Not every gift at this time of year has to set the pulse racing. There’s still a lot to be said for something which is unspectacular yet pleasing.
This was a strange affair for Danny Rohl to analyse. The optimist within him will see the hard-earned clean sheet which somehow ensures his side now has the best defensive record in the Premiership.
He will also take encouragement from the number of chances his team are now routinely creating. But with his front-line remaining so unconvincing, a lack of goals is an issue which is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
The main takeaway for Rangers’ head coach, however, was that his team are showing signs of knowing how to win matches when not at their best.
Rangers, truthfully, were poor in the first half. So devoid of composure or craft were they, in fact, that they got a verbal tongue lashing from one Ibrox icon over the public address system. More of that later.
Crucially, though, they had a goalkeeper in Jack Butland who simply would not be beaten. Four times he denied Motherwell when the net seemed set to bulge. It was quite the way for the Englishman to atone for a dire afternoon at Tynecastle.
Aasgaard keeps an eye on his strike before it crossed the line for the only goal of the game
The Norwegian midfielder celebrates in front of the home fans
Rohl also had an unlikely match winner in Thelo Aasgaard who netted during an improved second-half performance. The Norwegian has not had his critics to seek in his time at Ibrox, but he was the right man in the right place to score the only goal of a game which was entertaining despite the lack of goals.
Who knows how Rangers might reflect on Aasgaard’s contribution come May. Nine points behind Hearts, albeit with a game in hand, they’ve much work to do if they are to still be in contention come the home straight. But you don’t sense that anyone is going to run away with this.
At the midway point, the fact is that Rangers are still alive. That scenario didn’t seem likely a few weeks back.
This will have felt like one that got away for Motherwell. Jens Berthel Askou’s side could easily have been a couple of goals up at the break, but lost control of the contest and were unable to bounce back from the blow Aasgaard dealt them.
They felt they ought to have had a penalty when Lukas Fadinger went down under Manny Fernandez’s challenge. A lack of punch in front of goal was the true story of their day.
Motherwell controlled the early exchanges. They dominated the ball and pressed with intelligence. Fadinger just floated past four opponents. To his manager’s frustration, he dragged a weak shot beyond the far post.
Ibrox boss Danny Rohl speaks to Aasgaard after the full-time whistle
Rangers’ initial struggles were perfectly summed up by Aasgaard dropping a shoulder to take out two opponents then putting his pass straight out of play.
The ease with which Motherwell cut Rangers open was striking. Tom Sparrow rolled a perfectly weighted ball into Fadinger’s path. Butland’s outstretched leg prevented the visitors going ahead.
A deep low cross from Ibrahim Said found Callum Hendry in acres of space. Again, Butland responded by blocking the strike.
Rangers were determined to play out from the back. This played straight into Motherwell’s hands. Askou’s only complaint would have been the lack of a goal.
Rohl’s men finally gave themselves a shake. Djeidi Gassama fired a loose ball over the top. Connor Barron and Gassama forced Calum Ward into a fine double-save.
Aasgaard’s dancing feet fashioned another chance. He tamely poked his shot wide from the edge of the box.
Youssef Chermiti did well to ride three tackles. Emmanuel Longelo put his body in the way of his goal-bound strike.
Motherwell still looked the more likely side to score. Hendry’s brilliant backheel put Elijah Just clear. Butland’s reflexes again came to Rangers’ rescue.
Jack Butland had to make a number of saves to keep Rangers ahead, including this one from Hendry
Rangers finished the first half with Gassama finally beating his man and forcing Ward into a save at his near post. Fernandez planted a tame header straight into the keeper’s arms.
It said much that the highlight of the afternoon for the home fans as the teams re-emerged from the tunnel was the contribution of Derek Johnstone.
Brought to the sidelines to make the half-time draw, the former Rangers striker certainly didn’t attempt to sugarcoat his views of what he’d just seen.
‘I should be playing this afternoon,’ he said. ‘One thing about playing for this football club is that you have got to give absolutely everything. And I just don’t see that happening today.’
There was a response of sorts from Rohl’s side. Within two minutes, Raskin bundled home Gassama’s cross only for his celebrations to be cut short by an offside decision against Chermiti.
Mikey Moore came on for the ineffectual Mohamed Diomande. His first contribution was to twice make a hash of converting Gassama’s delivery.
Gassama has recent looked a shadow of a player who lit up Ibrox earlier in the season, but his contribution to the opener was a reminder of what he’s capable of.
Nico Raskin thought he had given Rangers the lead before a VAR intervention ruled an offside
An electrifying burst down the right took him away from two opponents. He darted inside and shot. Ward extended himself to prevent the ball flashing into the far corner but didn’t get it to safety.
Credit to Aasgaard who followed in and calmly stroked the rebound home. This time, there was no flag coming to Motherwell’s rescue.
Motherwell were adamant they should have had a penalty when Fernandez appeared to catch Fadinger with a hanging leg. Not so, in the view of referee David Dickinson.
Rangers never looked likely to go into the closing stages with a comfortable lead. Chermiti’s attempt to net the second by taking Gassama’s cross in his stride was simply awful. Jayden Meghoma at least worked Ward with a stinging strike.
With both Bojan Miovski and Lyall Cameron spurning late chances to settle the issue after coming off the bench, it proved to be another nervous ending for the home fans.
It wasn’t particularly good. It certainly wasn’t pretty. But on a day when Rangers simply had to win to take full advantage of Hearts’ defeat, Rohl’s men got the job done.
