Rangers goal 'should not have counted' claims Motherwell boss Graham Alexander

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander has questioned whether the goal that spared Rangers from their first league defeat of the season should have stood.
Motherwell manager Graham Alexander during the Scottish Premiership match against Rangers at Fir Park (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS GroupMotherwell manager Graham Alexander during the Scottish Premiership match against Rangers at Fir Park (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group
Motherwell manager Graham Alexander during the Scottish Premiership match against Rangers at Fir Park (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group

Cedric Itten came off the bench to rescue a point for Steven Gerrard's side with 18 minutes remaining after Devante Cole had fired Motherwell into a first-half lead at Fir Park.

The Swiss striker nodded home a Borna Barisic cross at the back post to extend Rangers’ unbeaten campaign to 24 matches, but after watching replays of the goal post-match, Alexander felt Itten was offside.

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"The frustration is the goal which I don't believe should have counted," he told Sky Sports. "I didn't see it at the time at all but I've seen the stills and pictures and the lad looks offside when the ball comes in.

"But that's not within our control. All I can concentrate on is the structure of the team, the players motivation and the togetherness of everyone at the club, and that for me was top notch today."

The point took Motherwell off the bottom of the Premiership table and made it two points from two games for the new boss.

Alexander added: "The players deserve all the credit because they took on our game plan.

"I thought we were the better team in the first half in our structure. In the second half [Rangers] were always going to build up momentum and pressure but we defended really well.

"But for a cross and an offside header we take three points so the players have got to take great confidence from that.”

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