Source: Team_Talk
Four-star Gers hit back to sink Well
Rangers staged an impressive comeback to claim a 4-1 win over Motherwell at Ibrox and move clear at the summit of the Scottish Premier League.[LNB] Nick Blackman gave the visitors the lead just before half-time but the champions hit back through Steven Naismith, Steven Davis, Kenny Miller and Vladimir Weiss in a blistering second-half spell.[LNB]The victory allowed Rangers to maintain their 100% record ahead of next week's Old Firm derby and also pile the pressure on Celtic ahead of their clash with Dundee United tomorrow.[LNB]Neil Alexander made his first SPL start of the season for Rangers, in place of the suspended Allan McGregor, who was controversially handed a retrospective ban following an incident against Aberdeen.[LNB]Walter Smith's men were also without the injured Lee McCulloch for the visit of high-flying Motherwell.[LNB]Rangers started well and could have taken an early lead when Naismith tried his luck from the edge of the area and his shot took a massive deflection that saw the effort fall just wide of the post.[LNB]Steven Whittaker was then not too far away with an angled drive that dipped just over the crossbar, as the Scottish champions continued to pile on the pressure.[LNB]Weiss also had a decent chance when he did well to hold off three Motherwell players before unleashing a shot from 20 yards that had just too much height on it.[LNB]At the other end, Blackman tried to give Motherwell the lead with a shot from distance that failed to trouble Alexander in the Rangers goal.[LNB]Darren Randolph was called into action for the visitors when he blocked from Whittaker at the near post before the Rangers full-back nodded over from the rebound.[LNB]Motherwell were looking dangerous in flashes and Alexander had to be alert to intercept a Chris Humphrey cross before John Sutton could connect in front of goal.[LNB]It was the visitors who took the lead a minute before the break when Steven Jennings delivered a cross from the left and Blackman nodded home in off the underside of the bar.[LNB]Rangers were back on level terms just two minutes after the restart. Kyle Lafferty slipped a pass through to Naismith, who managed to bundle over the line despite the best efforts of Randolph trying to smother at his feet.[LNB]Naismith could have claimed a second just moments later, when Weiss attempted to pick him out with a long ball but the goalkeeper raced off his line to block before he could shoot.[LNB]The home side took the lead with 63 minutes gone. Davis collected from Naismith before surging into the box and lashing high into the net, leaving Randolph with no chance.[LNB]The champions then claimed their third of the day a minute later, Naismith providing the delivery from the left and Miller directing a low header into the back of the net.[LNB]Motherwell were left reeling as the goals continued to come, this time Weiss raced on to a Lafferty pass and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home after 66 minutes.[LNB]With little hope of a comeback from Motherwell, Rangers were able to withdraw goalscorers Miller and Weiss and throw youngsters Rory Loy and Gregg Wylde into the action late on.[LNB]Wylde delivered a great ball into the box but there were no takers in the goalmouth to claim Rangers' fifth of the day and Mark Reynolds was able to clear the danger.[LNB]Another young player, Kyle Hutton, came off the bench as Rangers cruised to victory in the end, providing a boost ahead of the visit of Valencia in the Champions League.
