Rangers 1-0 Motherwell: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Rangers 1-0 Motherwell in the Premiership on Saturday, 27 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Rangers edged out Motherwell with a 1-0 victory at home. The first half was cagey with neither side finding the net, though a VAR check on Rangers’ Nicolas Raskin at 47 minutes kept things tense without leading to any changes. Coming off a mixed run including a recent loss to Hearts but wins over Hibernian and Kilmarnock, Rangers looked to build momentum, and they did just that when Thelo Aasgaard broke the deadlock in the 67th minute with a well-taken goal.

Motherwell, who had been in decent form with a win over Dundee and draws in their last few, pushed hard but couldn’t convert their slight possession edge into chances. Substitutions around the 69th minute saw Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Stephen O’Donnell and Callum Slattery come on for Callum Hendry, John Koutroumbis and Elijah Just, aiming to spark a comeback, but Rangers held firm despite late yellow cards to Connor Barron, Thelo Aasgaard and John Souttar. The hosts made their own changes late on, with Bojan Miovski replacing Youssef Chermiti at 77 minutes and a triple switch at 87 minutes bringing on Lyall Cameron, John Souttar and Findlay Curtis for Thelo Aasgaard, Dujon Sterling and Djeidi Gassama, helping them see out the win.

Motherwell shaded possession with 54% compared to Rangers’ 46%, suggesting they controlled more of the ball, but Rangers made better use of their time on it, especially in creating corners where they led 4-1. Both sides were evenly matched in successful dribbles, with Rangers at 57 and Motherwell at 58, pointing to a game where individual skill often broke through, though discipline was an issue for Rangers who picked up three yellow cards to Motherwell’s one, with no reds or second yellows on either side.

Substitutions were maxed out by both teams at five each, with Rangers bringing on Mikey Moore for Mohamed Diomandé at 56 minutes to inject some energy, followed by later changes that helped secure the result, while Motherwell’s triple swap at 69 minutes tried to turn the tide but couldn’t find a breakthrough. No penalties, injury-time goals or assists were recorded, underlining a tight match decided by a single moment of quality rather than sustained dominance.

The game’s turning point came in the 67th minute when Thelo Aasgaard scored the only goal for Rangers, giving them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Earlier, a VAR review involving Nicolas Raskin just after the break added some drama but didn’t alter the scoreline, keeping the match finely balanced.

Rangers’ substitutions played a role in maintaining control, with Mikey Moore coming on for Mohamed Diomandé at 56 minutes and Bojan Miovski replacing Youssef Chermiti at 77 minutes, while a late triple change at 87 minutes saw Lyall Cameron, John Souttar and Findlay Curtis enter for Thelo Aasgaard, Dujon Sterling and Djeidi Gassama amid yellow cards for Connor Barron at 78 minutes, Thelo Aasgaard at 80 minutes and John Souttar at 90 minutes. Motherwell responded with their own changes, including a triple substitution at 69 minutes where Apostolos Stamatelopoulos replaced Callum Hendry, Stephen O’Donnell came on for John Koutroumbis and Callum Slattery took over from Elijah Just, plus later swaps like Detlef Esapa Osong for Tom Sparrow at 84 minutes and Oscar Priestman for Elliot Watt in stoppage time, but a yellow for Paul McGinn at 86 minutes summed up their frustrating afternoon.

Rangers set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, which allowed them to stay compact at the back while pushing forward through midfield partnerships like Connor Barron’s steady presence and Nicolas Raskin’s involvement before his VAR moment. Thelo Aasgaard stood out in the attacking third with his goal, supported by players like Mohamed Diomandé who started but was replaced by Mikey Moore, and late arrivals such as Bojan Miovski and John Souttar helped shore things up.

Motherwell lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on solid midfield work from the likes of Elliot Watt before his late substitution for Oscar Priestman, with Paul McGinn providing leadership at the back despite his yellow card. Changes brought energy through Apostolos Stamatelopoulos replacing Callum Hendry and Callum Slattery coming on for Elijah Just, aiming to link up with forwards like Detlef Esapa Osong who entered late for Tom Sparrow.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Thelo Aasgaard for his decisive contribution, netting the game’s only goal in the 67th minute while also delivering one key pass, even though he didn’t create any big chances or assists. His performance stood out in a tight encounter, and after starting the game, he was substituted off at 87 minutes for Lyall Cameron, but not before making his mark with that crucial strike.

Recent Premiership matches:

• Win: 1-0 vs Motherwell (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Hearts (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Hibernian (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Kilmarnock (A)
• Draw: 2-2 vs Dundee United (A)

Recent Premiership matches:

• Loss: 0-1 vs Rangers (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Dundee (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Dundee United (A)
• Win: 3-0 vs Livingston (H)
• Draw: 0-0 vs Falkirk (A)

Rangers have just secured a 1-0 win over Motherwell, keeping them in third place on 32 points after a run that includes a loss to Hearts but back-to-back home wins like this one and against Hibernian. They’ll look to climb closer to the top when they face St. Mirren next on 30 December 2025 at 19:45, with the visitors sitting ninth on 18 points, making it a chance for Rangers to pull further away from the mid-table pack and chase European spots.

Motherwell have just suffered a 1-0 defeat to Rangers, leaving them fourth on 30 points following a solid spell with wins over Dundee and Livingston but now two games without scoring after draws with Dundee United and Falkirk. They face a tough test next against Celtic on 30 December 2025 at 20:00, with the opponents in second on 38 points, so Motherwell will need to bounce back quickly to hold onto their position and avoid slipping down the table.

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