Rangers vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
Ibrox StadiumAttendance49,198.
Rangers 1-1 Motherwell: Substitute Joe Garner salvages Gers draw
Saturday 1 April 2017 18:24, UK
Rangers had to come from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell, with half-time substitute Joe Garner earning Pedro Caixinha’s side a point at Ibrox.
The Steelmen took the lead after just three minutes when Louis Moult headed in from a corner, with Gers struggling to impose themselves on the game.
Caixinha was forced to make three changes in personnel at the break and the decision to bring on Garner paid dividends as he equalised on 61 minutes.
Rangers were impressive against Hamilton in their first game under Caixinha a fortnight ago but they were lacklustre for much of the opening period.
Clint Hill was at fault for Motherwell's goal, the veteran centre-back failing to pick up Moult as Elliott Frear swept in his corner, allowing the striker to nod home his at the back post for his 15th goal of the season.
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Gers continued to struggle despite the shock of falling behind and it took them until the 37th minute to create their first significant chance, only for Martyn Waghorn to fire wide after Barrie McKay did well to wriggle in from the left.
Caixinha was forced into making a raft of half-time substitutions, as skipper Lee Wallace (stomach), Hill (hamstring) and Lee Hodson (fever) were replaced by Andy Halliday, Michael O'Halloran and Garner.
The changes - which saw Halliday and Toral move into a make-shift back three - seemed to give the hosts some extra zip and they twice came close with headers from Rob Kiernan and Garner.
Motherwell goalkeeper Craig Samson pushed away another headed attempt from Garner while Well's Keith Lasley sliced wide as the hosts were opened up.
But it was third time lucky for Garner as the former Preston man threw himself at a deep cross from Miller to hook home the equaliser.
Gers' joy almost proved to be short-lived as Moult fired the ball home after Wes Foderingham parried Ryan Bowman strike, only for the strike to be ruled out or offside.
Motherwell, though, were testing their opponents' stop-gap back-line and Foderingham had to pull off three superb saves to stop Stephen Robinson's sided retaking the lead.
Samson was also performing heroics as he palmed away Garner's low drive while Emerson Hyndman failed to provide a stoppage-time finale.
Watch Kilmarnock v Rangers on Wednesday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 2 HD at 7:30pm.