Rangers 3-1 Motherwell: Velicka and Boyd keep Rangers in hot pursuit

Published on Saturday 11 April 2009 19:57

Rangers 3 Velicka 2; Boyd 10, 65 pen. Motherwell 1 Sutton 37

WHATEVER Rangers' shortcomings, their refusal to wilt in the face of adversity is admirable. And that proved central to Walter Smith's men moving to within a point of Premier League leaders Celtic on an afternoon that strengthened the belief the title race is going all the way.

That in itself is remarkable, considering the number of times during a horribly troubled season for the Ibrox club they are supposed to have suffered a morale, or mortal, blow sufficient to send them to the canvas.

Yesterday's generally comfortable win over Motherwell brought Rangers a third league win on the bounce for the first time since last September, only nine days after the two-week suspensions slapped on the gulping-and-gesturing Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were cited as having handed Celtic a psychological advantage. And Smith will draw particular satisfaction from the 3-1 outcome because it was achieved with a mix-and-match side devoid of six first picks thanks to the leave forced on that duo and injuries to several others.

Of course, Rangers have been kept in the hunt by Celtic's inability to put together any sizeable winning run in recent months. But there were plenty who thought that, by this stage, Smith's men wouldn't even be in contention to benefit from lapses by their rivals, as occurred with the champions' 1-1 draw at Tynecastle yesterday. Rangers were supposed to be goners when they fell seven points behind Celtic in losing the late December derby; then were supposed to be gone as a club at the start of this year when Kris Boyd was plumped up for flogging to Birmingham City, before offers were invited for the rest of the squad to plug a 3m hole in finances.

It has been said time and again but, as he proved again with a double to take his tally for the season to 28 goals, Boyd's rejection of the personal terms offered at St Andrew's is precisely why the destination of the championship remains impossible to predict. "If Boyd had been our player we would have won. He was the difference between the two teams and we couldn't handle him," was Fir Park manager Mark McGhee's succinct assessment.

Smith was equally complimentary of the striker's contribution, which he described as "good for months". His efforts have been good for four goals in three games this past week or so, a haul that has moved him on to a Rangers goals total of 98 since moving from Kilmarnock for 400,000 three years and three months ago. "I am looking for that 100," the player said yesterday. His team are looking to topple Celtic as he passes that milestone, but Boyd stressed the title holders "are still favourites".

With so many players unavailable, there were some real oddities in the home side's line-up. While Andrius Velicka popping up for a first start since August 16 had eyebrows flicking upwards, Steven Smith provided the real Roger Moore-does-surprise moment. Not simply for making a first senior appearance since the Scottish Cup semi-final 51 weeks ago, and first league start in two-and-a-half years, but for the fact the left back did so as a left-side midfielder. It's a problem position within the Ibrox side – Steven Naismith and John Fleck could only have sat on the bench miffed they were not allowed to reprise a role they have previously assumed to good effect.

Yet, it took only three minutes for Smith to make a telling impact from his wide midfield berth. His hanging cross he set in motion the bagatelle bouncing around of the ball that ended with Velicka prodding in for a first goal. The visitors, and not the Lithuanian, really did the rest with desultory defending. Mark Reynolds allowed a Kris Boyd flick-on to cannon off him and, for reasons best known to himself, Maros Klimpl knocked the loose ball straight into Velicka's path.

If Rangers' first goal was a school playground number, their second seven minutes later was World Cup winning calibre. From all of 25 yards Boyd conjured up a beezer biff, nay a spectacular strike, the hit so clean it was a wonder the ball didn't shine as if it was just out the wrapper by the time it reached the top corner.

Motherwell pulled themselves together having been comprehensively pulled apart but there wasn't much for the Ibrox side to concern themselves with until John Sutton took a leaf out of Boyd's book by battering a 22-yard drive high past Neil Alexander with seven minutes of the first half remaining.

Thoughts of the two-goal surrender against Hearts only three weeks earlier must have flitted through the minds of the home players and support, but there was never any serious likelihood of something similar happening. And certainly not from the moment that Brian McLean clumsily left his leg out for Pedro Mendes to tumble over in the 64th minute and win a stick-on penalty that Boyd stuck away with ease.

The only unease for Smith afterwards came when asked if Ferguson and McGregor would return to training this week, with some suggestions they could be back at Murray Park tomorrow, only 10 days after they were given a two-week suspension. "You'll have to wait and see," Smith said cryptically. With the first post-split fixture in two weeks' time likely to be an Old Firm derby, pragmatism will surely decree that Ferguson and McGregor won't wait too long to become serious options again.