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First-half goals from Luke Armstrong and Tom Sparrow earned Motherwell a 2-1 win over Rangers at Ibrox and pushed the Steelmen into the top six.
The home side fell behind after nine minutes. As Rangers tried to break quickly from a corner, Cyriel Dessers lost possession to Kai Andrews and, when Dan Casey’s shot was parried by Jack Butland into the direction of Armstrong, the Motherwell striker slid the ball into the net. A VAR check confirmed he was not offside.
Rangers almost conceded another with 23 minutes played but Sparrow hit the side-netting after being played in by Callum Slattery. When the same two Motherwell players combined in a similar situation on the half-hour mark, the Rangers captain James Tavernier the culprit for losing possession, Sparrow showed composure to strike the ball low past Butland.
The Rangers interim manager, Barry Ferguson, brought on three substitutes at half-time and, with increased momentum, Dessers countered nine minutes into the second half when the defender Casey misjudged a ball into the box. This allowed the forward to capitalise with a strike past Ellery Balcombe in the Motherwell goal for 2-1. Dessers believed he had added a second when he clipped the ball over Balcombe but the finish was disallowed by VAR for offside.
It’s the first time that Rangers have lost three consecutive matches at home since 2012 and a blow in the buildup to their match against José Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.
The Motherwell manager, Michael Wimmer, said: “It was very important in the first half that we were ready at the beginning. To start the first half well and to win the duals and change the atmosphere in the stadium.
“This is something I want to see from the guys on the pitch; that we are brave, that we have courage on the ball, that we find the right balance in possession. I think we were good in pressing so I’m very proud of the guys.”
Simon Murray’s header for Dundee cancelled out Makenzie Kirk’s strike in a five-minute spell before half-time as the home side drew 1-1 with St Johnstone.
Kirk recorded his 10th goal of the season when he opened the scoring after 40 minutes but Murray responded three minutes later for Dundee.
The hosts dominated possession in the second period and the substitute Scott Tiffoney hit a shot that smacked off a post after 83 minutes and then shortly after contrived to steer the ball over the crossbar when it appeared easier to score. Dundee’s Lyle Cameron struck a late effort from 20 yards but Andy Fisher tipped the ball over the crossbar. Saints will be the happier of the two teams with the result, based on the balance of play.
Yet the Dundee manager, Tony Docherty, conveyed his relief. Dundee have not won since beating St Johnstone at the start of January: “We’ve stopped the rot and we’ve picked up a point, but it maybe should’ve been three.”
His counterpart, Simo Valakari, said “One of our issues has been in these games, when we cannot win, we have lost it. Overall, an OK away performance.”
Kieran Phillips was the hero in Ross County’s narrow 1-0 win over Kilmarnock in Dingwall. The victory moves County up to eighth, within one point of Hearts and two points of Motherwell and the top six.
The hosts broke the deadlock when Phillips flicked the ball over Killie’s defence into the path of Jordan White, who saw his shot parried, with Phillips following the play in to convert from close range past Kieran O’Hara. Ross County thought they had made it 2-0 in the 83rd minute after the substitute Alex Samuel turned his marker brilliantly out wide to charge into the box, eventually squaring for Nohan Kenneh to turn past O’Hara and into the net.
However, the referee, David Dickinson, consulted the monitor and the goal did not stand. Killmarnock’s Bruce Anderson passed up the chance of the match when just six yards out and County held on to move to two points off the top six.
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