Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Motherwell at Ibrox to record a third consecutive Scottish Premiership win. The match, reported by The Times, was settled by a goal from Naderi, though the home side were wasteful in front of goal and survived a late scare.
This result lifts Rangers to 4th in the Premiership table with 10 points from five games, a record of three wins, one draw and one loss. Their recent form reads WWWLD, and they have scored six goals while conceding four so far this season. The win also cuts the gap to league leaders Celtic to five points, keeping the early title race alive.
How did Rangers win the match?
The only goal of the game came as a gift for Rangers forward Naderi. Motherwell's defence presented him with a clear opportunity which he converted to give his side the lead. Rangers created further chances to extend their advantage but were guilty of poor finishing. The team's profligacy meant the single-goal margin was never comfortable.
Motherwell posed a threat, particularly after an injury to their captain, Shankland. Rangers avoided punishment for the incident which led to the Motherwell skipper being forced off. The visitors pressed for an equaliser but could not find a way past the Rangers defence, which held firm to preserve the clean sheet and the three points.
What is Rangers' current squad situation?
The victory was achieved while managing a significant injury list. Key striker Lawrence Shankland remains sidelined, alongside defenders Tuur Rommens and Youssef Chermiti, and midfielder José Cifuentes. Their absence tests the depth of the squad, a factor the manager must consider when planning for the busy festive schedule. Fans can check the latest availability on the club's injuries page.
Despite the absentees, the team has built momentum with this run of wins. The defence has been solid, conceding just four goals in five league outings. You can review the team's defensive and offensive statistics on our dedicated stats page.
What comes next for Rangers?
Attention now turns to the next fixture, an away trip to face Kilmarnock on December 26th. Kilmarnock currently sit 12th in the table, making it a match Rangers will be expected to win as they aim to close the gap at the top. The full upcoming schedule, including this Boxing Day clash, is available on our fixtures page.
Maintaining this winning form will be essential, especially with key players working their way back to fitness. The team's league position and points tally can be tracked in the live standings. Rangers face Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on the 26th of December.
