Ahhh . . .to be at Fir Park on a Saturday afternoon (well, before the kick off!). A good crowd was inside anticipating the game. Warm autumn sunshine flooded the ground, a 'Well team was almost at full strength and the appearance of the Claret AND Amber mascots! Bliss.
But to the game. We were lucky not to be a goal down after a minute when Amoruso missed an easy header from no distance. It became apparent that he was the main Rangers threat as he missed another couple of headers and had a well struck free kick saved.
The balance of play was fairly even when in fourteen minutes a Mols attempt going nowhere got a jammy deflection and looped over the stranded Goalie. One down.
Twaddle was unlucky not be awarded a free kick and at the same time have Tugay sent off after a last man challenge just outside the box. Apart from that Klos was forced to make a couple of saves before the half time whistle.
Billy made a change before the start of the second half with Elliott replacing Adams.
There was not a lot of goalmouth action until Goodman replaced Kemble and then Spencer came on for Twaddle with fifteen minutes to go. We were in all out attack mode and eventually produced our one clear cut chance. A cross to Goodman was headed back across the goal and Lee McCulloch headed the ball straight into the arms of Klos from six yards. He should have done better.
The crowd were pleased with the effort and level of pressing that the team produced and McMillan and Hammell probably stood out above the rest. We made few chances and it always seemed that Rangers would be more likely to get the second. But hard work in defence kept them out.
More worrying was the five hundred or so empty seats in the East stand. If we can't fill the home support cheap seats for an Old Firm match then we have problems.
Billy Davies thought we were unlucky not to take anything from the game. But as is now becoming a regular post match comment - "We'll start preparing for next week".
Team Goram, Ouiefio, Kemble(Goodman), Strong, Hammell, Twaddle(Spencer), Brannan, Leitch. McMillan, Adams(Elliott), McCulloch
Subs unused: Wood, , Woods
Motherwell 0 Rangers 1
Attendance 11275
23 September 2000