Old-Firm Foray Part 1 || The Rangers v Motherwell Preview
- Ruaraidh Blackwood
- Dec 26, 2025
- 10 min read
Motherwell come into the festive season on a high of four points from six against the Dundee sides. Our sixth clean sheet in a row (a record that dates back to 1996), the Steelmen are now undefeated in their last ten league matches. Up next, it's a jaunt into the blue half of Glasgow, with the first game of another city double header.
Still makes for pretty decent viewing, doesn't it? With Celtic's win over Aberdeen, and Rangers' loss to Hearts, we maintain third spot by a point. Fair to say that these next two games could potentially be vital to the league come the end of the year (when did we ever think we'd be outside challengers for the title, eh?). Both Old Firm sides also have a game in hand so the table is still very much on shifting sands, but it's nice to dream every once in a while.
What I do find interesting is that, last year, we'd amassed just three points less after 18 games played, with one more win and 6 less draws. Our Goal Difference also was -4 instead of +11 - which makes sense considering the massive difference in losses (and therefore negative goal differences) - but still mental to think about considering the substantially better football being played, both objectively and subjectively.
The Form Guide...
Motherwell come into this one off the back of another clean sheet, another win, and another game undefeated. Another hard-fought but dominant win against the Dee leaves us going into the festive period with 9 points from 15.
One slightly worrying thing, looking at that form guide, is the lack of goals. We had plenty opportunity to open the scoring in the Dundee game before Callum Slattery's header broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute, with Jon McCracken having to make three saves in the first half alone. Callum Hendry will have been tossing and turning all night on Saturday, ruing the multiple chances that fell his way.
This, once again, seems to suggest that our games can come down to the finest of margins. Had McCracken not managed to get a toe to Hendry's left-footed shot inside the opening ten minutes, we could have been talking about how well the striker took his goal, and how hopefully that will kick him on to more success now that he finally had his first league goal in claret and amber. And he may have also then scored the chance that fell to him on 63 minutes.
The breakthrough did come, mind you. A simply sumptuous ball in from the left from Elliot Watt found the head of Slattery, and the midfielder made no mistake putting the ball beyond the Dee keeper to send the home fans into raptures.
Overall, the Well are in fantastic form. Only two losses in 18 league games so far, with seven wins and nine draws. It would be tentatively optimistic to call that European Qualification form, and - depending on how results go elsewhere - it could even be league-title challenger form (I know I know, I'm just fantasising)
A late, late goal against Hearts wasn't enough to spare Rangers' blushes in the Sunday fixture, as they slipped to another away defeat. Danny Röhl’s side have been relatively successful of late in the league, with convincing wins against Hibs and Falkirk sandwiching that disappointing night in Budapest against Ferencváros.
However, it all seems very stilted, and sparks of a side that still lacks real threat and intent on the front foot. Playing Derek McInnes' Hearts side and their progressive low block meant that - despite the Glasgow side dominating possession - they gave up more big chances, and Jack Butland was forced into more saves than his Gorgie counterpart.
What Askou Had To Say...
On the squad, Askou announced that Liam Gordon was back and available for contention following a bout of sickness and that all are available (other than the long-term injured) for tomorrow. Worth mentioning there was no mention of the long-term injured at all, which suggests that - although we assume progress will be being made - there are no major breakthroughs as of yet.
On the challenge before us, playing both sides of Glasgow consecutively, Askou was asked if he was confident that we could 'give our best shot against the biggest teams in the country'. He responded with the fact that we have - and have to - give our best to every team in the league, regardless of who they are. In the 18 games so far this campaign, we've required the ability to find our 'best shot' to win games. He then reassured the press that they're confident, as a squad, that we are able to go to Ibrox and get a result. It would make total sense to have this view considering how well we played and one-sided the game at Fir Park was, at times. Not to mention that we are going to the Blue side of Glasgow with two wins on the bounce at their home patch.
On our recent record at Ibrox, and how it affects the mentality going into this game, JBA almost downplayed the necessity to get his squad raring to go. He went on to discuss how the manner in which we are set-up to play is and has been effective against anyone, and the result is almost solely down to our sharpness on the day. He conceded that - while our defensive record of late is outstanding - he would like to see us score more but that is something that is being worked on day to day in the camp. He also slightly talked up the occasion, and how it is a slightly bigger atmosphere than we are used to, week to week. It was never from a standpoint of 'I hope the grandeur doesn't make us freeze up', it was very much more from one of excitement and anticipation. He is looking forward to showcasing how our footballing identity can compete with (and hopefully conquer) the biggest clubs in the country.
On the 'changes' since the last meeting in August, it was stated that Rangers have - obviously - endured far more changes than we have, what with the change in management, but also that brings both tactical and personnel changes with it. For example, Askou mentioned the inclusion of a back three on occasion, or different patterns, or even the fact they have tended to be more direct than under Martin. With no real changes in personnel - i.e. some decent luck when it comes down to injuries, all being considered - Motherwell have 'changed' more in the sense of progression and development than switching or swapping. More time with a new manager and a new system that was brand new in pre-season - and a far cry from what came before - is never a bad thing, and it certainly seems to be reaping sizeable rewards for the Steelmen so far this season.
Askou mentioned that the change in Rangers' management has brought about a shore-up in defence. With more clean sheets and less big chanced conceded in recent games, an admirable feat for any new manager, he also mentioned that they are still gelling when it comes to the attacking side, looking for more dynamism and fluency. He still is very wary of the individual quality within their squad, however, and the Well should still be cautious when it comes to going too 'gung-ho'.
On our defensive record, JBA was given the question: '581 minutes since you last conceded a goal, is that the longest stint in your career'. Askou, quite level-headedly, sort of laughed off the question by stating that he doesn't know. He then re-framed the question in such a way that he could talk about how one of the biggest goals when he first joined the club was to develop a style of play that was function as well as form. Of course, the form of the football we watch every Saturday now is quite beautiful to watch, and can comprehensively dismantle teams offensively, but the function is very much also to make sure that we are not giving away chances and cheap goals at the other end. I myself have become almost too used to our brand of football now, I eagerly await watching the symphonic performance every Saturday, and the fact the Askou has turned the likes of Stephen O'Donnell and Liam Gordon into prime Cafu and Beckenbauer needs a scientific study.
Finally, I must discuss Askou's mention of transitions and possession, and how they can be so effective within the game. After losing the ball, if we can maintain defensive discipline within the first 10-15 seconds - what Askou called the 'transition' phase - we are far less likely to concede big chances and goals. This makes sense because if players are able to either intervene on or contain a counter attack as it develops for those 10-15 seconds, it allows their colleagues the opportunity to re-establish a defensive shape, and therefore gives the opposition far less gaps and open spaces to exploit. JBA also brought up that a positive by-product of our attack-minded play style is that: the more possession we accumulate, the less opportunity for big chances we can concede. My coach at under-10s used to say something similar: "if we have the ball, they can't score". It sounds so obvious but it's true. The more we can stamp our identity and tempo on the game, the more able we are to create and dominate both possession and chances. The statistic that Askou gave was that if we maintain 60% of ball possession throughout a game, we are then defending for around half as much time as if we only had around 40%. And this is both massive for open play, as well as set-pieces.
The Teams...
What more is there to say here? Two changes in personnel, one forced and one tactical. With our Zimbabwean Warrior away on international duty at AFCON, Regan Charles-Cook was handed another start; and the only other change saw Stephen O'Donnell dropping to the bench in favour of Emmanuel Longelo. Stephen Welsh remained in the side after his bloody head-knock with Elliot Watt in the United game, but did sport a rather comical-looking bandage for the whole game. The only other notable mention is probably that it was a first appearance on the bench for youngster and academy graduate Aaron Thomson.
Rangers, since our last meeting with them, have switched to a more conservative 4-2-3-1 system - having used a more attacking 4-3-3 line-up in August. They have also made rather stark personnel changes since that game, with only five players still featuring in the loss to Hearts.
There are multiple reasons for this, not least being the managerial change in October. You have multiple injuries (e.g. John Souttar going off in the warm-up before that game against Denmark), but also Nasser Djiga being on international duty at AFCON with Burkina Faso. Rangers have not had their problems to seek this season, and almost every season since winning the title under Gerrard, but they still can bring a goal-threat if not managed efficiently.
The Tactics...
So how do we break them down?
Well, one specific weak point that has been identified is Jack Butland. That's it. The keeper has had his fair share of howlers of late, and seems nowhere near the goalkeeper he once was when he was capping for England. What I'd suggest is both: shoot on sight, and crowd his six-yard box at corners. The former would rely heavily on the likes of Slattery, Watt, and Just dropping into pockets between the lines and having the confidence to have a pop from distance, but it is well documented that at least two out of the three have previous for it in Claret and Amber. The latter is harder to do for us, perhaps, simply because of the lack of height in the team, but playing for first and second contact, as well as winning the scraps and rebounds, in the box could be a way forward as it has been in some games so far this season. It's perhaps not pretty, but it gets us goals and, hopefully, wins us games.
Speaking of set-pieces, they could also be crucial. Our quick corner tactics could and potentially should bear more fruit in this game, considering the anecdotally laborious and lacklustre way Rangers have dawdled back to defend corners.
I think the overall word for our game against them on Saturday should be intensity. The game in August was almost entirely run by the fact that we were willing to take the game to the Bears, and force them onto the back foot. The focus should definitely be on our left (their right) side, considering that's where the majority of our pace can lie. With the wing-back going toe to toe with an aging Tavernier, it could be the tastiest match-up of the game. As well as this, having the likes of Just, Slattery, or Watt dropping between the lines could then offer opportunities for quick through-balls, as well as the previously mentioned shots on sight. This then affords the opportunities for cutbacks in the six-yard box, which should be a striker's dream.
The dangers against Rangers, as well as most teams in the league, lie in transitions. With the commitment of so many men forwards, all it takes is the right ball into the channels or through the middle and we look very open at the back. I am not suggesting for a second that we then settle in a Craig Levein-esque 4-6-0 and pray for a draw, but we could afford to be intense with our passing but without being quite so positionally indisciplined. There can still be free-flowing with a degree of structural rigidity. Askou's side has become far better at striking the balance of dynamism in attack and discipline in defence, and this has been evidenced by very few goals conceded of late - with only two goals conceded in the league since October - but we should always be wary of the quality that Danny Rühl's side possesses, and their capacity for individual brilliance.
To Sum Up...
With The Rangers' result against Hearts, and how average they've been all season, I see absolutely no reason why we can't make it three wins on the bounce at Ibrox (Can't quite believe I'm saying that). The occasion is now no longer one of nerves and jitters, but one of hunger, desire, and fearlessness. Askou will have our boys bang up for it and I expect this to be another cracker, and maybe even adding another clean sheet to the mix.
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