Rangers kept their title hopes alive after battling to a crucial win against Motherwell despite being down to 10 men for more than an hour.
The Ibrox men’s Premiership crown was slipping when Ross Tierney cancelled out Liam Kelly’s own goal opener after Leon Balogun was shown a straight red.
But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s stand-ins dug deep to secure three vital victory with Scott Wright pouncing after the break before James Tavernier slotted a spot kick for his 80th goal for the Light Blues – to cut the gap to rivals Celtic to three points ahead of their clash at Ross County.
The Rangers squad produced heroics at Hampden the previous week as they saw off Celtic in extra time on tieback of 120 gruelling minutes in the Braga European win.
But the exploits took their toll and van Bronckhorst was forced to rip up his team sheet for Fir Park – with EIGHT changes to his line up.
Alfredo Morelos was already out for the rest of the season but Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsay ended up in the Auchenhowie treatment room, leaving the Gers boss with a headache.
Skipper James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic were the only men to stay in the side as Gers looked to maintain the pressure at the top while preparing for Leipzig.
But it gave the likes of Wright and Fashion Sakala to shine while remaining in the title fight ahead of Parkhead.
Motherwell – who were without banned Kevin van Veen – also had Europe on their minds as Graham Alexander’s men set their sights on fourth spot and they were left frustrated at failing to capitalise on having an extra man.
The Fir Park men started lively – but were lucky not to go behind when Diallo wriggled free in the box but was denied by Jake Carroll’s late lunging block.
But the opener arrived moments later in bizarre circumstances as Kelly turned in to his own net.
The keeper got a hand to Goldson’s he’d back across goal from Tavernier short corner, but he sent the ball spinning goanward and couldn’t recover in time to stop it going over the line with Scott Wright waiting to pounce.
The drama was just starting though. Allan McGregor pawed away a Slattery drive before Tavernier hit the post.
But the game swung after Gers went down to 10 men as Balogun saw red for going over the ball on Dean Cornelius.
Rangers were fuming – and soon after howled for Joahni Ojala to get a red for clattering Wright in similar style.
And their mood wasn’t helped moments later when Tierney got on the end of Carroll’s dangerous cross to nod Well level on 35 minutes.
Gers needed a big response and they got it after the break when Wright drilled low in to the bottom corner following a Sakala burst forward just two minutes after the restart.
Motherwell were rocked – and they were completely sunk soon after.
It was another burst of pace from Sakala and this time he was halted by a challenge from Bevis Mugabi and Walsh pointed to the spot.
Well fans raged but Tavernier kept his cool to drill home and it was the visitors who could have added to the advance in the closing spells as Rangers secured the win to take in to a week that will shape their season.
Bear bones
Giovanni van Bronckhorst tried to wrap some of his men in cotton wool as made eight changes to the side who beat Celtic at Hampden last week in a clear nod to this week’s Europa League semi-final clash with Leipzig.
It was a gamble with the league still alive but the replacements got the job done.
It was still a strong line up and it gave the chance for some to shine. Scott Wright grabbed his chance with the crucial winner having also been involved in the opener.
Fashion Sakala’s direct running caused problems as he teed up Wright and another burst won the penalty for the third.
It didn’t get any better for Adam Diallo though as the kid was sacrificed in the wake of the Balogun red card just half an hour in to his first start in more than two months.
The sending off was also the last thing Gio van Bronckhorst needed when he’s already dealing with a depleted squad.
He’ll be without Alfredo Morelos, Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsey for Liepzig and Celtic this week.
But now he’s lost another defender for Parkhead on Sunday with Filip Helander crocked and now Balogun banned.
Calvin Bassey is likely to come in to the line up as Gers look to keep their title hopes alive, but it doesn’t leave much wriggle room for van Bronckhorst for such a vital clash.
Bridge too VAR
Scottish football finally voted to bring in video assistant refs but it could be a long wait until December.
Ref Nick Walsh could have done with some help at Fir Park as he was caught up in a number of flashpoint.
The decision to send Balogun packing looked the right one as the Gers defender went right over the ball on Dean Cornelius.
But there was also a case for another one soon after when Joahni Ojala steamed in to Scott Wright, only to be shown a yellow.
The penalty kick was another big call when Sakala was judged to have been fouled by Bevis Mugabi. Even then, it might have needed another look to see if it was just a yellow card or whether to could have been red.
VAR can’t come quick enough for our officials.
Well beat
The Steelmen managed to sneak in to the top six despite winning just one game since the New Year.
They had a free hit at Rangers in their scrap to bag a European place but will be kicking themselves for failing to capitalise on facing 10 men for an hour.
Well caused Gers problems when they had a spell before half time and were getting some joy from cross balls in to the box.
Rangers were rocking a bit but they were tentative after the break and paid the price.
There were some positive signs but Motherwell need to find a bit of form in the remaining four games if they are to be digging out the passports for next season.
