Content provided in partnership with
Ferguson strike keeps Rangers on title course
Independent, The (London), May 8, 2008 by Nick Harris
FOOTBALL
RANGERS 1 MOTHERWELL 0
Rangers' quadruple quest remains alive and kicking this morning after Barry Ferguson scored the goal at Ibrox last night that keeps the fate of the Scottish Premier League title in their own hands. Victory means they have closed the gap on Celtic to four points with two games remaining in hand on their city rivals.
Rangers still have six games to play, the last of them a Scottish Cup final against Queen of the South on 24 May. First comes an SPL home game on Saturday to Dundee United, then the Uefa Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg in Manchester next Wednesday, then three SPL games, all away, at Motherwell, St Mirren and Aberdeen, on the 17th, 19th and 22nd of May.
- Most Popular Articles in News
- The Ten Best Laptop bags
- Tata plans cheapest-ever car for Indian market
- GLOBALIZATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD WORLD
- Corn is good for you; Corn is not only a tasty treat, but also a cereal that ...
- THE 50 BEST STYLISH HANDBAGS TO CARRY
- More »
Celtic have just two league games left, at home to Hibernian on Sunday, then away at Dundee United on 22 May, or Super Thursday as it will become to whichever of the Old Firm celebrate the title that day, and to whichever of Motherwell and Dundee United secure third place. Motherwell's chase for Uefa Cup football for next season made last night's match important for them.
Rangers are furious that the SPL hierarchy have declined requests to extend the season to ease fixture congestion. But manager Walter Smith's injury and suspension concerns have eased slightly, enabling him to field a strong, if not first-choice, XI last night.
He started with three forwards, albeit with Nacho Novo - the penalty shootout hero from the Uefa Cup semi-final win against Italian side Fiorentina - on the wing. Perhaps this was to counter criticism of an overly defensive approach in recent months. More likely it was a desire to cut the goal difference deficit with Celtic, who before kick-off last night had scored five more and conceded three fewer. Rangers poured forward early on, Ferguson setting up Kris Boyd for a headed attempt which was blocked for a corner. Boyd then combined with Jean-Claude Darcheville but fell when the ball came back to him in a dangerous area. David Weir's header was palmed on to the bar, but Novo could only smack the rebound into the side netting.
A long lull followed before Motherwell failed to capitalise when Stephen Hughes' pass crossed Rangers' six-yard box and then Darcheville fired wide just before the interval.
Rangers began the second half in the same way they started the first: at a high tempo, with limited returns. Weir, the former Everton defender, leapt to head Steven Davis's corner but the ball flashed safe.
Carlos Cuellar, Scotland's Footballer of the Year, made a clearance from high in his own half and Darcheville ran the ball forward and snapped in a cross-shot, but Brian McLean hoofed it away. Darcheville controlled a ball on his chest and punted it forward. Kirk Broadfoot earned a corner, but Ferguson, collecting on the left of Motherwell's box, blasted skyward.
The blue shirts attacked in waves, increasingly frantic until Ferguson met a Weir nod-on from Davis's 74th-minute corner and volleyed emphatically home. The relief was almost tangible.
Rangers (4-4-2): Alexander; Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker; Davis, Ferguson, Thomson, Novo; Darcheville (Adam, 76), Boyd (Cousin, 86). Substitutes not used: G Smith (gk), Dailly, Lennon, Emslie, McMillan.
Motherwell (3-5-2): G Smith; McLean, Craigan, Reynolds; Lasley (Smith, 75), Hughes, Malcolm, Fitzpatrick, Lappin; McGarry (Clarkson, 60), McCormack (Porter, 75). Substitutes not used: Daniels (gk), Hammell, Murphy, Meechan.
Referee: C Richmond.
Race for title
P W D L F A Pts
Celtic 36 26 5 5 81 26 83
Rangers 34 25 4 5 77 29 79
Remaining fixtures: Rangers: Sat Dundee United (h); 17 May Motherwell (a); 19 May St Mirren (a); 22 May Aberdeen (a). Celtic: Sun Hibernian (h); 22 May Dundee United (a).
Copyright c 2008 Independent Newspapers UK Limited. All rights
owned or operated by The Independent.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
