9.40pm

Last night's result: Rangers 1, Motherwell 0.

Watched this one at my mate Ally's house rather than forking out £25 to go to Ibrox.  The game was all too predictable, in that we did reasonably well for around 60 mins without creating too much upfront, only for Rangers to up the pressure late on and eventually make the breakthrough.  McGhee's unusual 3-6-1 formation worked well in the first half, with Motherwell enjoying long spells of possession and creating the occasional chance, most notably the one Ross McCormack put wide shortly before the interval.  The home side had the better of things after the break, and put us under pressure with a series of corner kicks.  McGhee's decision to put another player upfront actually helped turn the game in Rangers' favour, and it was no real surprise when they took the lead on 74 mins - Ferguson taking full advantage our defence's inability to clear a corner kick (sounds familiar, doesn't it?)

Team (3-6-1): Graeme Smith, Brian McLean, Craigan, Reynolds, Fitzpatrick, Malcolm, Lasley (Darren Smith 75), Lappin, Hughes, McGarry (Clarkson 60), McCormack (Porter 75). 
Subs Not Used: Daniels, Hammell, Murphy, Meechan.

Booked: Hughes, McCormack, Lappin.

Attendance: 48,238

Mark McGhee's post-match comments were as follows:
"Rangers, by winning tonight, maintain their advantage in terms of points they can achieve.  It was a big result for them. I think if they play like that and take that into their remaining games, they will win their remaining games.

"(The defeat) wasn't in the least bit damaging. If we win on Saturday, I think we've got the European place so that's what we have been focusing on.  I'd expect Celtic and Rangers to take care of Hibs and Dundee United and that would see us over the line.  All we have to do, hard task as it is, is win against Aberdeen on Saturday and we will be third."

The club have cut admission prices for Saturday's crunch match with Aberdeen to just £5 for all areas of the ground - full details here.  A win for us coupled with Dundee Utd losing at Ibrox and Hibs losing at Parkhead will guarantee us UEFA Cup football next season.  Our biggest match in years, and I'll be missing it to attend a so-called friend's wedding (I hope you're satisfied, Diver!)  Mind you, maybe it's just as well I'll be missing out as I'd probably end up a nervous wreck if I went to the game.

Ross McCormack has been called up to the full Scotland squad for the friendly in Prague at the end of the month.  Can only assume George Burley hasn't watched him in action much since Christmas...

McCormack himself has hinted he could stay at Fir Park after gaining international recognition:
"It does affect things. I said a few months ago I will wait until the end of the season to decide what I will do. But through playing well for Motherwell I have got into the Scotland squad.  This makes the decision a bit harder because I have to go somewhere I am playing most weeks so I can continue to get into the international squads and keep getting recognition.

"I can't thank the manager enough. Last season I wasn't playing at all but I have played in most games this season so he has been great with me.  He is also making the decision more difficult. I know if I was to stay with the manager I would improve.  There are a lot of decisions to be made as to family circumstances.  They will be all taken into account to make sure I'm doing the right thing."

For some reason, one of this morning's tabloids resurrected the story of us potentially moving to Ravenscraig.  There didn't seem to be anything in the story we didn't know already.