Ragged Rangers’ William Hill Premiership title hopes suffered a damaging blow as Stephen Welsh’s late leveller gave Motherwell a deserved 1-1 draw at Fir Park.
Midfielder Nico Raskin gave the visitors the lead at a sodden Fir Park with a well-worked goal after six minutes, the first the Steelmen had conceded at home since October.
However, Jens Berthel Askou’s slick-moving side dominated the rest of the game mostly before they were reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when Lukas Fadinger was sent off for a foul on Mikey Moore after his yellow card was upgraded by referee Steven McLean following a VAR check.
However, in the final minute Welsh, back for a second loan spell from Celtic, drove in a dramatic leveller to leave Rangers five points behind leaders Hearts, who visit Ibrox on Sunday.
If the keenly-awaited match was not quite the irresistible force against immovable object, then it was definitely a night when something had to give.
Motherwell went into the game with just one defeat in 15 – against Rangers at Ibrox – and had not lost a goal never mind a game at home in nine matches.
Rangers were on an 11-game unbeaten domestic run and had scored 13 goals in their previous two games.
The game began at a furious pace.
In Motherwell’s first real attack, Jack Butland saved an angled drive from Well’s Emmanuel Longelo who then blasted the rebound over the bar.
The Gers keeper then started the free-flowing move that saw midfielder Mohamed Diomande race forward and cleverly play in Raskin who assuredly slotted the ball past Motherwell keeper Calum Ward from 12 yards.
However, it was Well who took a grip of the game.
Butland saved a Calum Slattery free-kick from 25 yards, top scorer Tawanda Maswanhise, who had missed the defeat at Ibrox as he was on AFCON duty with Zimbabwe, hit the outside of the post with the Gers keeper appearing to get a touch.
Raskin brilliantly headed away from under the Rangers bar following another free-kick into the visitors’ box.
In the 35th minute Rangers had a great chance following a long ball which broke kindly to striker Youssef Chermiti but he slammed his shot straight at Ward with his second attempt blocked by Welsh.
There was an Ibrox penalty claim when Elliot Watt clambered on Chermiti in the Well box but referee McLean played on.
Well remained the better team as the second half unfolded, with referee McLean angering the home fans with some of his decisions.
Ryan Naderi replaced Diomande just after the hour mark and the new Gers striker bumped Slattery inside the Rangers box but penalty claims came to nothing.
Butland made another save at his near post, this time from Elijah Just while Rangers threatened little.
When Fadinger picked up his yellow card for his robust tackle on Moore, a VAR check followed and he was soon up the tunnel.
In the final frantic minutes Butland made a crucial save from substitute Eythor Bjorgolfsson but he had no chance when, following a Sam Nicholson free-kick Welsh drove the ball past the Gers keeper and in off the far post.
