Willie Falconer scored a dramatic late winner for Motherwell and it may have
killed off Rangers' title hopes.
The big striker scored only his third goal of the season three minutes from
the end when Owen Coyle floated in a cross from the left and Falconer powered a
header beyond keeper Stevie Woods.
Rangers Old Firm rivals Celtic will go seven points clear of them tomorrow
should they beat Dundee United.
Rangers only have eight games remaining and that seems too big a gap at this
stage of the season.
Manager Walter Smith is anxious to bow out in the summer when he retires as
manager with a record tenth successive title secured by the club.
But their hold on the championship looks increasingly fragile by the week and
this was another sluggish performance.
Ally McCoist marked his return to the Rangers starting line-up for only the
second time in the league this season by opening the scoring in the 11th
minute.
He could have had a hat-trick, watching in disbelief as two other efforts came
back off the bar.
But Motherwell, who always seemed to rise to the occasion when they play the
Ibrox giants, were good value for their victory with Coyle equalising on the
stroke of half-time.
Then came the winner from Falconer to complete a marvellous day for new
Motherwell manager Harri Campman making his bow at Fir Park.
McCoist was handed the captaincy as Rangers were forced to field a weakened
side.
Sergio Porrini, Brian Laudrup, Paul Gascoigne and Gordon Durie were all
injured while Richard Gough and Stuart McCall were both suspended.
Motherwell almost took the lead in the seventh minute when Tommy Coyne fired
wide of the target after being released by Ian Ross.
McCoist put Rangers ahead when he got away from Brian Martin, raced on and
knocked a blistering shot from the edge of the area past keeper Stevie Woods.
Motherwell had a lot of possession and Rangers keeper Andy Goram did well to
push a shot from Coyle around the post as the home fans began to rally their
side.
Rangers, however, almost added a second when Marco Negri released Jorg Albertz
but his finish was woefully wide.
Motherwell were out of luck in the 32nd minute when Coyne knocked the ball
past Goram only for it to rattle the post and bounce back into the keeper's
hands.
Coyle got the equaliser on the stroke of half-time when he nodded in a cross
from Coyne, only for McCoist to rattle the bar in first half injury time.
The second half was a scrappy affair with both sides finding it difficult to
retain possession.
Albertz, who has scored some vital goals in recent weeks, came off injured in
the 71st minute and Peter Van Vossen made only his second appearance of the
season.
McCoist tried desperately to rally the side and an in-swinging cross by him
from the right just evaded Negri.
McCoist then saw a shot hit the post after a great through ball from sub Ian
Durant.
But then came that dramatic winner from Falconer which should surely secure
Motherwell's place in the top flight next season.
Teams:
Motherwell: Woods, Christie, McMillan, Denham, Martin, Falconer,
Valikarri, Ross (McCulloch 20), Coyne, Davies (May 87), Coyle.
Subs Not Used: Shivute.
Booked: Ross, Coyne.
Goals: Coyle 44, Falconer 87.
Rangers: Goram, Gattuso, Cleland, Moore, Petric, Bjorklund,
Thern, McCoist, Negri, Albertz (Van Vossen 72),
Johansson (Durrant 78).
Subs Not Used: Vidmar.
Booked: Gattuso, Petric.
Goals: McCoist 12.
Att: 11,779
Ref: B Tait (East Kilbride).
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