motherwell 2

rangers 2

K

IT WAS all very fascinating, not to mention explosively entertaining. In the ring or, rather dug-out, were two former Aberdeen team-mates, one a former Motherwell manager now in charge of Rangers, the other a former assistant Celtic manager now in charge of Motherwell.

It can be a complex old business, can the Scottish game.

At anyrate, Alex McLeish could have chosen a less volatile setting for his debut as Rangers manager but, then again, he might as well get used to how it feels on the other side of the fence.

When with Motherwell and Hibs Alex, as much as anyone else, fired up his men in meetings with the Old Firm and so was not at all surprised to see his old team, sinews stretched and jaws jutting, going for glory.

Naturally, McLeish had his new lot well aware of the battle they would face and many, if not all, of them responded.

The consequence was one of those old fashioned confrontations, a throw-back to the days when men were men and studs were things you stuck on football boots, and it fair warmed the old cockles of a winter's night.

With the flamboyant Willie Young in the middle, the cast was complete.

Two major controversies surrounded Willie, one he got wrong and the other right.

Fernando Ricksen went out of his way, almost literally, to make sure he did not arm the ball at the incident which brought about the penalty equaliser for Motherwell late in the game; but Craig Moore's reckless challenge (albeit he got the ball first and the man second) warranted at least a second yellow card and thus his sending off.

Maybe Rangers marginally deserved to win but, after the way the home side sweated and strained to match them, it would have been rough to see them go away with nothing.

Before any more is said, however, it has to be pointed out that the greatly maligned Bert Konterman put on a show for the new manager.

Bert was terrific, both in midfield in the first half and, when McLeish switched to a back three in defence in the second period.

As one who has had some criticism to offer of the likeable, articulate Dutchman, I believe it is only just that the other side of the coin is recognised. On this form Konterman is a certainty to be one of McLeish's fist choices.

In the other half was also a central defender of some excellence. Eric Deloumeaux, according to his manager, has been man of the match in his four games he has played. Certainly, the former Le Havre player was up there among the best, and there were a few.

In most games anywhere he plays, Ronald de Boer should be one, but he has been something of an enigma at Ibrox, promising a great deal but failing to deliver. At Fir Park he did some exquisite things, not least a crossfield pass that travelled 40 yards before landing in front of Neil McCann who really should have scored to complete a memorable move.

Yet de Boer seems to be content to float in and out of the action, thus causing some frustration in the stands, which is ridiculous, considering the talent he has.

Still, winning approval from Rangers fans is not a simple exercise, as McLeish is finding out. No chants of his name nor of 'McLeish's blue and white army' have yet been heard but the man himself is not fazed.

''If I am successful in any way, shape or form with Rangers then I will earn the approval of the fans. I have got to earn it. They were great today.''

And what about Fernando? The man who seems to be a magnet for argument refused to accept that Motherwell and other teams are trying to cash in on his volatile temperament. ''I don't believe that. They just want to win as much as me.''

Ricksen thought referee Young had blown for offside when, in fact, he had whistled for the penalty. ''I leaned forward to let the ball hit me on the chest.''

Needless to say, he was flabbergasted, as were his colleagues. David Kelly was not, of course, and just managed, to knock the spot-kick past Stefan Klos, who had a few magnificent saves and at least one lucky stop (when his head was nearly detached from his shoulders by a close-range blockbuster from Kelly).

Motherwell have two promising young men in James McFadden and Keith Lasley and, with the experience of Scott Leitch and Delomeraux, not to mention Karl Ready, around them, have every chance of fulfiling it.

Lasley had put them ahead with a brilliant goal before Shota Arveladze equalised with an opportunist strike. The head of Kelly, who was involved in a great deal of the action, inadvertently diverted McCann's corner over the line to put Rangers ahead and then levelled matters himself form the spot.

Substitutions

Motherwell Corrigan (Soloy 68min), Pearson (Lasley 90) Rangers Hughes (Latapy 46), Caniggia (Arveladze 86)

Subs not used

Motherwell Dow, Adams, Woods Rangers Dodds, Ross, Christiansen

REFEREE Willie Young

bookings

Motherwell Kelly 64, McFadden 65, Corrigan 87 Rangers Moore 41, Ricksen 71 Sent off Moore 90

Attendance 9894