A 3-1 defeat in the first leg. Is there anyway back for Rangers? Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) shares his best bets.
Motherwell v Rangers | Sunday 15:00 | BT Sport 1
What a tough match to call this is! Even the bookmakers are confused with one layer as short as 6/5 on Rangers while another as big as 19/10. That’s almost a full point swing! Motherwell’s price is a lot more static ranging from 7/4 to 11/5.
The onus on Sunday is of course on Rangers. The Ibrox club capitulated on Thursday against a wonderful counter-attacking Motherwell outfit and were 3-0 down after 50 minutes. Darren McGregor’s late consolation gave the scoreline more respectability but it remains a huge task for the Gers to overcome this and qualify for a return to the top-flight.
Motherwell were well-versed in the counter-attacking manual on Thursday and their homework paid off well in a brilliant exhibition at Ibrox. Surely Well will stay true to that manual on Sunday? Deploying that tactic seems more pertinent than ever after the first leg score.
Rangers need a mini-miracle at Fir Park but McGregor’s goal offers a lifeline of sorts. They must score two to get back in the tie so an offensive attitude is a cert.
But are they capable of achieving that? This team must be mentally shattered after the exertions of the last few weeks in the play-offs. All five games have been tough examinations and that must be playing havoc with a side who’ve had a lot of shit thrown at them this season.
When Motherwell are in the groove, they’re a joy. Admittedly that’s been rare this season, but we’ve witnessed this in the early Spring when they won three on the bounce and spat all over Hamilton and St Mirren in emphatic 4-0 and 5-0 wins. I feel this is a confidence side, and they would have got bucketloads of that on Thursday.
I’m going to back Motherwell today at a monster 11/5 with BetVictor. The Steelmen haven’t lost at Fir Park since February and are unbeaten in seven there.
Ian Baraclough’s men should be able to pick off a Rangers side foaming at the mouth in search of goals. They’ll leave gaps, they’ll leave space, they’ll leave opportunity.
My only fear is that the psychological block that affects smaller teams against the Old Firm kicks in here, but Thursday blitzed that theory out of the water so refreshingly!
TOPICS Football Scottish Football Betting TipsBest Bets
Motherwell v Rangers – Motherwell to win (11/5 BetVictor)
