- Rangers kick off the season split against Motherwell this Sunday
- It’s the first of a five game quest to secure the Premiership title
- Motherwell have threats that could spoil the title charge
Rangers return to Ibrox this Sunday to face Motherwell, with the Premiership title race on a knife-edge.
The Gers have been rampant, netting a staggering 14 goals in their last three outings.
Though Motherwell sits 15 points behind the top two, Jens Berthel Askou’s side has a knack for playing spoiler.
They have won at Ibrox in the past two seasons and feature some of the division’s top players.
If Rangers are to continue their quest to become league champions, they must neutralise these three specific threats on Sunday.
The Golden Boot leader: Tawanda Maswanhise
The biggest threat is undeniably Tawanda Maswanhise.
He isn’t just Motherwell’s main man; he is currently the Premiership’s top scorer with 17 goals this season.
Maswanhise isn’t just a clinical finisher; his elite pace and intelligent movement make him a constant threat on the transition.
The striker was recently included in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.
With 11 of his goals coming from fast breaks, he thrives in the space behind aggressive high lines, exactly the kind of space Rangers’ full-backs often leave exposed.
It’s no secret that Rangers need wins and goals to win the title, and that’s exactly what Maswanhise will feed off.
For a Rangers defence that has occasionally looked vulnerable to raw speed, nullifying Maswanhise is not just a priority; it’s a necessity.
The creative engine: Elijah Just
While Maswanhise finishes the chances, Elijah Just is the one carving them out.
The New Zealand international has been in scintillating form, becoming one of the league’s key playmakers.
He’s provided Motherwell with seven goals and seven assists in 27 Premiership starts this season.
Just is a creative hub who can play as a traditional winger or tuck inside to operate as a number 10.
His vision and delivery from wide areas are the primary supply line for Maswanhise.
If Rangers fail to restrict his space between the lines, Just has the pinpoint delivery to dismantle even the most disciplined back four.
Set pieces and clean sheets.
Under Askou, the Steelmen have become highly disciplined and dangerous on set plays.
With players like Elliot Watt (another PFA Team of the Year selection) delivering dead balls, Rangers’ vulnerability in the air could be exposed.
Rangers have averaged three goals per game in their last few outings, but they face Calum Ward, who has kept 17 clean sheets this season.
Ward is the best-performing goalkeeper in the league this season, keeping three more clean sheets than any other keeper.
If Rangers don’t score early, Motherwell have the defensive resilience and the shot-stopping form to frustrate Ibrox and nick a goal on the break.
Read Rangers analysis
A lot of people are focusing primarily on the challenge of Hearts and Celtic, but this weekend will be a tough test.
Motherwell have been one of the best-performing sides in the division, boasting five Team of the Year selections.
From back to front, they have players that will make it difficult to score goals and elite threats going forward.
Danny Rohl’s team needs to be firing on all cylinders in order to pick up three points on Sunday.
