Rangers' campaign for the Scottish Premiership crown suffered a serious setback when they were beaten by Motherwell at Ibrox, slipping to third place in the league. The defeat not only dented their points tally but also widened the gap to league leaders Hearts, leaving the Glasgow side with a narrow margin and only four matches left to recover. Going into the first fixture after the league split, manager Danny Röhl knew a victory was essential to stay ahead of rivals Celtic. The stakes were high, and the home crowd expected a strong start.
However, the match began disastrously for the visitors. Within minutes, Lukas Fadinger found the back of the net, delivering a stunning early goal that silenced the Ibrox faithful. The atmosphere turned tense as Motherwell continued to press, and before the half-hour mark Emmanuel Longelo added a second, slipping the ball in at the back post to make it 2-0. Rangers attempted to respond, but their early attempts were thwarted by an organized Motherwell defence.
At the interval, Röhl made a tactical overhaul, abandoning the 4‑2‑2‑2 formation that had been in place and switching to a more familiar 4‑3‑5 set‑up, hoping to inject creativity and regain control of the midfield. The changes seemed to pay off almost immediately.
In the 51st minute, Youssef Chermiti broke the deadlock, pulling the Rangers back within one goal of the visitors. The excitement in the stadium revived as the home side pushed forward.
The momentum continued to build, and just before the hour mark Nicolas Raskin joined the attack, linking up with Chermiti to restore parity. Raskin’s movement and the Belgian midfielder’s finishing saw the scores level at 2‑2, prompting a roar from the Ibrox crowd and a surge of optimism among the Rangers faithful. For a brief period, it looked as if the team might complete a comeback reminiscent of their earlier season triumph over Falkirk, where they overturned a two‑goal deficit to win 6‑3.
However, Motherwell remained dangerous. In the dying moments of regular time, Longelo struck again. His shot glanced off the head of Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez and ricocheted into the net, sealing a 3‑2 victory for the Steelmen. The goal not only gave Motherwell their first league win in six matches but also confirmed Rangers' drop to third place with 69 points, four points adrift of leaders Hearts.
The result leaves Rangers in a precarious position with only four games remaining. They must secure maximum points in the remaining fixtures to keep any realistic chance of catching Hearts, who sit atop the table. The next challenge for the Glasgow side is an away match against Hearts on May 4, a game that could prove decisive for the title race. Röhl addressed the media after the match, emphasizing resilience and belief.
He told Sky Sports News, "My job is to go forward, lead them, I will lift them. We can be disappointed, but we lift them again, I give them the belief.
It's not over, this is the part in this split, you have to carry on. It makes no sense to think it's over. If there's the final whistle at the end of the season, then it's over. My team did well so far and I have no doubts that we can do again, to take four wins, but it's not easy, we know this, and with this point we go forward.
We keep believing in what we are doing and we have the chance to turn the next game back to our side." The defeat also highlights the fine margins that can decide a title race. Motherwell, currently sitting fourth, are pushing for European qualification next season and demonstrated that they can compete with the league's traditional powerhouses.
Their ability to exploit early chances and stay compact defensively forced Rangers to chase the game, exposing vulnerabilities in the latter's defensive organization. Looking ahead, Rangers will need to tighten up at the back, especially after the costly error involving Emmanuel Fernandez, and find a way to convert the creative spark shown by Chermiti and Raskin into consistent goal‑scoring opportunities. The squad's depth will be tested, and the manager's tactical flexibility will be crucial as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
Fans can follow the remaining fixtures, live tables, and highlights through the official Scottish Premiership platforms, with streaming options available without a contract. The league continues to deliver drama, and Rangers' supporters will be hoping for a swift rebound as the title race reaches its climax.