MOTHERWELL captain Peter Hartley netted a dramatic equaliser against Rangers in the fourth minute of injury-time at Fir Park today - just days after sparking anger among supporters of the Ibrox club with his ill-advised pre-match comments.
The centre half bundled a Gael Bigirimana corner beyond Allan McGregor in the fourth minute of added-on time with what turned out to be the last kick of an exciting Ladbrokes Premiership game.
Hartley had issued a public apology on Thursday after he had stated it had been "fun" listening to former Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso "weeping" after his team mate Ryan Bowman had broken his nose in Betfred Cup semi-final at Hampden last year.
The large travelling support in the 9,545-strong crowd had booed the Englishman's name when it was read out by the stadium announcer before kick-off, but he was unaffected by the abuse he was singled out for.
His late effort ensured that Stephen Robinson's side picked up their first league point of the 2018/19 campaign after defeats to Hibernian away and Hamilton at home.
Steven Gerrard's team, meanwhile, fell four points behind early top flight leaders Hearts after slumping to their second draw in just three Premiership outings.
The result extended Gerrard’s unbeaten run as manager to 11 games, but the former Liverpool and England player will be deeply disappointed at how his side performed, particularly at set pieces.
There will have to be a significant improvement if they are to avoid defeat to Ufa in the second leg of the Europa League play-off in Russia on Thursday night and then Celtic at Parkhead in the league three days later.
The Fir Park turf was immaculate, but the heavy downpour which had started just before kick-off made, as Connor Goldson found to his cost after just three minutes, treacherous to play on.
The centre half fell as he attempted to clear a ball that Chris Cadden had shelled upfield from deep inside his own half and allowed Danny Johnson through on goal.
The striker did well to steady himself and dink the ball over the head of the advancing Allan McGregor, who had also slipped on the sodden turf, and into the gaping net.
The home team had their goalkeeper to thank for keeping them in front as the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser. Trevor Carson held headers from first Lafferty and then Nikola Katic
Carson couldn’t be faulted when Rangers did level in the 15th minute. Hartley headed a Borna Barisic cross out of Motherwell’s penalty box. But his clearance fell perfectly for Lafferty whose first-time volley was deflected beyond is fellow Northern Ireland internationalist off of Richard Tait.
However, Motherwell were back in front after three minutes after Carl McHugh headed a Gael Bigirimana free-kick into the top right corner of the Rangers net.
The first goal of the afternoon could be blamed on the conditions the match was played in, but the second was just down to poor defending.
No Rangers player attempted to meet Bigirimana’s delivery as it floated into their area or challenge McHugh.
Gerrard had started the game with Jon Flanagan on the right, Connor Goldson in the middle and Nikola Katic on the left of a three man defence in a 3-5-2 formation.
However, he moved Goldson to the right, Katic into the middle and Flanagan to the left after his side fell further behind and his side seemed more settled at the back as a result.
The Ibrox club got themselves back on level terms seven minutes before half-time when Lafferty nipped in front of marker Tom Aldred and nodded a James Tavernier cross from the right past Carson.
Rangers took the lead with a well-worked move just two minutes before half-time. Ryan Jack unleashed Barisic down the left and the Croat fed the ball inside to Ejaria.
Carson got a hand to the shot the Liverpool loanee fired out of his goal, but was unable to prevent it from spinning into his net.
Gerrard removed Andy Halliday and Barisic and put on Scott Arfield and Glenn Middleton respectively during the second-half.
His opposite number Stephen Robinson, meanwhile, put on Conor Sammon for scorer Johnson,Elliott Fraer for Allan Campbell and Bowman for Andy Rose.
Former Rangers captain Lee Wallace, who hasn't played since last September, came on for Ejaria in injury-time just before the Bigirimana corner that Hartley netted at.
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