Motherwell hold Rangers to draw at Fir Park

Sep 17 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Motherwell continue fine start to season by holding champions

MOTHERWELL continued their unbeaten start to the season in some style by holding champions Rangers to a 0-0 draw at Fir Park on Saturday.

Although it’s Motherwell’s best start to a league campaign since 1995, the young side will be disappointed not to have taken all three points from Walter Smith’s men.

Both sides had early chances and after two minutes ’Well’s Steven Saunders sent a low shot just past from a Ross Forbes free-kick. At the other end ,John Ruddy punched clear from Sasa Papac as the Bosnian looked to get on to the end of a Kris Boyd knock-down.

In 39 minutes, Motherwell created a great opening when Yassin Moutaouakil burst down the right and bent a cross to the far post but the ball caught John Sutton unaware and struck him before bouncing wide.

Ruddy was called into action again when new Rangers signing Jerome Rothen sent a free-kick to the far post. From close range, the goalkeeper managed to block Madjid Bougherra’s header.

Within two minutes of the restart, Steven Hammell almost caught Allan McGregor by surprise when he bent a cross to the front post but the keeper recovered well and punched the ball clear.

Motherwell were playing some good football and Jim O’Brien was just too high with an effort from 18 yards out before Forbes sent a 25-yard free-kick over.

Motherwell should have scored in 79 minutes but Giles Coke looped a header over from a good position.

Four minutes later, the game exploded, leaving Motherwell with a penalty and Rangers down to 10 men.

Bougherra appeared to foul substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz and referee Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot and booked the defender. However, Bougherra’s protest went on for too long and he was shown a second yellow card and sent off.

O’Brien took the spot-kick but McGregor dived full length to keep the ball out.

There was still time for one last chance for the Steelmen when substitute Keith Lasley released Jutkiewicz on the left. The striker’s angled drive beat McGregor but bounced past the far post.

Motherwell: Ruddy, Moutaouakil, Saunders, Reynolds, Hammell, Murphy (Jennings, 46), Hateley, Coke, Forbes (Lasley, 74), O’Brien, Sutton (Jutkiewicz, 80). Subs (not used): Kosiorowski, Craigan, Page, McHugh.