Late Longelo leveller ruins Rangers' opening day
Rangers and Russell Martin looked set to start the 2025-2026 Scottish Premiership with a win, but Motherwell managed to rescue a late point as Emmanuel Longelo secured a late 1-1 draw for the hosts in the season opener.
James Tavernier headed Rangers in front after 14 minutes, but Longelo found the bottom corner three minutes from time at Fir Park as the points were shared.
Danilo and Djeidi Gassama put in solid displays as Martin looked close to securing a first-up win, with Jack Butland also making key saves at the other end.
Australian Apostolos Stamatelopoulos threatened for Motherwell, hitting the crossbar in the second half for the hosts, but Longelo managed to find the net after great composure from Elijah Just.
The hosts could have snatched a late win as substitute Tom Sparrow was fed through the middle, but his poked shot was well kept out by Butland in second-half stoppage-time.
Martin said he was "so proud" of his players after they beat Panathinaikos in the UEFA Champions League during the week, but was far from pleased with his side here, after it was booed off the pitch by the travelling fans.
Martin said: "I think we were lucky to get a point.
"We were nowhere near where we need to be. And I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that. They were braver than us. They were more aggressive than us.
"The thing I can't accept is, whatever the tactics are, we got outfought, and they were braver than us to play in certain moments.
"This is not me blaming the players at all; I think it's a problem the club has had over the last few years. When it's going well, it's fine, and when it's not, there's a problem. It's not together enough on the pitch.
"We had two men on the pitch today that want to do what they want to do. When you want to just jog around and do what you want to do, there's a big problem. So some of them have to drop their ego.
"I will look at us tactically and accept my responsibility in it. But today, it's a mentality problem. And we got more than what we deserved, actually."
Motherwell will travel to St. Mirren for its next league match while Rangers switches attention back to UEFA Champions League qualifying, hosting Viktoria Plzen on Wednesday (AEST).
