Rangers 3 - 1 Motherwell: Early Velicka strike helps Rangers close gap on Glasgow rivals

Published on Sunday 12 April 2009 22:44

IT WOULD be something of an understatement to suggest Rangers relied on fringe players to close the gap on Celtic at the top of the SPL to a single point since some of the footballers who featured in this emphatic victory over Motherwell had been on the periphery of the first team for so long even the cognoscenti could be forgiven for wondering if they were still on the pay-roll at Ibrox.

The absence of seven injured regulars as well as the enforced exile of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor forced manager Walter Smith to dig deep into his 28-man first-team pool (a resource which will be trimmed to 20 next season) to offer rare starts to Andrius Velicka, making his first appearance since August, and Christian Dailly for only his fourth contribution of the season.

Compared to Steven Smith, however, Velicka and Dailly are almost automatic picks. Smith's last start in the SPL was under Paul Le Guen when he played against Celtic in 2006. Some two years and four months later, it was little wonder the full-back admitted never expecting to play for Rangers again.

Having recently played a trial match for Cardiff – the 23-year-old defender's career was stalled by a pelvic injury and a hernia operation – Smith had forgotten how it felt to be included in a first-team squad never mind take part in a game.

"It was a long time between first-team games and a difficult spell for me," acknowledged Smith. "To be honest, I never thought I'd get the chance to play for Rangers again. But a lot of boys are out injured and that's what it took to give me a chance. There is such a big squad here and the manager has so many options. The thing I found hardest was training all week and not getting a game. Strangely, you get used to not playing or being involved, though it's hard when you're not even in the squad. I've done well in the last few weeks in training and felt I deserved a chance, but I didn't think I'd get it."

Walter Smith, understandably, was pleased to get such a fulsome return on the investment of faith in Smith and Velicka as Rangers banked their ninth point in six days. Indeed, it only took a matter of minutes for the pair to repay the manager's trust. Playing in an advanced role on the left side of midfield, rather than at full-back, Smith dispatched an early cross into the Motherwell penalty box which Kris Boyd diverted towards the back post with a glancing header. Mark Reynolds, who should have heaved a clearance into the stands, miscued. The ball trundled along the six-yard box before the Lithuanian scrambled the ball over the line for his second goal in three appearances.

While Boyd would earn plaudits from his manager after the match for the general quality of his play, few would dispute the highlight of the centre-forward's contribution, and the game itself for that matter, was Rangers' second goal. Steven Whittaker, who spent a tidy afternoon at left-back, won a towering header in midfield which raced beyond the Motherwell defenders and in front of Boyd.

From the vantage point of the press box, this observer's first reaction was that a clumsy first touch from the striker had fortuitously created the space. In fact, as the video shows, Boyd reacted brilliantly when the ball took a firm bounce off the turf and created a clear glimpse of goal from long range.

One of the reasons Boyd scores so many goals is because he pounces early and catches defenders and goalkeepers off-guard. Even allowing for the predatory instincts of Scotland's most prolific goalscorer, the striker still had plenty to do from 25 yards. But after taking a couple of strides in the inside-right channel, Boyd dispatched an angled shot of such mesmeric violence that the ball tore past Graeme Smith into the roof of the net.

With Pedro Mendes calling the shots in central midfield, this was as lively an opening spell as Rangers could have wished for. Yet, as has become their habit in recent weeks, most tellingly in the dropped points against Hearts, Rangers took their foot off the accelerator and allowed Motherwell back into the game.

When John Sutton won a header from Smith's goal-kick, it was surprising no Rangers midfield player or defender made a move to block the opening. The Motherwell striker was able to exploit this lack of concentration and latch on to his own touch before a well-struck half-volley sped 20 yards past Neil Alexander.

Apart from the contributions of those previously on the perimeter of the first team, what pleased manager Smith most about this victory was the manner in which Rangers re-grouped after the interval. Steven Davis moved a little closer to Mendes and Maurice Edu in central midfield – thereby opening up space on the right for Dailly to counter-attack – which made it more difficult for Stephen Hughes to orchestrate a Motherwell fightback.

When Mendes tumbled in the box after a challenge from Brian McLean conceded a penalty, Boyd made an efficient job from the spot of scoring his 28th goal of the campaign. "If Boyd had been our player, we would have won," insisted Motherwell manager Mark McGhee. "He was the difference between the two teams and we couldn't handle him."

Although there could be no complaints from Motherwell about the outcome of a match Rangers deserved to win, McLean felt the Portuguese midfielder went to ground too easily. "There was a wee bit of simulation there," rued the defender. "It's Ibrox, and you're always up against it."

Parkhead side still favourites, maintains Boyd

KRIS Boyd claims Celtic are still favourites for the title despite Rangers slashing their advantage at the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to a single point.

The race was blown wide open again on Saturday when the champions were held to a 1-1 draw at Hearts in the lunch-time kick-off before Rangers responded in style with a 3-1 win over Motherwell.

With the final Old Firm derby set to take place at Ibrox, Rangers know they now have a real chance of ending Celtic's quest for a fourth successive title. But Boyd was keen to play down their chances, insisting: "Celtic are favourites and we will hang on to them for as long as we can. We have to keep going about our business the way we did against Motherwell and hopefully it will be good enough at the end. We knew they had dropped the points but there is still a pressure to win every time you go out on that park."

Boyd is one of a number of players walking a disciplinary tightrope at a time when Rangers cannot afford to lose further personnel, however, the forward insists this will not affect his approach.

He said: "You can't go out shirking tackles or not doing your bit for the team. You need to give it your all. The most important thing is the three points."