Something transpired after Rangers scored and it was particularly impressive - big match verdict

On the face of it, a routine win over Motherwell at Ibrox wouldn’t signify a turning point for Rangers.

Why would it? After all, back in the glory days, this victory on Saturday would have been deemed fairly run-of-the-mill. But not in recent seasons. For two years, whenever the Steelmen have visited Govan this fixture has been fraught with difficulty for the hosts.

Full of pressure, anxiety and dropped points for Rangers. So much so that most people in Scottish football felt this one was also riddled with danger for Derek McInnes and his players.

Ibrox punters have grown accustomed to Motherwell turning up, popping the ball around them with their eye-catching style and making Rangers look a bit silly. So, despite Gers’ two away wins at Aberdeen and Falkirk in the build-up, there was a nervousness from anyone of a blue persuasion going into it.

And that is why these three points - and the manner in which they were achieved - felt significant. McInnes has taken a fair bit of flak since taking on the job as Rangers manager. And maybe deservedly so, given his side’s pathetic double Euro exit so early in the campaign.

But on Saturday, he got his team selection and tactics spot on. McInnes devised a game plan to nullify Motherwell’s threat and, at the same time, create a glut of chances of their own.

This was as controlled and as convincing as Rangers have been against the Fir Park team for what feels like a long time. Of course, a goal after just 12 minutes always helps.

While Well keeper Alex Paulsen hesitated on the ball, German striker Ryan Naderi pressed the life out of him, forced a mistake and was left to roll the ball into an empty net for 1-0. That definitely helped settle the home fans in the stadium.

But what transpired afterwards was particularly impressive. Rather than Rangers going gung-ho in search of more goals, leaving themselves vulnerable to Motherwell counter-attacks - they waited and picked their moments.

McInnes adopted a compact 4-4-1-1 formation, ensuring they had enough bodies in the middle of the pitch to stop Alfred Johansson’s men from playing. Through the spine of the Rangers team - from keeper Ivor Pandur, to their two centre-backs, Manny Fernandez and Olwethu Makhanya and their midfield sitters, Dan Neil and Nico Raskin - they were solid.

Even Naderi, who was thrown on to replace the injured Lawrence Shankland with the game barely underway - refused to let the away side get comfortable. And Rangers should have scored more in the opening 45.

New South Korean star, Minsu-Kim, took responsibility from the penalty spot when Djiedi Gassama was upended in the box by Tom Sparrow. But when they could really have done with a two-goal cushion, he flashed his effort wide of the target.

Paulsen was hell-bent on making up for his error and made terrific saves from Kim and then Gassama whose back-post header almost crept over the line. Rangers were in charge of the game, which has been unusual in recent times. Of course, Motherwell were brave with their passing, tried to play through the thirds and impressed at times.

"At half time there were no groans from the home support"

But apart from Alex Lowry’s shot, which was brilliantly saved by Pandur, they didn’t pose a major threat. At half-time, there were no groans from the home support.

Instead, there was a comfort and contentment that McInnes and his team had everything in hand and actually knew what they were doing. That notion has become all too alien to them. In the second half, the match continued in the same vein. All that was missing from Rangers’ performance was more goals.

Kim was denied by Paulsen, James Penrice hit the post, Raskin had a shot cleared off the line. At the other end, Tawanda Maswanhise got in once but his powder-puff shot was easily held by Pandur.

This isn’t the way this game was supposed to go. The fact it did was purely down to McInnes’ set-up - and his players’ attitude. Rangers played with a hunger and intensity that’s been sadly lacking in Premiership home games for far too long.

And having chalked up three wins on the spin now, you can see a togetherness and a spirit growing. Obviously, bigger tests lie ahead. False dawns have become a stock in trade at Ibrox, so whether they can keep it up remains to be seen.

But this felt different. Neil, a summer signing from Sunderland who has come under immediate scrutiny, had his best game in a blue jersey so far. Raskin had a quiet afternoon, but one of his most effective.

Clearly instructed by his manager not to go chasing every loose ball, he stayed disciplined in the middle of the park - and Rangers as a team reaped the benefits. Motherwell, for once, couldn’t come up with the answers.

Towards the end, Gers carved out gilt-edged opportunities in front of goal that should have made the victory more handsome. Daisuke Yokota inexplicably curled an effort high and wide, again, after they had forced the visitors into a mistake in their own box.

Then Kevin Kelsy, the club’s new £9.2 million striker from Portland Timbers had the chance to become an instant hero. The Venezuelan timed his run into the box perfectly but, with the goal at his mercy, stabbed a shot over the bar.

It was the moment he would have dreamt about on his debut. But Kelsy showed enough in his cameo to suggest he’ll become a key player for Rangers as the season goes on.

And it’s just as well, given Shankland’s injury. If they hadn’t signed him on deadline day, they might have been left with only Naderi and Bojan Miovski in the forward line, with Youssef Chermiti already out long-term.

Losing the skipper, just as he was finding his feet at Ibrox and scoring goals, is a massive blow. That, along with a profligacy in front of goal, were the only downsides for McInnes on a good day for his team.

Towards the end of this game, at 1-0, there would normally have been an air of panic around the ground. Not this time, though. For once, the Rangers fans could actually enjoy their day, their team’s performance, and the result.

Cynics might say it’ll never catch on. McInnes will be praying it does. And if so, come May he might just look back on this day as a pivotal moment.

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