Beale’s boys are forced to bounce back again as fans demonstrate
MOTHERWELL 2
Van Veen (3), Mugabi (59)
RANGERS 4
Tavernier (23), Sakala (47), Cantwell (63), Tillman (69)
Michael Beale praised Rangers’ resilience as they came from behind to defeat 10-man Motherwell in a thriller at Fir Park.
Kevin van Veen gave the home side an early lead before James Tavernier equalised then teed up Fashion Sakala to put Gers in front.
Bevis Mugabi drew Well level again before further strikes from Todd Cantwell and Malik Tillman eased Rangers to another win.
Callum Slattery’s harsh red card ended any prospect of a Well comeback as the visitors retrieved something from a losing position for the eighth time in Beale’s tenure. It wasn’t all fluid football from the Ibrox men, who had to work hard at times, but Beale was pleased with his players’ endeavour to dig it out.
He said: “It is not ideal to go behind but it shows a faith and a trust in the way that you are playing to keep going. The game is played now for nearly 100 minutes now and we ground Motherwell down.
“If you believe in the way that you are playing then you know the chances will come if you keep playing.
“I want to praise the boys for their form and for finding a way to keep playing and keep winning but we need to be more ruthless.”
Off the field there was another Rangers fan protest about the running of the club.
A large banner was unveiled that read “Time For Change” as supporters held up signs calling for sporting director Ross Wilson and managing director Stewart Robertson to go.
Well fans were also meant to boycott the first 15 minutes with their own protest and wait at the back of the
stand but more than a few poured down the steps in celebration when their team took an early lead.
Max Johnston looked offside when he took possession before crossing for van Veen to tap in at the back post but VAR official Andrew Dallas awarded the goal.
That stunned Rangers but they gradually began to grab a hold of the game and drew level after 23 minutes. Slattery picked up his first booking for a crude tackle on John Lundstram and Tavernier made them pay with a terrific free-kick for his 98th Rangers goal.
Keeper Liam Kelly then had to look lively to block Lundstram’s halfvolley before Fashion Sakala screwed the rebound wide. The forward had something of an ineffective first half but made up for it by putting Rangers in front 70 seconds after the restart.
Tavernier was the provider, crossing for the Zambian to power a header past Kelly after getting above Paul McGinn.
Rangers could have had a third not long after but Antonio Colak – who endured an off-day – sliced his effort into the side netting
McGinn was taken off shortly afterwards and it was his replacement, Mugabi, that drew Motherwell level. Lundstram needlessly gave away a corner and, when Rangers failed to clear, the defender poked a shot home.
Suddenly, Well had their tails up and van Veen was unlucky to see a lob drift just wide after he had taken the ball wide of the out-rushing Allan McGregor.
Instead, it was Rangers who claimed the next goal. Sakala crossed, Ryan Kent, Colak then Tavernier saw efforts blocked before Cantwell finally forced the ball home for his first goal for the Ibrox club.
Beale withdrew Sakala and Colak and their replacements combined for Rangers’ fourth. Alfredo Morelos cut the ball back and Tillman was on hand to gleefully smash the ball into the top corner of the net.
It got worse for Well when Slattery brushed Cantwell with his arm and picked up his second booking.
Any prospect of a late comeback went with him.