Motherwell 1-1 Rangers: Russell Martin’s facet booed after Emmanuel Longelo scores late equaliser at Fir Park

Russell Martin’s Rangers have been booed off after Emmanuel Longelo lashed in late on for Motherwell to attract the opening-day Scottish Premiership conflict at Fir Park 1-1.

James Tavernier’s first-half header had the guests in management on the break, with dominant Rangers additionally having hit the bar via Danilo.

However new Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou fired up his facet on the interval they usually have been much more threatening within the second 45, ultimately grabbing their deserved leveller when Longelo blasted the ball into the underside nook from Elijah Simply’s layoff.

The house facet may have received it, too, with Jack Butland compelled into a pointy cease in stoppage time to disclaim Tom Sparrow.

“We were lucky to get a point,” Martin conceded to Sky Sports activities afterwards.

Rangers have now didn’t win their previous three opening-day video games, with Martin following a development set by Michael Beale after which Philippe Clement and the brand new head coach could have heard his gamers booed by the travelling help at full-time.

It’s a irritating finish to per week which had seen Rangers progress in Champions League qualifying previous Panathinaikos on Wednesday. They’ll now have to look at on as Celtic tackle St Mirren dwell on Sky Sports activities on Sunday, with the defending champions already handed an opportunity to make early headway within the title race.

There had been warning indicators through the first half, even when Rangers have been on prime, that Motherwell may trigger issues.

Butland was unconvincing when he spilled Langelo’s shot and needed to react to stop Apostolos Stamatelopoulos from placing away the rebound.

However the momentum actually shifted within the second interval. Simply failed to move heading in the right direction when Callum Slattery’s cross discovered him at again submit with Butland stranded, Nasser Djiga blocked a Stamatelopoulos’ shot and the frontman was then simply overwhelmed to a unfastened ball within the field by John Souttar when he regarded to transform Butland’s parry from Paul McGinn’s effort.

Sub Lyall Cameron shot straight at Calum Ward from a Rangers nook however Motherwell continued to create the higher openings, with Stamatelopoulos heading one other good likelihood off beam from Simply’s cross quickly after.

The hosts stored pushing till the tip and eventually bought their reward, with Longelo giving Butland no likelihood along with his low drive into the nook to seize some extent and sound alarm bells for Rangers.

Martin: It is a mentality drawback

Rangers head coach Russell Martin to Sky Sports activities:

“We were lucky to get a point. Motherwell played great. We were nowhere near where we need to be. I’m extremely disappointed and hurt by that. They were braver than us, they were more aggressive than us.

“There’s a default right here at this soccer membership to revert to kind. When it is going very well, everyone seems to be all-in, it is actually good. When it isn’t going effectively you shield your self a bit bit, self-preservation stuff. You need to be all-in on a regular basis.

“When you want to just jog around and do what you want to do there’s a big problem. Some of them have to drop their ego. Today isn’t tactical, it’s a mentality problem. We got more than we deserved.”

Evaluation: Martin wants time – however two factors dropped in title race

Sky Sports activities’ Chris Sutton:

“Russell Martin needs time. I’m sure he will get time, but the start for Russell is really important. We spoke before the game about a certain element of Rangers support not really over enamoured with the appointment.

“Rangers, who have been careless final season, 34 factors exterior of Celtic they dropped final season, that is one other two-point drop if Rangers wish to go and win the title.

“But fair play to Motherwell. We talked about them and their expansive approach, gave away such a poor goal but they were brave in the second half, they deserved the equaliser and had it not been for Butland at the end, Sparrow nearly nicked it.

“All of us knew there was loads of work to do for Rangers.”

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