WE'VE finally arrived at what will be Rangers' biggest games of the season – the biggest since they launched their attempt to return to the top echelon of Scottish football three years ago.
It's also Motherwell's most important two matches of the campaign as they battle to stay in the Premiership and keep Rangers in the Championship for at least another season.
There's already been a lot of debate on the site about the match and I'm no nearer to picking a winner. Rangers' two play-off ties were settled by one goal and this two-legged final with Motherwell could be no different.
Stuart McCall's side are 4-6 favourites with McBookie and BetVictor to win the tie while Motherwell are 11-10. It's unusual for the top-flight side to be underdogs but that's because they're playing Rangers.
I don't think there's much between the sides but Motherwell need to beat stats that read no wins against Rangers for 11 years and none at Ibrox since 1997. Normally I'd read a lot into them but in this case they're less relevant – as long as they don't prey on the minds of the Lanarkshire side.
Many of those matches were when McCall was in charge at Fir Park and all but one came – a cup defeat when Motherwell simply didn't turn up – against a top-flight side used to challenging for major honours.
Gers looked tired as they made it over the line against Hibs on Sunday while Well rested most of their players in the 0-0 draw against Partick Thistle.
McCall admitted his players were jaded and was relieved Hibs couldn't force extra time. He gave his men a day off but his comments are worrying because they'll need to be energised against a side whose fitness levels are not up for question.
A noisy crowd will need to be the Ibrox side's 12th man and a home win pays 21-20 at Paddy Power. Well are 31-10 at McBookie while the draw pays 13-5 with the Scots firm and while I hate sitting on the fence that's my shout in a tie so tough to call.
Scott McDonald famously scored Well's goals that beat Celtic to give Gers the title in 2005. He is 9-2 with William Hill to score in an away win tonight and 3-1 at bet365 just to net. McDonald had to overturn a red card to play in the ties and will be the key to Well's hopes and boss Ian Baraclough will also look for big performances from the likes of veterans Stephen Pearson and Stephen McManus as well as young forward Lee Erwin.
Kenny Miller stepped up to the plate with a fine goal for Rangers in their 2-0 first-leg win over Hibs but on-loan Newcastle man Haris Vuckic is the man Gers rely on. He hasn't scored in the play-offs but was man of the match in the 2-0 win over Hibs. He is 9-4 with Ladbrokes to net at any time.
Brothers Nicky and Josh Law go head to head tonight and either to score pays 6-1 with William Hill.
I tipped no early goal in the Rangers-Hibs opener and I'm on that again. It's likely to be tight and tense so take no goal in the first 30 minutes at 4-5 with Betway.
There were 12 bookings – five at Ibrox, seven at Easter Road – in the semi-final play-off and I expect plenty more tonight and on Sunday. I'll search out some card prices but a sending off tonight pays 7-2 at William Hill.
Recommended Bets
No goal first 30mins
(4-5, Betway)
Draw
(13-5, BetVictor)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Easy win for motherwell 2-1 Mcdonald
Rangers to go to Fir Park with a victory, fingers crossed it’s by at least two goals again as we will need it.
Players might of been tired on Saturday but that’s 4 days gone so no excuses for being tired. Overall I think the ibrox and vuckic is the difference in all playoff games.
MCDONALD ANYTIME 3/1
MOTHERWELL TO SCORE BEFORE 72 MINS 5/6
MOTHERWELL 4+ CORNERS 8/13
In the last year rangers have beaten
St Johnstone
Falkirk away
Inverness
In the league cup.
And Kilmarnock in the Scottish cup.
Don’t see any reason why they can’t beat A motherwell team that Mc call should know about and who finished Below the sorry 4 teams named above.
Last 30 head to head games
Rangers won 22
Drawn 8
Lost 0
bad jasper, firstly Motherwell didn’t finish below Falkirk. Strangely in the games against St Johnstone, Inverness and Killie – all of those teams played poorly and I’m not sure why that is. I don’t think you can compare them to a play-off. Motherwell’s Ibrox record has been well quoted but have they ever faced a worse Rangers team? Probably not. I can’t call it and it could go all the way to extra time at Fir Park and maybe even pens.
I am leaning towards Motherwell to win the tie overall.
Amazingly, they have just as much (if not more) experience of big games than Rangers. McDonald, Pearson, McManus have all been around the block with UEL and UCL experience, cup finals etc.
Also Rangers have played 8 or so more games than Motherwell. At this stage in the season that could easily be a factor.
The H2Hs mean nothing here, totally inconsequential imo.
Tonight a draw looks likely but all in all I fancy Motherwell.
Amazingly they finished 11th with all these old has beans. So confidence can’t be very good plus they have only won 4 away games out of 28 over the last year, very poor record to turn up at Ibrox with you not think so.
Well, if we’re talking has beens…
Mothwerwell’s form has been much better over the last two months of the season. I don’t think their confidence is as low as people might suggest. McDonal and Erwin are both in form. Even Sutton is in goalscoring form coming off the bench.
Rangers have won three of their last eight matches. Just lost one but are not exactly in scintillating form. They have conceded in 10 of their last twelve home matches so up agains t in form strikers they will have their work cut out not to concede. If Mohterwell can score they can win tonight.
In terms of the tie get to Sunday and Motherwell have lost 1 in 9 home games, winning four against better teams than rangers. Rangers have lost 2 out of 9 away games winning 3 against worse teams than Motehrwell. It’s a tight one to call, very tight, but I fancy Motherwell overall.
And the more the DNB price drifts beyond 2/1 for tonight the more tempted I become
I fancy Rangers tonight. I watched Motherwell play at St Mirren a fortnight ago in a game that was hugely important as far as their SPL survival was concerned. They lost 2-1 and the performance that day was absolutely terrible, and that was a side desperate to remain in the top league. I guess that’s why they finished 11th in the table. Rangers appear to have turned the corner under McCall, a manager I have huge respect for. They’re not great but they appear to have a huge amount of fighting spirit and togetherness, something that Motherwell are sadly lacking. With a packed Ibrox I fully expect Rangers to win tonight and go through in the tie.
It will be close only way to look at it. If u want to be honest you could argue rangers to win at home an Motherwell to win at home. U are right in saying Motherwell need to score cause a can c rangers been able to get one prob even 2
What is multicorners over/under 24.5? is this the total for both legs?
Ian, it’s worth checking but it’s definitely nothing to do with both legs. More likely one team’s corners multiplied by the other’s. I don’t do corner bets because I’d want all the stats possible and don’t have time to dig them out.
Motherwell have lost 9 of their last 10 away game, please not before you place your bet.
Odion777, we know – against top-flight teams.
Draw at ibrox and a 2-1 win for the mighty well at fir park
Mr F one factor that has been looked at from solely one angle is the fact that Rangers have had more games and that Motherwell rested some players for their last game. I can tell you that the last thing that a professional player needs before a competitive game is a break of around 12 days for their next competitive fixture. Football works in funny ways and sometimes the team ploughing through the fixtures will be raring to go. It will be an interesting game me thinks.
Alex, the break didn’t help Hibs and I don’t think will help Falkirk on Saturday but there’s no doubt Rangers looked tired last week and McCall’s basically been playing the same guys. It might be an issue in the second leg rather than tonight.
Alex, not competing for 12 days does not necessarily mean thats the last things people want…. muscle memory is a big thing in situations like that…..we all react differently to competitions piling up, or breaks between competitions… no matter what happens tonight only the players can tell us if it was fitness, lack of fitness,or ability, touch of luck,..etc… at this stage everybody is guessing…
Robert Miller- Going to have to agree to disagree with you there. Players are used to playing football matches every 3-4 days on average these days and not every 12 days. It is not ideal preparation to have that amount of time off before a crucial game of football when all you want to do is get stuck into the next game. You don’t want the game to dwell on your mind for that long. I am not arguing that you forget how to play football just that it can impact on your rhythm. The biggest single factor after a stack of games is the mental exhaustion of having to pick your self up, to keep going and drag your self and your team over the line.
Does Mcdonald take Motherwells pens?
Weebanger, I don’t think he’s taking one for them but probably be on them if John Sutton isn’t on the park at the time. Sutton took the last one. A Well fan might know for sure. Right, off to walk the dug.
Mr F, the multicorners market is the number of corners in the 1st half x the number corners in the 2nd half. Great site bye the way.
Ian, cheers.
Rangers w and btts
R10 pays R43
Ian it’s HT corners X 2nd half corners
You will sell a boat load of paper,s in Glasgow tomorrow Mr F, when Rangers win tonight!
Stephen, we’ll certainly sell more if they win than if they don’t.
For the sake of Scottish football I hope Rangers get promoted to go along with Hearts. The Premier league needs injected with those 2 big clubs who both carry passionate fans.Hibs to come up next year too. Bet tonight 2-0 Rangers.
alva, as you know I support Clydebank but as a neutral I believe Scottish football needs Rangers back – but they need to earn it.
Need to take the lad to training – hope everyone has a good night. And remember this is a betting forum so comments like the one I just deleted about Rangers should be directed to other places where that debate can take place if everyone’s not fed up with it.
Mr.F. agree with you on that but lets not forget a lot of teams have had there bank coffers well replenished with the demise of Rangers and some of the grounds they had to play in were a disgrace with a burger van stuck in the corner.
Alva glen they only have themselves to blame for playin in front of those burger vans. Looks like they will be playin hibs again next yr. Geetin humped 2-0 half time.
Motherwell RT7 5/1 why no eh
We,have all heard the saying ..its as important to rest as it is to train….think we should re title that to ….It is as important to rest as it is to play….certainly been partly responsible for motherwells cause tonite….so far anyway
I backed Stephen Mcmanus for 1st goal at Ladbroke. Surely the 1st goal was an og?
Steven, I’ve only heard it – it’s been given to Erwin so unless that’s changed bookies must pay out on him.
Steven, I’ve only heard it – it’s been given to Erwin so unless that’s changed bookies must pay out on him.
Steven, I’m aware of that – but that’s not the point. If the shot was on target it’s given to the attacker. If it wasn’t on target it’s been wrongly given to Erwin but unless the arbiter corrects that bookies who have that in their rules MUST pay out on Erwin.
Ok cheers
Evening Times report 1st goal as an own goal. Fifa say an own goal if ball is goal bound & opposition player intentionally kicks ball & it changes direction resulting in a goal due to change of direction.
Steven, it doesn’t matter what the Evening Times say – they’re not the arbiter. Also different leagues interpret OGs differently. In Italy they award the goal to the player it hit last even if the ball was clearly going in.
As I said yesterday if Erwin’s shot was on target it’s his goal and it was even though it was poor shot.
If it was up to me I’d award an OG because it’s more a sclaff than a deflection.
It’s worth noting while you’re disappointed bookies will have to pay out more on Erwin than McManus.
I have 340 reasons to b angry lol but fairdoos
Steven, your only chance is to ask traders to watch the tapes and consider a “goodwill gesture” payment. It’s worth a try.
I phoned ladbrokes customer service but they weren’t interested
Steven, that’s all they can do. As I said if the arbiter had gone OG they’d have to go with that.