Rangers roar back amid fan protests to thump Motherwell on Cantwell’s big day

Rangers emerged from an eventful and exciting Scottish Premiership encounter against Motherwell with a 4-2 win at Fir Park.

Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen tapped in after three minutes but Rangers captain James Tavernier levelled midway through the first half with a curling free-kick from 20 yards.

Fashion Sakala headed Rangers in front just after the break before Motherwell substitute Bevis Mugabi equalised in the 59th minute only for Todd Cantwell to restore the Light Blues’ lead with his first Rangers goal since joining from Norwich in January.

Rangers substitute Malik Tillman grabbed the fourth before Motherwell’s Callum Slattery was sent off in the 76th minute for picking up a second yellow card in an exhausting game that took part against a background of protest from both sets of supporters.

The away fans held up banners with the faces of Rangers sporting director Ross Wilson and managing director Stewart Robertson on them, crossed out with a red stripe, saying ‘Time for Change’, a continuation of a theme among a section of the Rangers support.

A section of the Motherwell fans were late in taking to their seats – although it appeared they were watching the game from the back of the John Hunter stand – as a protest, claiming they had faced “concerning decisions” which “impacted on our ability to give the team the backing they deserve”, and their banners read: ‘Heavy Hands- Empty Stands’.

Rangers fans had more to complain about when Motherwell stormed into the lead through their in-form Dutch striker.

Midfielder Sean Goss sent Max Johnston scarpering down the right in acres of space and his delivery across the box was converted by Van Veen, with a VAR check confirming the home side’s lead.

It was a far from