AFTER the searing heat of Athens, Emmanuel Longelo caught Rangers cold at Fir Park.
James Tavernier had headed Russell Martin’s men into a first half lead.
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But Motherwell made them sweat in the second half – snatching the point Jens Berhel Askou’s side richly deserved with just three minutes to go.
Last season, Rangers dropped five points to Motherwell.
In the first game of the Martin era, they’ve already shipped two.
These games have been Gers’ downfall for too long and if the new Light Blues boss is to mount a serious title challenge then he must address the issue.
The Rangers squad landed back in Glasgow in the early hours of Thursday morning.
By Saturday tea-time it was time to get back to work.
Wednesday night in Athens would undoubtedly have taken a lot out of Martin’s men.
Greece’s Olympic Stadium was a blazing furnace, but Gers had kept their cool to progress to the third qualifying round – keeping their Champions League dream alive.
As punishing as the second leg had been, they had to go again at Fir Park.
Following defeat at Kilmarnock and a draw last season against Hearts, the Light Blues hadn’t won a league opener since 2022.
They knew the magnitude of what was at stake against Motherwell.
Both sides have revamped their squads over the course of a busy summer.
Both clubs had new managers in the dug-out too.
Jens Berthel Askou and Martin were teammates at Norwich City back in the day.
But both were desperate to get off the mark with their new clubs.
Martin made just one change from the team that started against Panathinaikos.
Goal hero Djeidi Gassama was handed his first start, with Findlay Curtis dropping to the bench.
Mickey Moore’s registration hadn’t cleared in time, meaning there was no place for Martin’s newest signing in Gers’ matchday squad.
Calum Ward was given the nod in goal for the Steelmen, with midfielder Lukas Fadinger handed his league debut.
There was still no sign of Lennon Miller, the Well star being linked with a big money move to Serie A.
Both teams were intent on playing out from the back.
Once or twice Rangers were almost caught, Motherwell were.
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With 14 minutes gone, Paul McGinn got into a terrible muddle trying to play his way out of defence, giving away a needless corner.
From it, Gers opened the scoring.
Joe Rothwell’s delivery was met by Tavernier who got his head to it, sending it beyond Ward.
It was such a cheap goal for the home side to lose so early on.
Tavernier had tested Ward earlier with a free-kick the Motherwell keeper had to beat away.
Gassama then went close in what proved to be the best move of the first half.
Nico Raskin made the break from midfield and his pass into Danilo was laid off into the path of the winger.
Gassama’s curling effort flashed inches past the post.
Callum Slattery was next to get caught in possession, with Raskin again feeding Danilo.
This time the Brazilian chose to go it alone, his effort clipping the top of the Motherwell cross bar.
Rangers continued to press after Tavernier had opened the scoring, but in defence they were also taking risks.
A loose ball was collected by Slattery who fed into the feet of Emmanuel Longelo.
He got his head up, forcing Jack Butland to make the save.
The Rangers keeper couldn’t hold it, however, with Apostolos Stamatelopoulos pouncing on the rebound.
Butland didn’t know much about it, but he got his body in front of the ball to finally clear the danger.
It was a let off for the visitors, who hadn’t really been tested in a first half littered with stray passes.
Neither side had really established control and you felt sure more chances would come in the second half – especially with both teams taking so many chances inside their own 18 yard box.
Kieran Dowell did well to create the first opening, but Ward was well positioned to make the save from Gassama.
When Tavernier gave away a free-kick in a dangerous area – caught trying to play out – Stamatelopoulos again went close for Well.
Moments later, Nasser Djiga got across superbly to deny the Aussie striker once more.
With 55 minutes on the clock, Motherwell came surging forward from the back.
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McGinn led the charge, playing a superb one-two with Slattery before forcing Butland into a brilliant one-handed save.
John Souttar got there just ahead of Stamatelopoulos, who was certain to tap home the rebound.
The home side had their tails up.
At the other, Gers sub Lyall Cameron – booked just seconds after coming on – forced Ward into a save.
Another sub, Connor Barron, blazed high over the bar after Gassama had picked him out in a good position just inside the Motherwell box.
Rangers had created next to nothing all second half and with ten minutes left, the home side still had a chance to salvage something from the game.
And with just three minutes left that’s exactly what they did.
With the Gers defence appealing for offside, Elijah Just chested the ball into the path of Longelo who drilled a low finish into the far corner.
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Given their superb second half showing, it was no more than Motherwell deserved.
Even then, Sparrow might have won it for the home side, but Butland got down to make a massive save.
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