Motherwell 1-1 Rangers: Hosts off bottom as Premiership leaders held

1. Cole converts Watt cross for opener, Itten headers in at back post to level
2. Rangers restore 21-point lead over Celtic at summit
3. Motherwell take a point to get themselves off bottom spot
4. Hosts have not won a league match against Rangers since 2002

Cheerio

That's all for today folks. Rangers end the weekend 21 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

We're back on Wednesday as Celtic go to Livingston.

Thanks for your company and enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

Tune into Sportscene later

You can catch highlight's of the the action from Fir Park on BBC Scotland at 19:15.

Host Steven Thompson will be joined in the studio by Livingston captain Marvin Bartley and regular pundit Michael Stewart.

BBC Sport

'Rangers will want title wrapped up as soon as they can'

Neil McCann

Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

Teams that are full of desire and hunger want to get that title won as soon as possible, they don't amble over the line, that's now how champions work

What next?

Both of these teams are in league action next Saturday.

Rangers are at home to Ross County, while Motherwell go up to Aberdeen.

Gerrard rues slow start from Rangers

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard tells Sky Sports: "Over the course of the 90 minutes we probably deserved to win. The reality is, we can't come to a game at half-time when we are where we are.

"We didn't start the game in the right place. We were passive out of possession in too many key areas. We got into them at half-time and I had top make a sub to send a message as well.

"The disappointing thing is there was two sides of us today. You don't want to start a game late and you can't leave games early, especially with what we are playing for.

"That reaction has to come from the beginning of the game. But hopefully this will be a valuable point for us come the end of the season."

SNS

O'Donnell future 'up in the air'

Motherwell boss Graham Alexander was also asked about Declan Gallagher and Stephen O'Donnell, with the latter out of contract at the end of this month and Gallagher's deal up in the summer.

Both Scotland defenders were excellent today.

"I've had a chat with Stephen," says Alexander. "It's a bit up in the air. All I see when they boys cross the white line is they want to win a game for us. I haven't seen anything that suggests they don't want to be here, but it's January and things happen."

'Really, really tight'

Leanne Crichton

Scotland international on BBC Sportsound

It's really, really tight. It would be tough to call without technology. It would've been a huge call

'It looks offside to me'

Speaking to BBC Sportsound, Motherwell manager Graham Alexander says: "Games of football take you through all emotions. The one I'm stood here with now is pride. What you saw there was a group of boys together trying to win a game.

"But for a potential offside goal we would've won the game. At the time I couldn't see it, but I've seen a still and it looks offside to me. You hope it's seen but that's outwith our control.

"Its another point on our total. In two games we're unbeaten and we've led in both games, it's about trying to improve that next week going to Aberdeen. This game doesn't win us any points next week, we can't think it's going to be any easier."

SNS

Graham Alexander is proud of the Motherwell display

Alexander has offside gripe

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander is of the opinion that Cedric Itten was offside when he nodded in the equaliser.

We'll get more from the new Fir Park boss shortly.

One for the Sportscene team to chew over later...

SNS

Cedric Itten levels for Rangers on 73 minutes

'This could be a springboard for Motherwell'

Neil McCann

Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

Its a brilliant point for Graham Alexander. This could be a springboard. For long spells you thought the pressure would be too much, but it wasn't. It's a huge point for him

Rare slip as Rangers' run ends

Rangers' winning sequence in the league ends at 15 games as Steven Gerrard's side drop points for just the third time since August.

Motherwell join Hibs and Livingston in sharing the spoils with the leaders.

It was a great effort - Mugabi

Motherwell defender Bevis Mugabi tells Sky Sports: "It was a great effort from start to finish.

"We showed good determination to get the point at the end of the game.

"It's a nice boost. We just need to keep on going and build on this result."

SNS

Mugabi with goalscorer Devante Cole

One-way traffic in second half

Opta

The second-half stats show how dominant Rangers were after the interval

Motherwell dig in for a welcome point

Leanne Crichton

Scotland international

Aside from the equaliser, Motherwell dealt with everything. They retreated so much in the second half, but you need performances like that to go on and turn this season around

FULL-TIME Motherwell 1-1 Rangers

All square.

Rangers go 21 points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership as their winning streak ends at Fir Park.

Motherwell nudge off the bottom, overtaking local rivals Hamilton Accies on goal difference.

SNS

Motherwell spent almost all of the second half defending their penalty area

Neil McCann

Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

You expected that to hit the back of the net. It was real bit of quality from Defoe but Kelly's position was excellent

Lovely first touch and turn from Jermain Defoe as the Rangers veteran drills a shot through a forest of legs but it's straight at Liam Kelly.

There are a lot of tired legs in the home team as Stephen O'Donnell just shells the ball long into the Rangers half, not even trying to find a team-mate.

As four minutes of stoppage time is signalled, James Tavernier has a swipe from 20 yards but the shot whizzes wide of the mark.

'Going wide is best route for Rangers'

Neil McCann

Former Hearts & Rangers winger on BBC Sportsound

Rangers shouldn't have any second thoughts. Get the ball wide, get it in the box and keep asking questions of this Motherwell defence