Motherwell 0-2 Rangers: Philippe Clement's side are once again just two points ahead of Celtic

In just his third start in the league, Kieran Dowell scored his first goal since August

Rangers had to “fight and fight” to beat Motherwell and get back within two points of Celtic with a game to play, says manager Philippe Clement.

Kieran Dowell got Rangers off to the perfect start after just three minutes, playing a one-two with Cyriel Dessers before firing past Liam Kelly in windy and wet conditions.

The visitors doubled their lead after 16 minutes with another fine team goal when Abdallah Sima chested to Todd Cantwell who fired the ball into the bottom corner.

It could have been more, as Cyriel Dessers scored twice in Kelly's net in the second half, but in both cases the striker was ruled offside.

“The players put their egos aside and just focused on the team,” Clement told ` Scotland.

“That’s the mentality I want to see. It’s important that the players are prepared, but also that everyone in every position knows what to do.”

“I know where the danger lies when success is there. I will be very strict with the message that it’s all about the team.”

Motherwell seemed never to be able to get back into the competition and have now gone 15 games without a win in the Scottish Premiership. They remain second from bottom, five points clear of Livingston.

The Rangers did their business early. Two early goals settled any nerves as Motherwell gave themselves too high a mountain to climb to make it a contest.

Dowell's efforts were excellently received. Rangers pressed high, the England midfielder held off Harry Paton and finished with composure when he received the ball back in the box.

Cantwell's finish was similarly cool. Ridvan Yilmaz's cross bounced off the edge of the penalty area and Sima chested the ball into the path of the former Norwich City player, who scored his first league goal of the season.

The guests could and should have scored more goals. Dessers made a mistake at the back post and Connor Goldson failed to follow up.

Motherwell keeper Kelly – in his 113th consecutive league game for the club – has been under fire in recent weeks but made some good saves to keep the score down.

Cantwell tried a speculative volley, but the Scotland cap deflected it onto the crossbar.

The second half wasn't all that easy for Clement's team. Brodie Spencer shot a header wide when he should have at least tested Jack Butland and went down in the box when Yilmaz was fouled. No penalty, right decision.

The Rangers found a way past Kelly in the second half as Yilmaz darted forward and pushed Dessers towards goal. The Nigerian striker finished the game well but the flag was up.

He repeated the trick in the dying embers, showing good composure to round the keeper and head home. A look over, a wry smile and the assistant flag fluttering in the wind.

Player of the Match – Todd Cantwell (Rangers)

The midfielder was a key part of Rangers' lightning-fast start, which ultimately led to an easy, if unmemorable, win on Christmas Eve.

Rangers stick to script as misery continues at Motherwell – analysis

Three points on the way, feet up for Christmas. That's how most Rangers fans will feel after a comfortable win at Fir Park.

Their quick start threatened to result in defeat, but they couldn't really prevent it as they missed a few chances.

Clement may want them to be a little more clinical as the campaign progresses. That's a harsh criticism, but they have only scored more than two goals in their last ten games – against Real Betis and Dundee.

It looked unlikely that Motherwell would end their miserable run here – and it never looked like they would.

The goals they lost were relatively simple: they gave the ball away in their own half and then failed to stop Cantwell when there were seven or eight defenders in the box.

Stuart Kettlewell's side's season won't be defined by games against the Old Firm, but they are just two points better off than last season.

They had no shots on goal as the longest winless streak by a team in the top division continues since 2017. The statistics are ominous.

What they said

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: “I think the biggest frustration is not in the second 45 minutes because we showed a good reaction and tried to deal with the conditions and the games accordingly.”

“We were fine in the first few minutes but the decision-making process when we had the ball was so poor and we fell into the trap that Rangers set. Playing directly into this trap is the most naive thing we can do.”

Rangers manager Philippe Clement: “When the wind was normal, we played good football and scored good goals. It’s a well-deserved win and also without conceding a goal.”

“Despite the injuries to nine players, we can continue to play our football.”

What's next?

Motherwell visit Aberdeen on Wednesday while Rangers host Ross County (both 19:45 GMT).

Lineups

Motherwell

formation 3-5-1-1

1Kelly

2O'Donnell5Don't be20Blaney

22Spencer8thSloppy17Zdravkovski12Paton3Man

7Hospital

24Biereth

• 1Kelly
• 2O'DonnellBooked for 60 minutes
• 5Don't beReplaced byMcGinnat 45'protocol
• 20BlaneyBooked for 65 minutes
• 22SpencerBooked for 53 minutes
• 8thSloppyReplaced byBairat 85'protocol
• 17Zdravkovski
• 12PatonReplaced byShawat 62'protocol
• 3Man
• 7Hospital
• 24Biereth

Substitute

• 9You are like
• 13Oxborough
• 14Bair
• 16McGinn
• 18Shaw
• 37Wells
• 39Horse
• 42Horse
• 99Wilkinson

ranger

formation 4-3-3

1Butland

2Tavernier6Goldson27Balogun3Yilmaz

20Dowell21sterling13Cantwell

45McCausland9Desserts19Sima

• 1Butland
• 2Tavernier
• 6GoldsonReplaced bySouttarat 86'protocol
• 27Balogun
• 3Yilmaz
• 20DowellReplaced bykingat 86'protocol
• 21sterlingBooked for 88 minutes
• 13CantwellReplaced bylambsat 72'protocol
• 45McCauslandReplaced byWrightat 72'protocol
• 9Desserts
• 19SimaReplaced byThanksat 63'protocol

Substitute

• 5Souttar
• 14lambs
• 17Thanks
• 23Wright
• 28McCrorie
• 38king
• 44Divine
• 46by Yfe
• 64rice

Referee: David Dickinson

Number of visitors: 8,805

Live text

1. The game ends, Motherwell 0, Rangers 2.

2. Second half ends, Motherwell 0, Rangers 2.

3. Offside, Rangers. Cyriel Dessers is offside.

4. Attempt failed. Cyriel Dessers (Rangers) tries with his left foot from the right side of the penalty area, but the ball misses to the left. Supported by James Tavernier.

5. Dujon Sterling (Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

6. Foul by Dujon Sterling (Rangers).

7. Blair Spittal (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the opponent's half.

8. Delay over. You are ready to move on.

9. Substitution, Rangers. Leon King replaces Kieran Dowell.

10. Substitution, Rangers. John Souttar replaces Connor Goldson due to injury.

11. Game delayed due to injury to Connor Goldson (Rangers).

12. Substitution, Motherwell. Theo Bair replaces Callum Slattery.

13. Attempt failed. Blair Spittal (Motherwell)'s right-footed shot from distance is too high. Prepared by Davor Zdravkovski.

14. Offside, Rangers. Cyriel Dessers is offside.

15. Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).

16. Oli Shaw (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

17. Scott Wright (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

18. Foul by Davor Zdravkovski (Motherwell).

19. Offside, Motherwell. Oli Shaw is offside.

20. Attempt failed. Brodie Spencer (Motherwell) shoots with his right foot from the center of the penalty area high and wide to the right after a standard situation.

Player of the game

KellyLiam Kelly

Motherwell

1. Squad number1Player nameKelly

2. Squad number14Player nameBair

3. Squad number18Player nameShaw

4. Squad number16Player nameMcGinn

5. Squad number2Player nameO'Donnell

6. Squad number7Player nameHospital

7. Squad number22Player nameSpencer

8. Squad number24Player nameBiereth

9. Squad number8thPlayer nameSloppy

10. Squad number17Player nameZdravkovski

11. Squad number20Player nameBlaney

12. Squad number5Player nameDon't be

13. Squad number12Player namePaton

14. Squad number3Player nameMan

ranger

1. Squad number1Player nameButland

2. Squad number20Player nameDowell

3. Squad number13Player nameCantwell

4. Squad number27Player nameBalogun

5. Squad number21Player namesterling

6. Squad number6Player nameGoldson

7. Squad number2Player nameTavernier

8. Squad number19Player nameSima

9. Squad number45Player nameMcCausland

10. Squad number9Player nameDesserts

11. Squad number3Player nameYilmaz

12. Squad number5Player nameSouttar

13. Squad number38Player nameking

14. Squad number23Player nameWright

15. Squad number17Player nameThanks

16. Squad number14Player namelambs