SHOCK JOCKS
Rangers miss the chance to match Wallace record as Well stun leaders
IT’S the type of result that would have had their title credentials scrutinised in previous seasons and a bit of heat turned up on them.
But luckily for Rangers they can get away with being held by the basement boys thanks to a huge lead at the top of the Premiership.
Gers missed out on the chance to equal a post-war club record of 16 league wins on the spin, set under Jock Wallace in 1972/73.
And the draw was a timely reminder to Steven Gerrard of the work still to be done before they can start popping the champagne corks on a 55th title success for the club. It showed that complacency – understandable when there doesn’t seem to be any real
challenge from a Celtic side who slipped up again 24 hours earlier – may be their biggest danger.
Instead of being a time to relax, it should be a stage in the campaign when Gers should be keeping their foot on the gas with the winning line almost in sight.
A staggering 47 points separated the runaway leaders and Well before kick-off but there was nothing between them by full-time.
New boss Graham Alexander’s men earned a battling draw that moved them off bottom spot on goal difference above Hamilton.
Substitute Cedric Itten denied the Steelmen a first top-flight win over Gers at Fir Park in 18 years as the
Swiss striker maintained the Light Blues’ unbeaten league run.
As they did at Ibrox last month, Well took a shock lead with Devante Cole netting from close range midway through the first half.
It was their first home goal since November and ensured they avoided the unwanted stat of going five games at Fir Park without scoring for the first time in their history.
But Itten doesn’t have much trouble scoring in Lanarkshire as the Swiss striker climbed off the bench to head home the equaliser for his third goal here and fourth in three games against the Steelmen.
Itten was introduced to the game
on 55. And it’s a number Rangers will almost certainly be celebrating come the end of the season.
They failed to capitalise on Celtic being held at home to Livingston 24 and missed the chance to stretch their lead to 23 points.
But it’s another game down and with just 14 left and a 12-point lead even if Celtic win their three games in hand it’s as good as in the bag.
Gers can be forgiven a couple of points dropped after a run like that but it was a below par performance which, Pittodrie aside seven days earlier, has been creeping in.
Gerrard was looking for a fast start but they failed to fly out the traps and it was below par apart from Steven Davis, in his 300th appearance for the club.
Well adopted an ultra-defensive 5-5 formation when these sides met at Ibrox and after taking a shock early lead it worked until Gers hit three goals late on.
But on their own patch under a new regime and having slumped to the foot of the table they had to show more attacking intent to try and get something from the game.
The home side had the first effort on target inside five minutes, albeit Allan McGregor easily saved Allan Campbell’s shot as Gerrard was proved right in his prediction that he wouldn’t face a low block.
Gers failed to heed the early warning signs as Well played with a confidence that belied their league position and it was the home side who grabbed the lead midway through the first half.
Liam Polworth and Tony Watt exchanged passes to release the former Celtic man down the left. His low ball across goal was turned in by Cole, who got in ahead of both Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun.
It was a wake-up call for the away side who have struggled to find top gear in recent weeks and Alfredo Morelos was unlucky with a header just wide from Borna Barisic’s cross as they eyed a quickfire equaliser.
But ex-Ibrox kid Liam Kelly didn’t have a serious save despite James Tavernier and Barisic offering plenty of opportunities down the flanks.
It’s not often they are criticised for their crossing but the Well defence coped with the balls into the box.
Gerrard resisted the urge to change things at the break. Ianis Hagi could have had no complaints if he’d been hooked and the Romanian was the first name in Don Robertson’s book for a late challenge on Polworth. Hagi’s number went up shortly after that with Itten, after a brace in the 5-1 romp here this season, given his chance to change the game.
Gers were so close to a leveller moments later when Connor Goldson got on the end of Barisic’s ball but his net-bound header was cleared off the line by Well scorer Cole.
Well gave up territory as the game wore on and were pinned back, with Tavernier’s header across goal from Ryan Kent finding no takers.
Goldson stung the palms of Kelly as the Steelmen clung on but they couldn’t withstand the pressure and Itten headed home unmarked from Barisic’s cross to level with 18 left.
TV replays later showed the striker was in an offside position to rub salt into Well’s wounds.