Rangers retain pole position in the Scottish Premier Division, but in driving
rain they made heavy weather of beating a resilient Motherwell at Ibrox.
Alex Cleland's 23rd minute strike failed to spark his side into life and.
An Rangers were forced to hold onto their narrow lead for an edgy
success.
With Celtic's scheduled match at Dundee United called off at noon because of a
waterlogged pitch, this win puts Rangers six points ahead of the Parkhead
outfit.
Yet despite a promising opening half, Rangers lost their momentum after the
interval, missing both the invention of Brian Laudrup and movement up front of
Marco Negri.
By the closing stages it was clear Walter Smith's side were concentrating
their efforts on maintaining their lead, though Motherwell never committed
enough men forward to threaten it.
Even allowing for the conditions, Smith will be concerned at how little of the
sparkle of last week's 2-0 win over Aberdeen was reproduced.
Paul Gascoigne made a surprise return to the Rangers line-up after a troubled
week, which included the revelation that he had received a death threat in the
wake of his Old Firm derby flute-playing gesture.
It was his first start since the 3-2 home victory over St Johnstone on
November 29 following suspension and a subsequent lack of match fitness.
Gordon Durie, retaining his place because of Negri's eye injury, forced Stevie
Woods into his first save after just two minutes, the keeper pushing away a
powerful low drive.
Woods again had to be alert after 10 minutes, racing from his area to prevent
Durie latching onto a long ball from youngster Barry Ferguson, who was again
impressive in midfield.
After 20 minutes Gascoigne came close to scoring following a sharp exchange of
passes with Durie, but his shot went narrowly wide.
Rangers nudged ahead through an unlikely source three minutes later, after
Jorg Albertz and Durie had combined neatly on the left to set up Stuart McCall
at the far post.
His close-range strike was well blocked by Woods, but the ball broke
tofull-back Cleland, who fired into the unguarded net to break the deadlock.
On the half-hour Woods was again at his best to stop a curled effort from
Durie adding to the lead, while moments later Gascoigne ended another weaving
run by shooting just wide.
Richard Gough was fortunate to escape with just a warning from referee Willie
Young after 35 minutes after brushing away an Owen Coyle challenge with an arm.
Gascoigne was denied what would have been a superb solo goal after 39 minutes
by a desperate goalline clearance from Brian Martin after the England man had
rounded keeper Woods.
Just before half-time Durie missed a clear chance to double the advantage,
meeting a precise Jonas Thern cross with a weak downward header that was easily
tipped over by Woods.
Gascoigne's first effort after the break was ambitious at best, chesting down
and volleying well wide after picking up a poor clearance kick by Woods.
After 57 minutes a Gascoigne free-kick whistled just wide after being deflected
by the wall, but chances for either team were at a premium in the second
period.
Motherwell had claims for a penalty refused after 71 minutes, when Sergio
Porrini and Coyle clashed in the area, and Coyle was booked for sustaining his
protest.
With five minutes remaining, Gascoigne was substituted to a warm ovation,
which he had done just about enough to justify.
The end brought the rare sight of a near-50,000 Ibrox crowd urging the referee
to blow his whistle and preserve a narrow win against supposedly inferior
opposition.
Teams
Rangers: Goram, Cleland, Albertz, Gough, Porrini, Bjorklund,
Thern, Gascoigne (Johannson 85), Durie, McCall (Vidmar 72),
B. Ferguson.
Subs Not Used: I. Ferguson.
Booked: Durie.
Goals: Cleland 23.
Motherwell: Woods, May (Valikarri 52), Ross, Newman, Martin,
Falconer, Weir (Shivute 65), Garcin (McCulloch 70), Coyne,
McSkimming, Coyle.
Booked: Newman, Falconer, Coyle, Garcin.
Att: 49,443
Ref: W Young (Clarkston).
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