What a gut wrenching afternoon at Ibrox. Rangers 2 3 Motherwell. We fought back from 0 2 down with goals from Youssef Chermiti and Nico Raskin to make it 2 2, only for Emmanuel Longelo to snatch a dramatic 90th minute winner for the visitors.
Fair play to Motherwell for their spirit and clinical finishing on the counter, but let’s be honest, the real story of this game was the officiating once again letting Rangers down when it mattered most.
Referee Kevin Clancy, assisted by VAR Grant Irvine and Andrew Dallas, had a shocker from a Light Blues perspective. We’ve seen this story too many times this season.
Rangers have been vocal about inconsistencies in Scottish football refereeing, and today’s performance just adds more fuel to that fire. When you’re chasing a title and every point is worth its weight in gold, these big calls cannot keep going against you.
Main incidents that left the Ibrox faithful raging
First and foremost, the late penalty claim on James Tavernier. Late in the game, with Rangers pushing hard for what would have been a winning goal, Tavernier found himself at the back post ready to pounce on a dangerous delivery. He went down under a challenge. It looked like a clumsy tangle at the very least, possibly even a clear foul preventing a goalscoring opportunity. The stadium erupted, players appealed, but Clancy waved it away instantly. VAR checked it and nothing. No penalty.
From the Rangers end, this was a stonewall shout. Tavernier was not diving. He was bundled over in a crowded box during a crucial moment. In games like this, especially at home where the crowd is roaring you on, you expect the big calls to go your way when the evidence is there. Instead, we got another example of officials seeming reluctant to point to the spot for Rangers. It is frustrating beyond belief.
Then there is the handling of Nico Raskin. The Belgian midfielder was everywhere today, battling, pressing, and eventually popping up with a vital equaliser. But throughout the match he was involved in numerous challenges. Rangers fans were screaming for bookings or even a sending off on some Motherwell players for similar or worse tackles, yet Clancy seemed happy to let things slide in the visitors favour.
Some supporters online were joking that Raskin was lucky to stay on for persistent fouls, but the bigger picture is the inconsistency. Identical challenges, one gets a foul, the other gets nothing. One team gets the benefit of the doubt, the other does not. It disrupts rhythm and momentum when you are trying to turn a game around.
The match flow
Motherwell took an early lead through Lukas Fadinger and then added a second via Longelo. We clawed one back through Chermiti’s header just after half time, great delivery from Tavernier and assist involvement from Emmanuel Fernandez, and Raskin’s header made it 2 2 with 20 minutes left.
The momentum was with us. The Ibrox crowd was up on their feet, sensing a comeback victory that would have kept the title hopes alive. Then came the 90th minute dagger.
The late winner itself was not controversial in isolation, Longelo finished well, but the build up felt like the officials had let the game become too stop start. There were complaints about time wasting from the visitors, yet little was done to clamp it down effectively. When you’re the home side chasing the game, you need the referee to manage the clock and the physicality properly. Instead, it felt like we were fighting the opposition and the whistle at the same time.
Bigger picture concerns
This is not just frustration after one bad result. Rangers supporters have every right to be furious because this fits a wider pattern. Earlier this season, there have been meetings with the SFA about refereeing standards and consistency. Key Match Incident panels have reviewed decisions and sometimes admitted errors, but those admissions come too late to change points on the table.
Today dropped us further in a tight Premiership title race. Points lost to debatable calls hurt more than any individual mistake on the pitch.
Performance analysis
We also cannot ignore the on field performance. Going 0 2 down at home is never acceptable, no matter the opposition. Motherwell came with a plan, sat deep at times, hit on the break, and took their chances. Credit to them, it is a famous away win for the Steelmen.
But Rangers dominated large spells of possession and created enough chances to win this game multiple times over. The fightback showed character, especially after half time. Chermiti and Raskin gave us hope, and the crowd responded. If one or two big calls had gone our way, this could easily have been a 3 2 win or at least a point.
Fan reaction
The disappointment among fans was clear. Many left early after the winner, knowing how costly this could be. Social media exploded with anger at team selections, tactics, and most of all the officials. While some reactions are emotional, the frustration is real.
VAR was meant to remove clear errors, but in Scottish football it often feels like it adds more confusion. Long reviews, unclear angles, and decisions that still divide opinion. The Tavernier incident is a perfect example. If it is not clear enough to overturn, fine, but when so many watching believe it is a foul, questions remain.
Looking ahead
Rangers now need a response. The title race is not over, but results like this make it harder. The players must bounce back in the next fixture. The manager will need to review tactics, especially against counter attacking sides.
Supporters will continue pushing for consistency from officials. It is not about asking for favours. It is about fairness and clarity in the game.
Conclusion
A dramatic match, a strong comeback, but ultimately undone by a late goal and decisions that did not go our way. The title race just got tougher. The questions around refereeing will not disappear overnight, and Scottish football continues to face scrutiny.
We move on, but Rangers must respond on the pitch.
