Rangers suffered a shocking 2-1 defeat to Motherwell at Ibrox on Saturday in what was one of the poorest performances of the season. From start to finish, the team looked completely out of sorts, lacking intensity, confidence, and basic defensive discipline. Barry Ferguson may have just taken over, but this display will have raised major concerns about the squad’s mentality and direction.
First-Half Horror Show
The first 45 minutes were nothing short of dreadful. Rangers struggled to put together any meaningful attacks, while Motherwell capitalised on some shambolic play. Cyriel Dessers’ touch was woeful, leading to him losing possession as Rangers attempted to counter, leaving gaps that Motherwell exploited with ease. The opener came after a mix-up between Tavernier and Butland, with the goalkeeper failing to deal with a routine cross, allowing Luke Armstrong to pounce and slot home.
James Tavernier, who continues to frustrate, was then at fault for Motherwell’s second goal just after the half-hour mark. His poor touch gifted possession to the visitors, who broke quickly, exposing Rangers’ disorganised backline before finishing clinically. Jefte was caught ball-watching, completely unaware of his man making a run in behind him, compounding an already disastrous defensive display.
A Team Afraid to Play
There have been some bad days at Ibrox in recent years, but this was up there with the worst. You have to go pretty far back to find the last time Rangers last lost 3 games in a row at Ibrox. The players looked scared to make decisions, hesitant in possession, and unwilling to take responsibility. There was no urgency, no aggression, and no leadership on the pitch. The second half saw some minor improvement, but it was far too little, far too late.
The lack of belief was glaring. Rangers have struggled in big moments this season, but this was different – it felt like the weight of the jersey was too much for some. When the team needed players to stand up, they went missing. Barry Ferguson spoke post-match about needing to instil confidence in the squad, but that process has to happen fast with huge games on the horizon.
Questionable Decisions from the Boss
Ferguson’s early days as Rangers manager were never going to be easy, but already his decision-making is coming under scrutiny. The most baffling call of the night was substituting off Hamza Igamane – one of the few players who is likely to make something happen – and replacing him with Tom Lawrence. Lawrence is out of contract in the summer, raising serious questions about why he’s being trusted in a situation that required trust in younger talent and long-term thinking.
Ferguson is dealing with a squad built by his predecessor, and no one expects miracles overnight, but if he wants to impose a new identity, he needs to make bold choices that send a message. That didn’t happen on Saturday.
Big Games Ahead – No Time for Self-Pity
There is no time to dwell on this disaster. Rangers have huge fixtures coming up, including a crunch Europa League clash against Fenerbahçe and a massive Old Firm showdown with Celtic. Performances like this will get them torn apart in both games.
The players need to wake up and find some fight. Ibrox will demand a reaction, and if they don’t deliver, there will be serious questions about whether some of them belong at the club long-term.
This was a wake-up call. But will Rangers listen?