admit to prioritising one competition over the other. But that’s what van Bronckhorst did – rightly or wrongly – with his selection here.
Ahead of Leipzig in four days’ time, there was no Calvin Bassey, John Lundstram, Ryan Jack, Joe Aribo or Ryan Kent in Gers’ starting l ine- up. Normal ly, 1 3 they’re some of the first names on his team-sheet.
That’s not to mention the ones they’re missing through injury, such as Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe, Aaron Ramsey and Filip Helander.
So for the Dutchman to pick a front three consisting of Wright, Sakala and forgotten man Amad Diallo, it was proof that a Europa League semi-final was at the forefront of his mind.
Motherwell were missing frontman Kevin van Veen who was suspended. But the onus was on Rangers and they were ahead inside 15 minutes.
Diallo, who has barely kicked a bal l since his loan from Manchester United, had already been denied an opener after being sent clear by Sakala.
The £ 35million winger beat keeper Liam Kel ly before defender Jake Carroll got back to clear. But it didn’t take long for the Ibrox side to get in front.
A short corner between Tavernier and Diallo resulted in a whipped cross to the back post from the skipper.
Connor Goldson headed back across goal and, as Kelly flapped at it, Wright scrambled the ball home with the keeper perhaps getting the final touch.
It was a scrappy finish but a well-worked goal from Rangers, which got them off to the perfect start. Motherwell’s best effort was a 25-yarder from Callum Slattery that Allan McGregor had to turn round his post.
At the other end, Tavernier went close to making it 2- 0 with a daisy cutter that fizzed wide.
Van Bronckhorst’s side were relatively comfortable before Balogun’s red threatened to change the course of the game.
Why the big Nigerian decided to career into Dean Cornelius on the touchline, miles from his own goal, is anyone’s guess.
But the challenge on the Well kid’s ankle was heavy and dangerous – and ref Nick Walsh had no alternative but to producing a red card. That forced
Rangers into a tactical switch, with Diallo hooked and Bassey introduced at centre-half.
The away supporters wanted the teams levelled up right away when Juahni Ojala clattered into Wright – but this time Walsh only deemed it a yellow.
The sending-off gave Graham Alexander’s men a lift and seemed to disorientate Gers.
That’s why it was no real surprise when Motherwell equalised before half-time.
Glen Kamara tried to be too fancy in his own box, slipped and was robbed by Tierney. The little Irishman darted into the box while the ball was shuttled out wide to Carroll.
His cross was met brilliantly by Tierney whose header beat McGregor all ends up. Suddenly Rangers were right up against it in terms of claiming a vital three points.
Van Bronckhorst had to conjure up a different way of playing and he did, deploying Wright and Sakala high and wide, with Arfield playing almost as a half-striker.
But he also needed someone to come up with a bit of magic – and it was Wright who delivered.
Just three minutes in, Sakala went on a terrific run before feeding him.
Wright shifted the ball on to his right foot before drilling it past Kelly into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
It was a deadly f inish and probably the greatest moment of his Rangers career so far. Well weren’t dealing with Rangers’ system, which allowed them possession in their own half.
And with Sakala’s pace on the counter, Rangers were always a threat. The Zambian f lying machine had a major hand in their third goal, which effectively put the game to bed.
He was quick and direct from the left flank as he raced away from Bevis Mugabi. The big defender upended him and ref Walsh pointed to the spot and produced a yellow, not a red card.
Tavernier stepped up to convert his 15th goal of the season which keeps the pressure firmly on leaders Celtic – and sets up Rangers perfectly for their trip to Germany in midweek.