Rangers sabotage their own title hopes as Motherwell's Celtic loanee gives Hearts and parent club hope

On course to move to within three points of Premiership leaders Hearts against one of the country's toughest opponents, an early strike from Nicolas Raskin was cancelled out on 89 minutes by Stephen Welsh.

What will make the stalemate even more galling is that Rangers could not keep the door shut despite Motherwell playing the last part of the match with a man less following Lukas Fadinger's red card. They welcome the Jam Tarts to Ibrox on Sunday five points adrift.

Motherwell played the better football and fully merited a share of the spoils. The irony of their goalscorer - Welsh - should not be lost on this gripping battle for the league crown given he is on loan from Celtic, who themselves stayed in contention with a late goal to win 2-1 over Livingston. They are a point off Rangers in third; Motherwell are now seven points behind the champions in fourth.

The home fans gleefully serenaded their players at full time for such a never-say-die attitude. The packed Rangers end looked to the skies in disbelief. Who knows how damaging dropping points here will be in the long run.

The game started off with a bang and never let up. Motherwell had the first shot on four minutes but Rangers keeper Jack Butland - impressive throughout - made himself big and stopped Emmanuel Longelo's drive.

It was an important early intervention as two minutes later, Rangers took the lead with one of their prettiest goals of the season.

Rangers go from back to front

The ball was passed out from the back to Mohamed Diomande, who surged through the Motherwell press, eating up the ground in front of him. He timed his delivery perfectly through to Raskin and the little Belgian slotted the ball past Calum Ward.

Rangers fans wrongly chanted the name of Mikey Moore, as it was a goal befitting of a silky forward. The identity mattered little; Rangers had the lead.

Motherwell were the more offensive and proactive team for much of proceedings thereafter as Rangers went into ugly, gnarled mode. Under head coach Danny Rohl they have ground results out, time and time again. But not today.

Motherwell shuttled the ball around splendidly. Their movement was laudable. Chief goal threat Tawanda Maswanhise hit the post from a tight angle and Raskin headed off his own goalline.

Rangers did have a good chance on 35 minutes when the ball dropped kindly to Youssef Chermiti, but the Portuguese striker belted the effort straight at Ward from close range. He remains a expensive, frustrating No 9

Motherwell came out after the break with the same purpose and Butland was forced into action once more to deny Elijah Just, parrying his effort wide.

Rangers' centre-half pairing of John Souttar and Nasser Djiga were holding firm and their cause was aided on 77 minutes when Fadinger was sent off following a VAR review for a rash tackle on Moore. That should have cooked Motherwell's goose.

It didn't. With nothing to lose, they pushed for the leveller. Substitute Eythor Bjorgolfsson saw his close-range header batted away by Butland but they weren't to be denied. The Norwegian striker headed a deep cross back into the mix on 89 minutes and Welsh volleyed the ball home.

A punch-drunk Rangers could not respond. They must now lift themselves off the floor for the visit of the league leaders.