Mid-table Motherwell welcome Rangers to Fir Park in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday lunchtime.
Steven Hammell inspired the Steelmen to a strong domestic start after his appointment this summer. However, a grinding sequence of one victory from their last six matches (D1 L4) has punctured the optimism tentatively building in north Lanarkshire.
Rangers ended their 12-year wait for a Champions League goal but duly conceded seven against Liverpool in the club’s heaviest-ever home defeat on Wednesday. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side are just two points off the pace set by Celtic – who remain the only Premiership side to beat the Gers this season.
Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming match.
Motherwell: 0 Wins
Rangers: 2 Wins
Draws: 3
Motherwell: DLLWL
Rangers: WWLWL
Left-back Nathan McGinley has been laid low by a groin problem since February. The Huddersfield Town-loanee Rolando Aarons is yet to start for his new side, sitting out the previous three matches with a hamstring injury.
Jake Carroll is a long-term absentee after undergoing knee surgery. The forward Connor Shields was given his marching orders within the opening hour of Motherwell’s 1-0 defeat to Hibernian last weekend and will begin his suspension against the Gers.
Motherwell Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): Kelly; McGinn, Lamie, Johansen, Penney; Goss, Slattery; Efford, Spittal, Morris; Van Veen.
Bench: Oxborough, Connelly, Mugabi, O’Donnell, Maguire, Tierney, McKinstry, Cornelius, Moult.
Adding injury to the insult of defeat, Connor Goldson was forced off against Liverpool with thigh problem which could sideline the centre-back for multiple months. Ryan Jack also limped off before the humiliation really took hold in the final half-hour.
Long-term absentees Tom Lawrence, Ianis Hagi and Nnamdi Ofoborh are continuing their gradual recovery. The defenders Filip Helander and John Souttar aren’t expected to be back in time for Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off.
Rangers Starting 11 (4-2-3-1): McGregor; Tavernier, King, Davies, Barisic; Davis, Lundstram; Sakala, Arfield, Matondo; Colak.
Bench: McLaughlin, McCrorie, Yilmaz, Kent, Sands, Morelos, Wright, Tillman, Devine.
Motherwell find themselves up against a Rangers side on the ropes after a historically catastrophic performance. As Van Bronckhorst himself admitted: “The way we played the last 25 minutes [against Liverpool], you will lose against any team.”
While the Gers remain favourites, there is a genuine chance of the Steelmen taking something out of the game, although a first top-flight victory against Rangers since 2002 is unlikely.
Prediction: Motherwell 1-2 Rangers
Credit: 90min.com
