3 talking points as Rangers see Scott Wright stand up for 10 men to keep title pressure on Celtic

Rangers kept their title hopes alive after battling to a crucial win against Motherwell despite being down to 10 men for more than an hour.

The Ibrox men’s Premiership crown was slipping when Ross Tierney cancelled out Liam Kelly’s own goal opener after Leon Balogun was shown a straight red.

But Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s stand-ins dug deep to secure three vital victory with Scott Wright pouncing after the break before James Tavernier slotted a spot kick for his 80th goal for the Light Blues – to cut the gap to rivals Celtic to three points ahead of their clash at Ross County.

The Rangers squad produced heroics at Hampden the previous week as they saw off Celtic in extra time on tieback of 120 gruelling minutes in the Braga European win.

But the exploits took their toll and van Bronckhorst was forced to rip up his team sheet for Fir Park – with EIGHT changes to his line up.

Alfredo Morelos was already out for the rest of the season but Kemar Roofe and Aaron Ramsay ended up in the Auchenhowie treatment room, leaving the Gers boss with a headache.

Skipper James Tavernier, Connor Goldson and Borna Barisic were the only men to stay in the side as Gers looked to maintain the pressure at the top while preparing for Leipzig.

But it gave the likes of Wright and Fashion Sakala to shine while remaining in the title fight ahead of Parkhead.

Motherwell – who were without banned Kevin van Veen – also had Europe on their minds as Graham Alexander’s men set their sights on fourth spot and they were left frustrated at failing to capitalise on having an extra man.

The Fir Park men started lively – but were lucky not to go behind when Diallo wriggled free in the box but was denied by Jake Carroll’s late lunging block.

But the opener