Afternoon all. Well, it's a big day in Scotland that's for sure as
Motherwell play host to
Rangers in the final of the Scottish Premiership playoffs. Will it be Motherwell or
Rangers that will be able to call themselves a Scottish Premiership side next season? The favourites are the home team, who lead 3-1 from the first leg.
First things first, though, let's take a look at the team news from Fir Park, starting with the hosts...
MOTHERWELL XI: Long; Hammell, McManus, Ainsworth, Lasley; Law, Erwin, Johnson, Laing, Pearson; McDonald
MOTHERWELL SUBS: Twardzik, Ramsden, Sutton, Kerr, Moore, Watt, Grant
There had been suggestions in the press recently that Ian Baraclough would be forced to make some changes from the team that won at Ibrox, but that isn't the case. Both Stephen Pearson and Steven Hammell had been struggling with muscular complaints, but the duo have been passed fit.
But, hold fire on that! Pearson has just left the warm-up early and video footage from the Motherwell dressing room courtesy of BT Sport shows that he is receiving treatment on the hamstring injury that has hampered him of late. We will keep you posted on any developments.
And now for visiting Rangers...
RANGERS XI: Bell; Foster, McCulloch, Zaliukas, Wallace; Law, Vuckic, Murdoch, Ferguson; Boyd, Miller
RANGERS SUBS: Simonsen, Smith, Mohsni, Clark, Crawford, Shiels, Walsh
While it appears that Motherwell are unchanged, McCall, up against his former club, has made three alterations to his Rangers starting lineup. Kris Boyd will make his first start since March to partner Kenny Miller in attack, with skipper Lee McCulloch also returning to the team. Also included is Newcastle United loanee Shane Ferguson, who starts his first game for the Gers. That trio have replaced Darren McGregor, Dean Shiels and Nicky Clark.
Here's all that you need to know about this clash courtesy of the official Rangers Twitter feed:
Moments ago, Gers boss McCall spoke to
BT Sport. Here's some of what he had to say:
"We've got to be careful that it's not all guns blazing at the beginning of the game. We've got goals all over the park. We will go and play with desire. At this stage we're out of the tie, so we need courage and a little bit of luck. I believe we can win the game, whether we can win it enough, I don't know."
Meanwhile, the man in the opposite dugout - Baraclough - had this to say to
BBC Sport:
"I'm nervous before every game, the same as I did as a player. I want to see them go on and finish the job. The team selected itself.
"There were tired legs, but the closer we get to kick-off time, they are bubbly. I don't particularly want to sit back, so we have got to go and attack as well."
AWAY GOALS! Before we get underway, let's quickly clear something up. Unlike in a two-legged Champions League affair, away goals do not count as double in the Scottish playoffs. That means if Rangers were to win 2-0, thus levelling up the tie 3-3 on aggregate, there would be extra-time and penalties, rather than them losing out on the away goals rule.
Right, the two sets of players are now in the tunnel area at Fir Park. Things are running a little bit late, so this one is unlikely to be getting underway at 3pm.
KICKOFF! Rangers, who trail 3-1, get us underway. Incidentally, after receiving treatment on that hamstring problem, Pearson has started the game for Motherwell.
One of the first things that Rangers did this afternoon was hoist the ball high in the direction of Boyd, with Miller looking to feed off the scraps. Is that an indication of McCall's tactics today?
Another part of the Rangers gameplan appears to centre around using Wallace's long throw whenever possible. It causes problems in the Motherwell box as Boyd goes for the loose ball, but the danger is eventually cleared.
CHANCE! First opening of the match goes the way of the visitors, who have started brightly. It falls to Boyd, but with a narrow angle, the former Scotland international skews his low effort wide of the near post.
Over the last five minutes, the home side have played their way into the contest. They've started to control the possession and even forced a corner, but the windy conditions resulted in the ball floating harmlessly out for a throw.
Meanwhile, back up the other end, the presence of Boyd is continuing to cause Motherwell problems. Moments ago he had a headed opportunity, but the experienced centre-forward jumped too early and ended up nodding the ball well wide of the target.
A fantastic cross from the right flank by Rangers full-back Foster is crying out to be converted, but Boyd cannot make contact and the chance is gone. The away side need to make this domination count.
BOOKING! The first caution of the contest goes to Rangers midfielder Murdoch, who flies into a challenge with Hammell on the left touchline. The Motherwell players and fans want a red card, but despite the youngster being late, a yellow card is fair.
More action in the Motherwell box caused by a long throw from Wallace. The ball breaks for Vuckic, who instead of teeing up Boyd, attempts to shoot through a crowd of bodies. Predictably, his effort is blocked and Motherwell are able to clear.
Close for the home side as they spring forward with pace through Ainsworth down the right wing. His low cross is a dangerous one, but McDonald is just unable to make contact and Rangers scramble it clear.
CHANCE! Motherwell are starting to dominate proceedings. Erwin wriggles himself enough space inside the Rangers area to fire a shot from a tight angle across the face of goal. Visiting goalkeeper Bell is at full stretch, but the ball flashes wide of the target.
CHANCE! Another opening for the home team, this time for former Celtic centre-back McManus. He gets clear of his marker Zaliukas, but his headed effort does not have enough glance on it and the ball ends up drifting wide.
BOOKING! A second caution for Rangers and this time it goes to Vuckic for diving on the edge of the Motherwell box. He's not happy, but the midfielder went down far too easily.
BOOKING! Now Ranger captain McCulloch joins the yellow card club following a sliding challenge on McDonald. To be fair to the former Wigan Athletic man, he didn't make any contact and can consider himself to be unlucky.
CHANCE! Very close for Motherwell and Johnson, who inherits possession 25 yards from goal. The signing from Kidderminster tries his luck with a curling effort that has Bell scampering across his line, only for the ball to skid wide.
CHANCE! What a chance for Rangers! A Ferguson corner evades everyone, accept Zaliukas, who is stood all alone at the far post. The defender has the goal at his mercy, but leaning back, he sends his half-volley flying harmlessly over the crossbar. Gers could well look back on that as a costly miss come the final whistle.
There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.
HALF-TIME: MOTHERWELL 0-0 RANGERS (MOTHERWELL LEAD 3-1 ON AGGREGATE)
As it stands, Motherwell have retained their top-flight status and Rangers will be embarking on another Scottish Championship campaign. McCall's men have 45 minutes to change that.
While McCall is likely to be disappointed that his side have not scored, he cannot be too unhappy with their overall performance. His side have been direct, which has caused Motherwell problems. However, too often the final pass or shot at the crucial moment has been lacking in quality. If they can put that right early in the second half by breaking the deadlock, they have a good chance of at least forcing this tie into extra-time.
As for Motherwell, while they haven't had as many shots or possession as Rangers, Baraclough can be relatively happy with his troops. They haven't just looked to sit back and defend their lead, with the counter-attack looking their best bet to score. As Rangers pour men forward to get the goals that they need after the restart, you'd expect there to be more space for the home side to exploit.
MATCH ACTION! Before the action gets back underway at Fir Park, here's a shot of Rangers midfielder Vuckic battling for possession with his Motherwell counterpart Lasley.
RESTART! The home side get us back off and running here. Remember, as it stands, Well lead 3-1 on aggregate, so the onus is on Rangers to attack.
It's been a relatively low-key start to the second half, with neither side in the ascendancy. Of course, that will suit Motherwell down the ground, but Rangers must up the tempo.
BOOKING! It's now 3-1 in terms of bookings as McDonald becomes the first Motherwell player to have his name taken by the referee for clattering into Vuckic from behind.
GOAL! MOTHERWELL 1-0 RANGERS (JOHNSON)
What an earth has Cammy Bell in the Rangers goal done? Johnson's shot from distance takes a big deflection, which loops up towards goal. It appears to be a simple catch for Bell, but he seems to be in two minds as to how to deal with the danger. He opts to punch, but barely makes contact as the ball squirms over the line - what an error from the Rangers keeper and that could well be game over.
RANGERS SUB: First change of the match for Rangers as youngster Walsh takes the place of the disappointing Ferguson.
RANGERS SUB: Another switch for Rangers and it's Boyd that trudges off. It could well be his last appearance in a Rangers shirt. He's been replaced by Nicky Clark.
Not a moment that Bell will want to remember:
Having got the goal, Motherwell have now dropped a little deeper. They are allowing Rangers to have the ball in front of them, with the away side causing very few problems at present.
GOAL! MOTHERWELL 2-0 RANGERS (AINSWORTH)
It's another deflection, but this time Bell can do nothing about it. It's all about Johnson once again as he breaks down the left flank, before cutting inside. He plays a square pass for Ainsworth, who opens up a shooting opportunity for himself. His effort is well struck, but he gets a big helping hand from a deflection off Zaliukas, which takes the ball beyond Bell. I think you can safely say that Motherwell will be playing in the Premiership next season.
RANGERS SUB: And that is to be Zaliukas's last contribution to the game. In truth, the Rangers defender has had a bit of a nightmare. He's been replaced by the eccentric Bilel Mohsni.
MOTHERWELL SUB: Fair play to Pearson, he's managed to last 75 minutes despite suffering with that hamstring injury. On in his place comes Conor Grant.
Many of the Rangers fans that made the trip to Fir Park are now on their way back to Glasgow. They've seen enough.
MOTHERWELL SUB: Second change of the encounter for Well and it's the scorer of the second goal - Ainsworth - that comes off to a standing ovation. He's been replaced by the experienced
John Sutton up front.
SAVE! It's almost 3-0 to Motherwell, who are running riot. After Erwin's initial shot is blocked, the ball breaks kindly for Sutton. His low shot squirms underneath Bell, but the Rangers keeper spins quickly enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
BOOKING! Rangers full-back Foster is clearly frustrated as he hacks Johnson up in the air. He can have no complaints with the yellow card there.
MOTHERWELL SUB: And that is the end of Johnson's afternoon - the winger has been very impressive today. Experienced defender Simon Ramsden has taken his place.
There will be two additional minutes of stoppage before Motherwell's top-flight status is confirmed.
PENALTY TO MOTHERWELL!
GOAL! MOTHERWELL 3-0 RANGERS (SUTTON, PEN)
And that is the icing on top of the cake for Motherwell. Ervin is hacked down inside the area and the responsibility from 12 yards out is given to Sutton, who calmly sends Bell the wrong way.
FULL TIME: MOTHERWELL 3-0 RANGERS - MOTHERWELL WIN 6-1 ON AGGREGATE
So, it's Motherwell that will play in the Premiership next season - something that Rangers are going to have to wait at least another 12 months more.
After the final whistle, there was an altercation between some of the players, one of which was Rangers defender Mohsni, who seemed to aim a kick at a Motherwell player before he was escorted down the tunnel by a member of the Rangers coaching staff. It might be worth keeping an eye out for any fallout from that incident.
But, more importantly, it's Motherwell that have won through 6-1 on aggregate. And to think, many people backed Rangers to win over the two legs! Anyway, that's all we have time for from Fir Park. Thanks for joining our coverage this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.