- 2 days ago
Extended highlights of Kilmarnock v Livingston and Motherwell v Rangers.
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00:00The
00:30I'm not the only one who wants to meet you
00:52Callum McNagher writes one off and that is sensational!
00:56That is classic Craig Gordon!
01:02It all comes down to this, Maida to win it for Celtic!
01:08And Celtic, E-Cup winners!
01:11That's unbelievable!
01:18Sid Johnston stun Celtic!
01:22It opens up for the Moroccan and he's put it in the top corner!
01:30And Eda at five!
01:34Title number 55!
01:36To the outside here!
01:38Kelvin Miller!
01:40That could be it!
01:42Falkirk are champions of the championship!
01:46Yes Boris and this is correct!
01:50It is!
01:52Celtic champions again!
01:54And just who is going to stop them?
01:58Can Yankee finish it here?
02:00Oh yes he can!
02:02David Birkdale and Livingston are back in the big time!
02:06It's a time for Stephens!
02:08It's a time for heroes!
02:10It's time for the Scottish Cup final!
02:12And Vickers is there!
02:14And it fights it's way through!
02:16Oh no!
02:17Oh no!
02:18Oh no!
02:19Oh no!
02:20Oh no!
02:21Oh no!
02:22Oh no!
02:23Oh no!
02:24Oh no!
02:25Oh no!
02:26Paul Dunstan simply must score!
02:29Is Aberdeen's Cup!
02:31No!
02:36Timmy Tom Etoff!
02:41Has won the Scottish Cup for Aberdeen!
02:43It is quite sensational!
02:4735 years!
02:49of pain and misery in this competition!
02:53Good evening and welcome to Sports Scene and after a long old summer, the Scottish Premiership
03:07returned today and like it or not, so has Michael Stewart and his opinions. We start
03:13in Ayrshire as Kilmarnock welcomed newly promoted Livingston to Rugby Park.
03:23And there's the opening goal, it's Josh Nisbet.
03:30That was a big mistake and Ronan Hale with a chance to count he have a two-goal lead.
03:35Livingston could do with a goal back quickly.
03:38A game on our hands once again.
03:44Oh my goodness! Can Yangi finish it here? Oh yes he can! What a way to return to the Premiership!
04:03Welcome back to the Scottish Top Flight everyone, it's like we've never been away and now it's
04:12here, the emotions are all over the place, excitement, nerves, dread, euphoria. How will these sets
04:18of fans feel come five o'clock? Of course these sides met just a few weeks ago in the League
04:23Cup, that finished 1-0 to Kilmarnock. Will the opening day look anything like the dress rehearsal?
04:28Robbie Dees is suspended, Kyle McGuinness is injured, Max Stryak is in against his former
04:34club, Brad Lyons captains and Tom Lowery who joined from Portsmouth is in midfield.
04:39Adam Montgomery, Moe Silla and Graham Kerry all make their league debuts for Livingston.
04:43Scott Pittman is the only player who's played in the Premiership for Livingston previously.
04:47Danny Wilson and Adam Montgomery under early pressure and it comes back to Dakers, he pulls it back
04:59for Watson and it's blocked by McGowan. Big chance early on for Kilmarnock, but why does
05:06Marcus Dakers not hit this? Instead he pulls it back and McGowan is able to make a block.
05:11Livingston don't have the best record here and they're under pressure again.
05:20Polworth wins the ball from Pittman, play goes on, can he slip in Dakers?
05:24He goes for it now and Montgomery is back to block and the offside flag goes up anyway I think.
05:30Might even be a foul to Livingston. Liam Polworth just had to play that pass earlier.
05:35Ball comes in, punched away by Stryak.
05:43Down to Montgomery, a nice one too, it deflects towards goal and Max Stryak makes the save.
05:48He was the man of the match when these sides met in the League Cup group stages.
05:52That's really the first time he's been called into action from a wicked deflection.
05:58League debut at rugby park for Stuart Kettlewell.
06:04He enjoyed the League Cup group stages.
06:08League campaign go.
06:10Polworth wins the ball again.
06:12He picks out the run of Daniels, appeals for offside.
06:17It's in the back of the net, but the flag is up very early to deny Gennaro Daniels a goal on his Premiership debut.
06:25Well, that is incredibly tight.
06:31Ryan McGowan, the Livingston captain, might just be playing him on.
06:35Matthew McDermott talking to the Livingston skipper.
06:42He's only just been appointed as club captain for the season, but he might have been playing Daniels onside.
06:48A tense wait around rugby park.
06:52Will this be the first goal of the Premiership season?
06:57Yes, it will be.
06:59Gennaro Daniels, the journeyman.
07:02He's scored in Canada, Portugal, Iceland and Ireland.
07:05Add Scotland to that list.
07:07A fine finish and a fine pass from Liam Polworth, who's been pestering the Livingston midfield all afternoon.
07:19He slides the ball through for Daniels.
07:22And I think there might be just a little nick off McGowan to take it over the keeper.
07:27But it's Kilmarnock who opened the Premiership.
07:30Goal scoring account for the season.
07:32How do Livingston respond?
07:42They lost 1-0 here just a few weeks ago, and now Jamie Brandon's in behind.
07:47He's got players in the middle.
07:48Oh, a good drop to Watson!
07:502-0 Kilmarnock.
07:53Two goals in a matter of minutes.
07:58And from nowhere, Killy have raced into a lead.
08:04A commanding lead before half-time.
08:07It was Montgomery against Brandon, and Brandon just wanted it more against his former club.
08:14And it's a real howler from Jerome Prior, the Livingston goalkeeper.
08:19Just pams it back into the path of Watson, who slides in gleefully for Kilmarnock's second.
08:27Far, far too easy.
08:32For Kilmarnock.
08:42A mountain to climb for Livingston in the second half.
08:45Robbie Muirhead challenging George Stanger.
08:48He goes down.
08:49There is an appeal.
08:50Matthew McDermott, not interested.
08:52The former Killy youngster is absolutely adamant there is a foul here.
09:01He's wrestling with Stanger, who then has a real grasp on him.
09:08Down the line for Macaulay Tate.
09:10Play rumbling on.
09:11It's cut back.
09:13Stryak misses.
09:14It almost drops to Montgomery.
09:16Play's still alive.
09:17Muirhead trying to cut it back.
09:19Pittman.
09:20Brilliant challenge from Polworth.
09:22Kilmarnock trying to bring the ball away.
09:26It's really scrappy at the moment.
09:29Before it's launched long.
09:31Matthew McDermott is going to halt the play here.
09:39It's felt like ages since that Robbie Muirhead appeal, but that can be the only thing they're looking at here.
09:44And indeed, John beating the VAR is calling Matthew McDermott across.
09:49It was a really strong appeal from Robbie Muirhead as he grappled with Stanger.
10:01There is a tug of the arm, a tug of the jersey as well.
10:04Well, Muirhead's got a fair handful of Stanger, but it's awkward.
10:09It's uncomfortable.
10:10And it doesn't look good for George Stanger.
10:13No attempt to play the ball either.
10:16And that is going to be a penalty.
10:19A tug of the shirt.
10:21And it's a red card as well for George Stanger.
10:25Kilmarnock down to ten.
10:28Livingston with a lifeline.
10:30Let's look at it again.
10:34They're both wrestling, but there is a foul in there, I think.
10:38He just grabs the shirt there.
10:42And you can see the frustration on his face as he does it.
10:46Robbie Muirhead from the spot.
10:50He cracks it down the middle.
10:54And halves the deficit.
10:57Livingston right back in this now.
10:59And it's the former Killy youngster with the goal.
11:04He normally likes a celebration.
11:06A rather muted response this time.
11:08Perhaps a show of respect.
11:10I think he is a Kilmarnock fan as well.
11:14His first goal in the Premiership since 2016.
11:17Macaulay Tate, the on-lone Hearts midfielder.
11:25Into Muirhead.
11:27Livingston working this nicely.
11:29Brad Lyons, he thinks he got the ball.
11:31Matthew McDermott doesn't agree.
11:33It's a yellow card for the Kilmarnock skipper.
11:35And a free kick for Livingston.
11:38Not a bad place for Robbie Muirhead to line one up.
11:43He likes the spectacular Robbie Muirhead.
11:47Curls for goal, just wide.
11:49It hits the advertising hoardings behind the goal instead of the back of the net.
11:55How close was this really?
11:57Let's have another look.
11:59A yard or so wide.
12:03And the pressure all on the hosts now.
12:09Livingston combining down the left.
12:13Montgomery back to Stevie May.
12:15Max Stryak with the save.
12:19Livingston have come to life with that man advantage.
12:25And this was a golden opportunity for Stevie May back in the Premiership.
12:29Stryak saving with his feet.
12:35Finlissen to Lewis Smith up against Dominic Thompson.
12:38Only just on.
12:39Only just signed a few hours ago, but Smith goes past him.
12:42Pulls it back for Pittman.
12:442-2.
12:46Livingston have their level up with just a few minutes to go.
12:55They fight back from two goals down.
12:58And there's still time to completely turn this game on its head.
13:03It's brilliant play from Lewis Smith.
13:06Just leaves Dominic Thompson for dead.
13:10The former mother will left back.
13:12He picks out Pittman.
13:14And it's a great finish as well into the top corner.
13:18What will David Martindale want from this now?
13:282-0 down.
13:32I think he would have taken a drop.
13:34They're having another look at this.
13:36I can't see any reason why that would be chopped off.
13:38Maybe Zack Rudden running in front of the keeper.
13:40Nope.
13:42The goal will stand.
13:44The tension.
13:46Ratched up another notch at Rugby Park.
13:51Livingston looking for a winner now.
13:55McGowan into the box.
13:58Rudden flicks on.
13:59Jeremy Bekiller's there.
14:01But he doesn't have the killer touch.
14:05On for his Livingston debut.
14:07The new forward.
14:09But he couldn't crown it with a winning goal.
14:12You always point to big moments in games.
14:16And very simply the game turned on its head.
14:18When Livingston were awarded the penalty in the red card to George Stranger.
14:22He knows himself.
14:23He puts his hand up.
14:24Going to the incident itself.
14:26I do believe it's rather soft.
14:28I thought the initial sort of pull and tug.
14:30There's contact between centre back and striker.
14:33I thought the initial tug come from Robbie Muirhead.
14:36And I must admit my angle's not clarified that.
14:38But my eyes did at the time.
14:39When I seen it live.
14:40I was kind of on this side.
14:42So we kind of feel harshly done by on that one.
14:45But also once you go down to ten men.
14:47I thought we were resolute.
14:49I thought we limited Livingston to a few chances.
14:52So you kind of believe at that point you're probably going to get through it.
14:55And win the game 2-1.
14:562-0 down.
14:57I thought the performance was okay.
14:59But the kind of architects were on downfall.
15:02Getting it half time.
15:03Speak about how we feel.
15:05This is going to get us back in the game.
15:07So we change the shape.
15:08We flip it to a 3-5-2.
15:10That gets us back in the game.
15:11Gets us a penalty kick.
15:12Gets a red card.
15:13And then the opportunities really open up.
15:15And the character that the players showed.
15:17To go and get the game back to 2-1.
15:20That's exactly what you're wanting as a manager.
15:22And that's what they gave me.
15:24A point apiece at Rugby Park.
15:27And look David Martindale, you are first on Sports Scene.
15:30So no more moaning about being the last one on the show.
15:33Mikey, your thoughts on the game.
15:35It was obviously a draw.
15:37Livingston fought back very well in that second half.
15:40A big moment in the game that we'll get to.
15:42Give us your thoughts overall.
15:43I'm sure David Martindale will start moaning when he realises
15:45that they were the only 3 o'clock kick-off.
15:47And that was why they weren't first on.
15:49Yeah, there only was two games today.
15:51But I'm sure he'll be first on again.
15:53I think he pretty much summed it up perfectly there.
15:56In terms of the first half, Livingston architects their own downfall.
16:00He said it.
16:01And it's spot on that so much of the play in terms of in their own half,
16:07breaking down turnovers, Kilmarnock able to latch onto it and capitalise on those mistakes.
16:12Whereas in the second half they were a lot better.
16:15They didn't take as many risks in that defensive third in particular.
16:19And they were able to get themselves higher up the park.
16:21And they reaped the benefits of that.
16:23They did. Kilmarnock pressed well in that opening half, especially.
16:27But at times Livingston were wide open as well.
16:29Yeah, they were.
16:30I mean look, if you're wanting to play an open and expansive game,
16:34you need to have everybody looking for the ball and look in there.
16:37They need players to support.
16:39Mo Silva's in the middle of the park there, but he's not really showing for it.
16:42As soon as that ball goes to Montgomery, he has to have options.
16:46And he needs to understand where he needs to go and where he needs to play.
16:49This one's thumped up the park, but the two centre-halves are still on the edge of the six-yard box
16:53when the ball's played.
16:54The midfield are fully stretched.
16:56So when the ball's turned over, there's so many gaping holes in the Livingston team
17:00for Kilmarnock to go and expose.
17:02And it just felt like they were constantly causing their own problems.
17:06Here's another one.
17:07They've got to be stronger.
17:08They've got to do better.
17:09But you have to credit Kilmarnock because the pressure's very good on the ball.
17:12Yes, it is.
17:14Absolutely.
17:15I mean look, it's clearly something that Stuart Kettlewell had recognised
17:18because Livingston last season as well in the Championship,
17:22they did play a lot more open and expansive football.
17:25They've tried to continue doing that and I don't think that they should abandon it.
17:29They just have to be smarter and they need to be better at it and take greater care.
17:34When that ball's in the middle of the park for example and Pittman's losing it,
17:37he has to be stronger.
17:38He's got to take control and take care of it.
17:40But the other big thing that we also highlighted there is they need to make sure
17:43that everybody's actually offering.
17:45You can't have players simply standing next to an opposition player and saying,
17:49well I can't get the ball.
17:50If you want to play, you need to look for the ball.
17:52Good advice.
17:53New signings Daniels and then David Watson, they put Kelly 2-0 up at half-time.
17:58Has that kind of theme continued from Livingston?
18:01Yes, very much so.
18:04I mean you just need to look at where the goals are coming from.
18:08It's mistakes that they're latching onto.
18:10I think it was a really good play here from Polworth.
18:12Lovely ball in behind.
18:14Takes a slight nick here.
18:15I do wonder whether the goalkeeper Prior would have been able to save this or not.
18:19It was obviously looked at for a possible offside.
18:23Very, very tight but the right calls made in the end.
18:26In behind, good strike on goals from Daniels and he gets off the mark for his side.
18:32But you can see there again, Polworth on a number of occasions
18:35clattering into tackles, winning turnovers.
18:37You look at Hanfield, the front two.
18:38Yes, they do.
18:39They do.
18:40And they're physical.
18:42They've got a fair bit of running power as well.
18:45But as I've already mentioned here, Montgomery in particular
18:48has had a bit of a tough first half.
18:50Needs to do better.
18:51You can see here getting dragged into the wrong position.
18:53Hesitant.
18:54Doesn't know whether to go or sit and drop off.
18:56And the goalkeeper, obviously, it's a calamity really.
19:00When that ball's coming in there.
19:02Or sorry, when it's dropping here.
19:04Montgomery, drop off.
19:05Don't go and commit.
19:06You're just emptying the space.
19:08And when this comes in here, Prior, that is just a nothing ball
19:12that simply needs to be gathered or dealt with a lot better than that.
19:16What you need to do, though, is give a lot of credit to young Watson
19:18because he was on the halfway line when the ball went over his head
19:21before the initial flick on.
19:22He's the one that busts himself to make it into the box.
19:25And that's what he's all about, these long box-to-box runs.
19:27And he's the one that's opportunistic to put it away.
19:30And you see when, obviously, the ball breaks there,
19:32there's still a few of the Livy defenders around,
19:34but Watson's the one that gets onto it first.
19:36So, yeah, I think that he's shown that already in his short career
19:40that he's got great legs.
19:41If he can add that end product to it a bit more often,
19:44then, you know, he's got a very bright future.
19:46Let's look at the moment that changed the game, really.
19:49Sending off, penalty kick, opinions on both?
19:53Well, I've got to say, before this, Livingston were a lot better.
19:56Yes, obviously, it's a huge turning point in the game,
19:58but second half, Livy were a lot better.
20:01Look, as soon as it goes to VAR,
20:03you just know that they're going to give a penalty kick.
20:05But I felt when you watched it in real time
20:07as the game was playing out,
20:09that just looks to me like Stenger
20:11has been filled initially by Muirhead here.
20:14If he doesn't put his arms on the defender,
20:16he doesn't, you know, stumble and fall out the way
20:19and pull his jersey.
20:20And there's no question that he's pulled his jersey.
20:22And if you're given a penalty kick,
20:24then obviously he needs to be sent off
20:25because he's not challenging for the ball.
20:27But I just felt when watching that game in real time,
20:30it felt like you could see that the defender
20:32had been filled as well.
20:33Do you think the defenders get in there before Muirhead
20:35if there isn't that kind of pull around his neck?
20:38I think it's self-evident, really.
20:39And I just felt that it was slightly harsh,
20:41although I can understand,
20:42if you're looking at it from Livy's perspective,
20:44you're feeling like, well,
20:45he's clearly had his jersey pulled.
20:47Livy eventually got the equaliser late on,
20:49and you can't say it wasn't deserved in the end.
20:51The second half performance,
20:52very different to the first,
20:53and they really pushed and showed a lot of character.
20:55They did, they really did.
20:57The likes of Smith came on and did really well,
20:59showing a lot of intent and a bit of penetration in the wide areas.
21:03And as I've already mentioned,
21:05they just managed to get a foothold
21:07and get themselves further up the park
21:08where they were able to continue to play better football,
21:11but it was playing it in better areas.
21:14And then, you know,
21:15they started to really threaten the goal.
21:17Strike checking goals for Killy was really getting called into action.
21:21This was a fair scrappy one.
21:23And there was a couple of Stramash's second.
21:24Yeah, that ends up in the goalkeeper's arms.
21:27But the second goal, I think,
21:29just typifies what was better about Livingston.
21:32Moving the ball quicker, getting into these wide areas 1v1.
21:36Smith did really, really well here.
21:38Far's into a dangerous area,
21:39and it's a really smart finish from Scott Pittman,
21:41who, you know, in the same vein as what you're talking about with Watson.
21:45He's, you know, done this a lot over his career.
21:48Getting into the box, timing those runs well
21:50and coming up with a really important goal for Livy.
21:53Yeah, it was actually a really good cut back and the finish is excellent as well.
21:57Of the two teams that you've seen today,
21:58who would you fancy to finish higher up the league this season?
22:02I mean, obviously it's a tough one at the start of the season,
22:05but from, you know, I've seen a wee bit of both sides already.
22:08And I think, you know, Livingston have done a lot of good work.
22:11I think they put good foundations in last year in the championship.
22:14And I would think that Livingston should have a fairly successful season this year.
22:19OK, sorry, Motherwell took on Rangers in the late kickoff this afternoon.
22:26Two new managers in the dugout.
22:28Who would come out on top at Fir Park?
22:34A new dawn for both these clubs,
22:36each hoping for improved seasons this time around
22:39and clearly aiming to get off to the best possible start in the Premiership.
22:44Jens Bertolasco led Motherwell through a successful League Cup group campaign
22:50and he names the same side as the one that beat Morten last time out.
22:54That means league debuts for summer signings Emmanuel Longolo, Elijah Just,
22:59Elliott Watt and Lucas Faddinger.
23:03Almost the same story for Russell Martin after navigating the second round of Champions League qualifying.
23:09However, JD Gassama, the hero over the two legs, makes his first start in place of Finlay Curtis.
23:18Gassama, on his first start, will be looking to continue the form that has already made him a real hero among the Rangers fans.
23:26Tawanda Maswanese already has four goals in that League Cup campaign.
23:33The two managers know each other well playing together at Norwich,
23:38but who will come up trumps as they face off for the first time today?
23:42Kassama has a little bit of trickery.
23:57The fans crying for a handball there, if he didn't see it.
24:13Rangers can come forward through, Jiri Gassama,
24:17picks a tumble and wins a free kick in a decent area.
24:21This clip there by Maswanese.
24:29James Tavernier wasn't at his prolific best last season.
24:35He's gone for goal here, and Ward forced into a decent save.
24:40Certainly on target, but Ward's got a cross well to push it behind.
24:46Dean Wondee closed down.
25:01I think he was pulled.
25:08It's risky from Rangers, but it comes off.
25:11It allows Tavernier to advance.
25:14Now it's Raskan.
25:16Gassama ahead of him.
25:18Goes into the middle there.
25:19It's Gassama, and he's not too far away.
25:21Looking for three and three.
25:27It's good play from Rangers.
25:29Danilo just laid it into the path of Gassama.
25:31Only a yard or so wide.
25:33Need flick from Gassama for Raskan.
25:38Looking to free himself down that left flank,
25:43but he can only put it into the gloves of Callum Ward.
25:53The Rangers have won it back.
25:55Here's Danilo.
25:56He's going to try his luck.
25:58Oh, so close from the Brazilian.
26:01He hasn't scored in his last 17 games back in the 2nd of January.
26:10And he was only inches away from ending that streak.
26:14And what about taking a chance at the back,
26:21and they're playing themselves into trouble.
26:27Can Rangers punish them for that?
26:29Most of the Rangers' corner kicks are being aimed at the back post in their game so far.
26:42So to that one, it's one and it's in.
26:44And it's the captain, James Tavernier, who rises at the back post to nod down.
26:50And Ward are able to keep it out.
26:53And Rangers have the first goal of the Premiership season under Russell Martin.
26:59And James Tavernier, who so often has come up trumps for the club, does so once more.
27:07It's a good delivery.
27:12It's a good delivery.
27:14And Tavernier wins it pretty cleanly.
27:16Having lost his man, virtually unchallenged.
27:21And it's the ideal start to Premiership life for Rangers under Russell Martin.
27:33Thanks to James Tavernier, and his 131st goal for the club.
27:39It's a good play from Motherwell.
27:54This is Katrumbis.
27:59I'm sure he was trying to pick out the Tavernier's clearance wasn't good.
28:02Here's Longolo with an opportunity.
28:04And Batlin spilled it, and he's saved from Stamatolopoulos.
28:08And it will come again.
28:13And this time, Butland gratefully dives on it,
28:17but he got away with one there, atoned for his own error.
28:20Longolo's strike shouldn't really have troubled him.
28:23Stamatolopoulos couldn't get the better of him, though.
28:26Against Bertolasco, the first Dane to manage in the top flight
28:30since Evescovdal of Aberdeen.
28:33I imagine we'll see Cyril Dessers at some point.
28:42His future's still a little bit unclear.
28:43Danilo has been given the nod thus far.
28:46Lovely play from Kieran Dowell.
28:50Picks out Gassama at the back pose, the header was on target.
28:53Spectacular save in the end from Callum Ward.
28:58Although the header has no real test for him.
29:01It's good play again by Dowell justifying his inclusion.
29:04He'd be reasonably satisfied, you imagine, but far from relaxed.
29:11It's happening here, a poor pass, and not a great challenge either.
29:25And he's been penalised, feels he took the ball.
29:28He came through Callum Slattery to do so.
29:31Trying to make up for his own mistake.
29:34Rangers benefited from a defensive mistake to score the opener.
29:43Can Motherwell put the boot on the other foot?
29:47Slattery's delivery is a good one!
29:51And that is a chance for Just at the back post.
29:56Whipped in beautifully by Slattery.
30:00He's really got to do better, albeit it's a narrow angle.
30:04His side are far from out of this game.
30:07They've given as good as they've got.
30:09They do trail by a goal to nil.
30:12Can't find a team-mate.
30:15It was Just.
30:17Longolo.
30:19Not a bad ball, Mazwanisi brings it under control.
30:23Does well, can he get the shot off?
30:26Couldn't find a team-mate.
30:28Rangers clear.
30:34And it will come again, though.
30:35McGinn looking to latch on to that.
30:37McGinn's done well, it's McGinn!
30:39Saved from Butler and cleared by Suter.
30:42Desperate defending, though, for Rangers.
30:49His terrific play from Motherwell.
30:52And Paulham again, so unfortunate here not to find the bottom corner.
30:56Good save from Butler.
30:58And a really good clearance from Suter to prevent Stamatolopoulos.
31:03Slotting in the rebound.
31:05That's what he said.
31:06That's going to come to the edge of the area for Just.
31:08And he just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet to get a meaningful shot away.
31:10And Motherwell offering a threat.
31:11And Kiwi off target, though.
31:12Dowell finds Rodwell.
31:13Here's Dessers.
31:14Dispossessed.
31:15But giving away, it's Cameron picking up.
31:18Rodwell finds Rodwell.
31:19And it's going to come to the edge of the area for Just.
31:21And he just couldn't get the ball out from under his feet to get a meaningful shot away.
31:27And Motherwell offering a threat.
31:30And Kiwi off target, though.
31:32Dowell finds Rodwell.
31:35Here's Dessers.
31:37Dispossessed.
31:38But giving away, it's Cameron picking up.
31:43Rodwell now for Raskan.
31:48It's going to be another Rangers corner.
31:56It's Rodwell.
31:57It's another deep one.
31:59It's Tavernier that knocks it down.
32:01It's Lyle Cameron.
32:02Straight to the keeper.
32:04Just seemed to come off his shin.
32:07As he hit it.
32:08Straight down the throat of the keeper.
32:18Longolo.
32:20He's going to get that back.
32:21He's kicked it in.
32:22He's away from Dowell.
32:23Longolo now.
32:24Can't find a teammate.
32:26Still the danger not cleared, though.
32:28Has just sent it back.
32:29It's a lovely ball.
32:30Stamatilopoulos.
32:31Over the top.
32:33From just two or three yards out.
32:35He's had a number of chances.
32:38The Australian.
32:39This one's set up by the New Zealander Just.
32:43But he just couldn't climb high enough to direct it on target.
32:52The side have given a good account of themselves.
32:54Just let themselves down in the final third.
32:57There's still time.
32:58Five minutes of the 90.
32:59That's on Martin's side.
33:00By no means comfortable yet.
33:01The side.
33:02Longolo.
33:03It's nice to get through too.
33:04Now then.
33:05Is there an end product this time?
33:06Not from him.
33:07Claims for offside.
33:08It's here.
33:09An equaliser.
33:10And it's Longolo who blasts on.
33:11And at last, Mullen will have the rewards.
33:13The B-1.
33:14The B-1.
33:15The B-1.
33:16The B-1.
33:17The B-1.
33:18The B-1.
33:19The B-1.
33:20The B-1.
33:21The B-1.
33:22It's not a place to go.
33:23It's nice to get through too.
33:24Now then.
33:25Is there an end product this time?
33:28Not from him.
33:29Claims for offside.
33:30It's here!
33:31An equaliser!
33:32And it's Longolo who blasts on.
33:36And at last, Mullen will have the rewards.
33:39They've been knocking on that door.
33:41All second half.
33:44And at low last with just three and a half minutes to go.
33:48It is a...
33:51Cracking finish from Emmanuel Longuelo, his second mother will go, denied in the first instance, there's no offside there, and the score should stand, Rangers claiming it was an offside, doesn't look that way.
34:12And Emmanuel Longuelo popping up with what could be an absolutely priceless goal, no chance for Butland here as it's skipped off the turf and into the bottom corner, another good value for that equaliser.
34:29Byrami, gets it back, it's Nadim, Byrami, brilliant defending in there.
34:49This looked like it would be the winner, and it's Khashrumbis who go back to prevent it.
34:59Byrami, gets it back from Daryl, it's a good chaplains though, it's Longuelo.
35:08And Motherwell have got a chance here with Tom Sparrow, can he win it for Motherwell, Butland goes down, and Rangers survive.
35:18That was the chance to win it for Sparrow, and Jack Butland got down to deny him.
35:26Aarons gets to the byline, there will be no time for the corner though, because now it's all over, the punch shared.
35:35Jens Bertolasco and Russell Martinside could not be separated.
35:42Plenty of work for Rangers to do, they are far from the finished article if they want to be challenging for the league this season.
35:50The smiles are all on Motherwell faces as it finishes at Fair Park.
35:56Motherwell won, Rangers won.
35:58We were lucky with what we got, I think Motherwell were really good.
36:03The thing I can't accept is, whatever the tactics, like we got out-fought, I thought, and they were braver than us to play.
36:10In certain moments, we choose, at the minute we pick and choose when we want to play football properly,
36:15and when we want to run really hard, when it's going well, and then when the game's not going well,
36:19we have too many players that want to do their own thing and slip into self-preservation.
36:23This is not me blaming the players at all, but I think it's a problem the club has had over the last few years.
36:29When it's going well, it's fine, and when it's not, there's a problem, it's not together enough on the pitch.
36:34So we have to work out quickly who really wants to dig in and fight and do what we're asking them to do.
36:40So when they play in the way that we train and we want them to, then it's all on me if it goes wrong.
36:47When guys want to make stuff up and pick and choose when to run, I said when I first came in,
36:52there's never a choice here, you don't have a choice, you have to run always.
36:55And we didn't run enough, we didn't fight enough, we weren't brave enough, and thankfully we got a point.
37:01Obviously the second half, we came out the way we wanted, we tried to be even more dominant,
37:06we tried to be even more brave and take full advantage of the moments that we knew were going to come,
37:13that we also had in the first half, we weren't sharp enough, and then we were able to gear up
37:19and to put pressure on Rangers throughout the whole second half, which I was quite impressed with that.
37:26And with a little bit more sharpness and effectiveness, we could have taken all three points.
37:31Definitely not the start that Russell Martin was looking for, but massive credit to Motherwell.
37:37They were absolutely outstanding, especially in that second half, Mikey.
37:41It was Rangers that took the lead in the game through a very cheap corner kick concession.
37:46Yeah, I mean, look, well, it's obviously an aspect in the game that Motherwell want to do, they want to be playing right from the back.
37:55Even still, that moment there, Paul McGinn knows he should be, you know, comfortably not having putting that out for a corner kick.
38:03But then you've still got to defend it properly. Tavernier gets a free run, nobody really picking him up.
38:09And then the goalkeeper Ward's got to do better as well.
38:11It's just a really, really poor goal all round for Motherwell, you know, inside the first 15 minutes to go 1-0 down.
38:19And there was aspects of the first half that obviously Jens Bertoloski was talking about that needed to be better defensively and offensively in possession.
38:28That were just leading to, you know, too many turnovers, giving Rangers too much possession higher up the park and too many opportunities that they didn't really have to work for.
38:39Yeah, let's take a look at some of those examples. I mean, that is something that we're going to do all season long.
38:45Sometimes it will be right, they'll get out, other times they won't.
38:48So it's concentration, you know, for example, there, the goalkeeper, there's no need for him to be popping that ball in the middle of the park when he's not under pressure.
38:55He's actually playing that into a player who's under greater pressure and recognising where they need to be playing.
39:00So when this ball comes back out to McGinn, he has to open up, he has to be braver and go forward because the space is actually there by playing.
39:09But when you're playing backward, it's inviting more pressure. And the key when you're playing like this is that those forward passes to penetrate because it breaks through the press and all of a sudden there's greater space for you to attack and to break forward and continue the momentum in the attack.
39:24And that happened right throughout, you know, the game from probably about half an hour on where Motherwell continually got that penetration in their game.
39:33You can see here again, they win the turnover, pop into the midfield and this midfield three, absolutely brilliant.
39:39Firing it through into Slattery's feet, then he can turn and he can break on the Rangers defence.
39:45And I mean, seriously, I think we could have shown about, you know, 10 instances like that, particularly in the second half where Motherwell were absolutely spot on.
39:53Very, very adventurous. And honestly, I really do like the cut of his jib, you know, the manager, because the style of his play, you want to see guys like that and teams like that being rewarded.
40:02And they deserved at least a point. In fact, well, let's be honest, they deserve three points. Motherwell were by far the better team today.
40:08And it was good to see them eventually getting that just reward with the goal.
40:12Yeah, let's look at some of the examples of when it did go right for them.
40:16But the one thing that probably they were missing today is just that cutting edge.
40:20They had the opportunities today, loads of them, in fact, but just couldn't quite get it over the line.
40:24Well, that's the centre half here, Paul McGinn breaking forward.
40:27And, you know, it's a wonderful clearance there from Souter, you know, alert, understanding the need to get into defensive position.
40:35Not so great here. But again, just the wrong choices in here.
40:39Matt Swanese, he has two players on the outside. He has to release them.
40:42Longolo here playing the one-two. Kieran Dowell, not good enough.
40:46You talk about, you know, having desire to run. That's not showing it.
40:50And, you know, Motherwell continually pressed right throughout the second half.
40:54Guilt-edged opportunities, you know, continually being created, but being passed up.
41:00And you just felt, is it going to be one of those days where they weren't going to be able to find the back of the net
41:05and they'd be coming away, you know, positive about the performance, but extremely disappointed with not having got anything out of the game?
41:12Well, they eventually did get something out of the game. They got a point out of the game.
41:15Emmanuel Longillo. Again, brilliant play from him. A wee bit easy to be.
41:21He manages to cut inside all those Rangers players.
41:24Too easy. Yeah, too easy. But again, this time he's able to finish it and they did deserve this.
41:29This is the minimum they deserve from the game.
41:30Absolutely. Far too easy. Up against two players, I think Dowell and Tavernier, driving into the box.
41:36So many Rangers players back, but, you know, a lot of them, and I think this sort of strikes at the heart of a lot of, you know, Rangers issues,
41:43are that there's too many players that just ball watch. They don't actually partake in the game.
41:48You know, too many of them that, I think, as the manager said, self-preservation.
41:53You know, I was talking about this from Livingston's perspective.
41:55When you're on the ball and you want to play that open, expansive style,
41:58you've got to have everybody looking for the ball.
42:01It's the same when you're out of position. You've got to have everybody understanding where they are.
42:04They're all active. And there's too many players in the Rangers' side that don't do that.
42:08And it's the character as well. You know, you look at the back end of last season.
42:11Barry Fergus and his coaching staff, every week they went on about the mentality.
42:15But if you don't sign the right players with that intensity, then you're never going to get that style of performance.
42:21And they don't, you know, you look at the players they've brought in so far.
42:24I'm not convinced they've got that intensity in their game.
42:26Yeah, I mean, especially, you were talking today about Max Aarons.
42:29Left-back, you're not entirely convinced by him in that position. It's not his natural position.
42:34No, but, well, this comes to the bigger picture about what are you trying to do with the team.
42:38They had a fee and a deal in place to sign Vatilav Cerny.
42:42Now, I appreciate that the management team structure wasn't in place.
42:45But somebody in that club's got to recognise this is as good a guy as we are going to get.
42:49He's already in the building. Do the deal. Sign him.
42:52Instead, you're left with Kieran Dowell playing wide right.
42:55I mean, that's just not going to, you know...
42:57I mean, you're only one game into the season.
42:59But undoubtedly, looking at the evidence of today's performance, it's going to have to improve for Russell Martin.
43:05They're going to have to be signing at least four starting eleven players for them to be competitive.
43:11And you're not convinced that what they've done so far is going to get them to that stage.
43:16But I suppose signing their Mikey Moore has to excite the supporters.
43:19Yes, it does. Absolutely.
43:20It comes with absolutely massive potential.
43:22It is near the park that Rangers have been looking to sign players of good quality for a number of seasons.
43:28Yeah, but he's a 17-year-old. As I go back to my point, you had Václav Czerny, 25, 26-year-old, already in the rhythm and the system.
43:37Instead, you've got a 17-year-old that you're giving him as a low knee and hanging a lot on his shoulders.
43:43OK, well, there is plenty coming up for you to enjoy over the next week or so, as ever, across the BBC.
43:49Starting with the sports team Premiership highlights tomorrow evening.
43:53Then the SPFL Scottish Football Roundup, that's on Monday online.
43:57Premiership highlights again on Monday, this time at 10 past 11.
44:01That's the final game of this weekend's action, Hearts against Aberdeen.
44:05And we have got live coverage of Rapid Vienna against Dundee United.
44:10That is on Thursday at 7.45.
44:13And that is it for tonight. Thank you to Michael, thank you for joining us.
44:17One down, 37 to go. It's good to be back.
44:23See you next time.