Rangers manager Danny Rohl conceded his team were left hurting after a dramatic late equaliser from Motherwell's on-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh dealt a severe blow to their Scottish Premiership title aspirations. The Ibrox side had taken an early lead through Nico Raskin at Fir Park but found themselves second best for large portions of a fiercely contested encounter.
Late Drama Undermines Rangers' Control
Despite Motherwell being reduced to ten men after Lukas Fadinger's dismissal for a foul on Mikey Moore in the 77th minute, Welsh managed to level the scores with just one minute of regulation time remaining. The goal came during a chaotic second phase of a set-piece situation, an area where Rangers had previously demonstrated defensive strength in recent weeks.
'We are extremely disappointed that we dropped two points,' admitted Rohl, whose team now trail league leaders Hearts by five points ahead of their crucial Sunday showdown. 'We started the game well, with the first ten minutes being particularly strong for us. However, we must be honest - the opponent was better in the first half and created more pressure.'
Missed Opportunities and Defensive Lapses
Rohl revealed his team had a golden opportunity to double their advantage just before halftime, which could have changed the complexion of the match. 'We adjusted some tactical elements during the interval and controlled proceedings much better in the second period,' he explained. 'Then came the red card for Motherwell, which naturally changes the dynamic - a team with ten men has nothing to lose.'
The Rangers boss pinpointed the defensive breakdown that led to the equaliser: 'We were generally well organised, but in that critical moment we lost our markers in midfield. Conceding such a late equaliser truly hurts today.'
Title Race PerspectiveRohl was quick to emphasise that the title race remains alive despite this setback. 'Today does not mean the championship challenge is over. It's certainly a blow to drop points so late in the game, but on Sunday we have our next opportunity. If our reaction is correct, we can achieve the right result against Hearts.'
Penalty Controversy and Refereeing Decisions
The visitors felt aggrieved in the first half when Youssef Chermiti went down inside the penalty area, with Rangers players appealing strongly for a spot-kick. While Rohl acknowledged several borderline decisions throughout the frantic encounter, he refrained from criticising the match officials.
'Normally I avoid discussing refereeing decisions,' Rohl stated. 'There were numerous 50-50 situations in the first half, but I prefer to focus on our own performance. At 1-0, we lacked some intensity during that period.'
Looking Ahead to Hearts Showdown
With the gap to Hearts now standing at five points following midweek results, pressure mounts on Rangers to avoid losing further ground in the title race. Rohl remains characteristically composed ahead of what many consider Rangers' most significant fixture this season.
'It's not an easy challenge, but if there's an opportunity for us, we will seize it,' he asserted. 'Since my arrival, every match has been a must-win encounter. There hasn't been a single game where I could consider it otherwise.'
The German manager concluded with determination: 'When you're chasing from behind, the tasks are substantial, but we've performed well until now. We've dropped two points today, but Sunday presents our next objective. Hopefully we can generate a positive atmosphere, introduce fresh players, and go again with renewed vigour.'
