'Monumental' Motherwell hailed by boss after Rangers shock ends 27-year wait for Ibrox success

By Ian Steven

Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell hailed the determination of his "monumental" players in a historic win over Rangers – ending a 27-year barren spell at Ibrox and thrusting the North Lanarkshire club into top six contention as a result.

Goals from Theo Bair and Dan Casey either side of a James Tavernier penalty for the hosts stunned the league leaders and put the Steelmen just two points off the top six after a glorious day in Govan.

The visitors had a big save from goalkeeper Liam Kelly to thank for the three points as well and survived wll over eight minutes of stoppage time, avoided a repeat of last week's heartbreaking collapse at home to Celtic.

And delighted Kettlewell said: "First time that Motherwell has won at Ibrox in the league since 1997, I believe.

"I think that shows you how monumental a performance they put in out there today.

"We were asked plenty of questions. We were put under the cosh. We had to go into what I call emergency defending in the dying embers. A big save from our goalkeeper. You know you are going to have to go through all of that and you are going to have to suffer to try to get something here. Of that there is no question

"I was really, really pleased with how we started the game. We got ourselves ahead. I think when you come here, that idea of sitting inside your penalty box and hoping for the best is never going to be a thing.

"You need to carry a threat to the other side. And that's what pleases me most."

Kettlewell was accurate in stating his side got off to the perfect start with Theo Bair nestling a show in the bottom corner after some hard work by Jack Vale.

But a four-minute VAR check to award Rangers a penalty on the hour mark, that James Tavernier dispatched