Motherwell v Rangers: Well need to be on top form in Christmas Eve clash, says boss

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says nearly taking a point from Rangers earlier this season doesn’t guarantee a Christmas Eve result.

Kettlewell’s side lost 1-0 at Ibrox on September 24 in a game where many observers felt they deserved at least a draw, with Cyriel Dessers’ deflected effort the difference between the sides.

Motherwell have since gone on a Premiership run of 13 games without a win, while Rangers have brought in Philippe Clement as their new boss.

Kettlewell says his side will need to be on top form to take anything from the lunchtime clash, but will do everything they can.

He said: “Very much the focus for us is this game against Rangers on Sunday, which is going to be a huge challenge for us.

“It’s a massive club, which is currently functioning really well, in terms of winning games.

“There has been a big reaction from the new manager coming in, so we have all those challenges to face.

“We’re going to have to be at our absolute best again on Sunday to try and see if we can take something out of this game.

“But the one thing it does is breed confidence in the players and in myself, albeit we face a different challenge, because it’s a different manager now in charge of Rangers.

“We feel that with the likes of Rangers and Celtic, in my time, we’ve been very competitive. We feel as if we’ve acquitted ourselves really well.

“That doesn’t guarantee we’re going to do that again on Sunday.

“We’re going to have to be everything that we have been in the five or so games that we’ve had against Rangers, that have got us pretty close.”

Kettlewell added: “We haven’t won one of them, I have to stress that, but we’ve given them a few frights along the way and we’ve defended and been structured really well, along with