HELANDER STARS IN LATE SHOW FOR RANGERS
RANGERS 2 MOTHERWELL 1:
FILIP HELANDER’S arrival as a Rangers player is surely now complete. Three days after an outstanding defensive display against Porto, the £3million centre-back claimed a priceless goal on domestic duty to ensure Steven Gerrard’s side remain locked on points with Celtic.
After the champions sent out a fearsome message with their four-star lunchtime romp at Pittodrie, it felt imperative that Ibrox witnessed a response.
Another lapse to follow the draw against Hearts seven days previously would have been wounding. For the psychology of the Rangers players as much as anything. Giving up more ground could have raised significant questions about their durability in the title race.
For 80 minutes, it seemed that would be the outcome. Trailing to a strike from Devante Cole — whose dad, Andy, was a former England team-mate of Gerrard’s — the Rangers manager watched captain James Tavernier miss from the penalty spot for the third time this season.
Jermain Defoe levelled just before the end of a sluggish first-half display from the Ibrox men — a strike that Motherwell felt should have been chalked off for an earlier foul — before chances came and went once the tempo was increased after the break.
The visitors were often defending superbly under pressure. They could sense a draw being their reward. Among the home support, the atmosphere was fraught.
Helander’s late intervention ultimately transformed the mood. The Sweden international claimed his first goal since a summer arrival from Bologna by getting across Bevis Mugabi to plant a terrific header that sent relief surging through Govan.
There was also a form of redemption for Tavernier in the goal’s creation. While the skipper’s role as penalty-taker is to be considered by Gerrard in the coming days, it was his precise corner that picked out Helander to complete what could prove to be an immensely valuable turnaround.
Celtic remain top on goal difference, but keeping pace felt a reward in itself for Rangers given the overall standard of their showing.
Carrying four changes from the impressive 1-1 draw in Portugal last Thursday evening, Gerrard’s men toiled to replicate that fluency. A midweek trip north to face Ross County may well require better to bank another victory. This was a first away defeat of the league campaign for Motherwell. And one that stung. Manager Stephen Robinson departed nursing a deep feeling of frustration towards the officials, but will take heart from the spirit and quality shown in the wake of last weekend’s 3-0 home reverse to Aberdeen. Robinson opted for a change of shape to try to aid that recovery. Deploying a third centre-back was primarily a security measure against Rangers’ attacking potency but it didn’t entirely dilute Motherwell’s threat when breaking forward. They could, in fact, have snatched the lead inside three minutes.
An overlapping sprint by right wing-back Liam Grimshaw contained enough speed to burn off Helander’s pursuit.
When the low cross was fizzed in, it was met by a botched half-clearance from Connor Goldson that sent the ball straight to Christopher Long.
The former Everton kid, paired up front with Cole, should have done better than spoon high over the crossbar.
It was a warning for Rangers. Yet it wasn’t heeded. Gerrard’s side lacked the necessary intensity and accuracy for much of the opening period.
There was a flicker of a chance when Brandon Barker worked a one-two with Greg Stewart before rocketing a shot too high.
But Ibrox sensed something was wrong. Grumbles of frustration had emerged well before the visitors made a 21st-minute breakthrough.
Cole received the ball inside the area with his back to goal — and without any of the nearby blue shirts getting tight enough to him. The striker was able to pivot and send in a strike that bounced awkwardly beyond Allan McGregor.
Referee Andrew Dallas became the centre of attention as Rangers began a comeback bid. He turned down a penalty appeal for handball against Peter Hartley before Barker’s low drive was superbly blocked by Mugabi.
Another handball claim, this
time for Grimshaw halting a Barker cross, was then rejected before Dallas relented to a third shout that looked less convincing.
Liam Polworth vehemently argued that Tavernier had gone down too easily as the Ibrox captain sought to burst into a crossing position.
Dallas pointed to the spot regardless, but Tavernier failed to make it count.
A whipped effort smacked back off Mark Gillespie’s right-hand post, following the Rangers man’s earlier misses from 12 yards in this season’s Europa League.
Tavernier suffered through the subsequent eight minutes before his side finally did level on the stroke of half-time.
Motherwell appealed loudly for a foul on Liam Donnelly as Defoe latched on to a long kick from McGregor, but Dallas was unmoved. The ball came inside to Steven Davis, whose powerful drive was beaten out by Gillespie.
Defoe was the first to react. A laser-guided finish lashed into the net made it 13 goals for the season.
A shoulder injury to Barker had forced his replacement by Ryan Kent just prior to that leveller, but Gerrard resisted the temptation for further changes at the break. His hope was of carrying over some momentum.
Rangers certainly started the second half with more urgency. Defoe was just eased off a headed chance by Hartley before some neat interplay led to Stewart setting up Joe Aribo. The Nigeria midfielder’s angled effort zipped just wide of the far post.
Opportunities were finally starting to mount up. There was now more sustained pressure being applied to the Motherwell backline.
Helander timed his run well to meet a flat corner from Borna Barisic but couldn’t quite get the right direction on a diving header.
Then Tavernier tested Gillespie with a left-foot snapshot after getting beyond Richard Tait, who had replaced Jake Carroll at left-back.
The obvious danger for Rangers was getting caught cold on the counter.
In the 69th minute, Cole turned provider with a smart through ball for Long that put his colleague clear into the area. His powerful strike only found the side netting.
That scare was the signal for Gerrard to send for his other big gun. Alfredo Morelos emerged from the bench to take over from Aribo and join Defoe in a rarely witnessed forward partnership.
Almost immediately, the Colombian sent in a tempting cross that Defoe just failed to convert. For once, though, Morelos wasn’t needed to provide a vital moment of incision. Helander stepped up instead to confirm his rise to prominence.