Rangers drop points at Motherwell

Motherwell 0 Rangers 0: Allan McGregor came to the rescue of 10-man Rangers with a superb late penalty save to prevent the champions slumping to defeat against Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League.

Madjid Bougherra was dismissed for two bookable offences after conceding the spot-kick but McGregor ensured Rangers left Fir Park with a point when he blocked from Jim O’Brien.

However, his efforts were not enough to maintain Rangers’ 100 per cent record in the SPL ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Stuttgart.

Kenny Miller had squandered several glorious chances for Scotland on Wednesday night and he failed to find the back of the net again in the opening stages of this game, trying his luck with a shot from inside the box which was ushered past the upright by goalkeeper John Ruddy.

Motherwell then had the opportunity to put Rangers under pressure with a free-kick which was delivered into the packed goalmouth by Ross Forbes. Sutton connected well enough but headed just past the post.

At the other end, Miller’s cross found Kris Boyd and he attempted to divert a low header into the path of the on-rushing Sasa Papac but Ruddy was first to the ball to clear the danger.

Motherwell then appealed for a penalty when Sutton claimed he was impeded in the box by Papac, but referee Dougie McDonald showed no interest.

McGregor was called into action early in the second half to block from Hammell as Motherwell pushed for the opener. Hammell then supplied the cross for Giles Coke to set up O’Brien for the shot but he curled his effort narrowly over the crossbar.

With an hour gone, Rangers made a double switch as Miller and Rothen made way for the introduction of Nacho Novo and Naismith.

Naismith was immediately involved in a goalmouth scrap which saw him and Davis both failed to stab the ball over the line after Ruddy had produced a decent block.

Novo and Naismith then combined well with a lovely one-two before Novo unleashed a ferocious shot from just inside the box that Ruddy did well to turn past the post.

Novo was involved again when he drew the Motherwell goalkeeper wide before cutting back for Boyd in front of an open goal but Steven Saunders was first to the ball to deny the striker a goal.

Instead it was Motherwell who could have snatched victory with five minutes to go when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after ruling that Bougherra had fouled substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz in the box.

The Rangers defender picked up two yellow cards in quick succession after complaining about the decision, before O’Brien stepped up for the spot-kick. However, he was denied a last-gasp winner when McGregor guessed correctly to dive to his left and push the shot past the upright.