Match date : Saturday 14th March 1998 Competition : Premier League Attendance : 11,179
Motherwell scorers: Owen Coyle (44), Willie Falconer (87).
FALCONER SWOOPS TO HEAD WELL TO SAFETY
MOTHERWELL continued their excellent home record by taking the scalp of fading Champions Rangers at Fir Park,and further enhancing their own chances of retaining their Premier status for next season. In a pulsating match at Fir Park, 'Well thoroughly deserved victory against a side whose aspirations of a tenth successive championship are as likely as snow in the Sahara.
The match began well for the visitors, and they put their hosts under immediate pressure. Gattuso, playing full-back, sent in a cross which fellow-Italian Negri knocked down. The ball bobbled around and as McCoist looked set to pounce, Ross ensured the ball rolled harmelssly through to Woods. Motherwell did break up field,and from Valakari's intelligent header forward, Coyne fired in a first-time half-volley which wasn't too far away. Rangers then took the lead with a goal which on the balance of play was expected. McCoist turned Martin, raced to the edge of the box, and fired in a low grounder which surprisingly beat Woods at his near post. However, after that, it was virtually all Motherwell, with the only real surprise the length of time it took for an equaliser to come. The match flared-up when Gattuso was extremely late with tackle on Ross. As the young Motherwell defender fell, he appeared to kick out in anger, and both players perhaps could count themselves lucky only to receive a yellow apeiece. Christie, performing well, sent a great pass forward for Davies who was clear on Goram, but his weak effort was easily saved, though a quick look up would have seen Davies surely pass to the clear Coyne. At the other end, Brian Martin had to be quick to deny Negri, but it must be said the Rangers striker was way off side when he collected Gattuso's flick. Motherwell broke upfield thanks to some great work by Christie, he sent Coyne clear and as the striker bore down on Goram he was nudged from the side by Bjorklund, and in keeping with his eccentric display Referee Tait waved play on. The home side were piling on the pressure, and were again denied by some poor refereeing, and a great save. Valakari's header into the box saw Petric climb all over McCulloch, Bjorklund do likewise on Coyne, and as the ball broke outside the box, Coyle fired in a shot which Goram finger-tipped round the post. Davies corner eventually fell to Martin whose shot raced across goal but past the post. A mistake by Martin then almost let in Johannsen but a brilliant tackle by Christie averted the danger, and Thern's foul on Davies allowed Woods to clear. As play raged on, the ball dropped to McCulloch in the Rangers box, but his shot went over the bar. It was surely only a matter of time before Motherwell equalised, and it almost came thanks to a wonder strike from Tommy Coyne. McCulloch's head down was met first-time on th drop by Coyne and from fully 30 yards his screamer rattled the inside of the post and bounced into Goram's grateful hands. Against the run of play, Rangers almost sneaked a second but Falconer did enough to prevent Moore getting on the end of Johannsen's teasing cross. Negri and Albertz both saw shots go wide, but normal service was soon resumed, and this time Motherwell did draw level. Martin's forward ball was cleared only as far as Davies, and his pass to Coyne was expertly played to the far post where Owen Coyle leaped high to loop a header beyond Goram and into the net. Rangers almost gained what would have been an undeserved lead when McCoist rattled the bar, but at half-time the score stood level.
Half-Time Motherwell 1 Rangers 1Motherwell resumed their attack on the Rangers goal right from the beginning of the second half, determined to secure all three points. The visitors, on the other hand, looked strangely dis-interested and second to every ball. Petric, who only by the strange leniancy of Referee Tait stayed on the park, committed tey another foul on Lee McCulloch. The ball was played up to Coyle, he combined with Coyne to set up Billy Davies, but his shot was well saved by Goram. Falconer, clearly enjoying the match, then fired in a shot after good work by Denham and McMillan, but the ball cleared the bar. Rangers had a rare break forward when Tait overlooked a Thern foul on Coyle, Johannson cleverly beating two men but ballooning the ball well over. >From Woods kick-out, Coyne expertly gathered in the box, sent in a low cross, but Goram just nipped in a head of McCulloch to gather. Rangers then suffered a major blow when Albertz went off in jured in a 50-50 challenge with Christie. McCoist, Rangers only real threat, almost caught out the Motherwell defence when his harmless-looking low cross bounced only inches beyond the far post, Martin and Woods leaving the ball to each other and Negri watching in admiration, then kicking the post in disgust. As time began to run out, McCoist came even close to an unlikely winner. Good exchanging between Durrant and McCoist saw the latter curl in a low shot which cracked the outside of the post, with Sub Van Vossen's poor attempt easily held by Woods. However, on the balance of play if anyone deserved to win it perhaps was the home side, and they grabbed the winning goal seven minutes from the end. A great passing move involving Coyne, Davies and Christie saw the ball played to Coyle 30 yards out. His inch-perfect cross picked out Falconer who had made a terrific run from midfield, and he bulleted home a header to leave Goram helpless and send the Motherwell supporters wild. Rangers had a couple of later efforts, Negri's weak shot was easily saved, then Durrant's free-kick in the third minute of injury time was weel held by Woods, but at the final whistle all three points stayed at Fir Park. Motherwell now travel to a crucial tie at Easter Road next week, whilst Rangers title hopes have all but gone.
FULL TIME MOTHERWELL 2 RANGERS 1