Motherwell 0 Rangers 1 LIVE as Kieran Dowell scores in style and Steelmen melt again

Dujon Sterling misplaces his pass to James Tavernier and Georgie Gent is almost onto it for Motherwell but the Rangers captain does well to recover and marshall his man out for a throw-in to Rangers deep in their own half.

The teams are ready to take to the Fir Park pitch as we get set for another Scottish Premiership battle.

Kick-off is just moments away.

Philippe Clement was speaking to the Sky Sports team ahead of this one and he was keen to emphasise the size of the challenge his team will face in today’s match. On the confidence provided by his own side’s winning run, the Belgian replied:

It’s better to have confidence, but if the result was not good the last game, then you always have the power to react also, so it’s game by game keeping our concentration.

On Motherwell’s bad run of form:

You can say bad run, yes that it’s [a] long time they didn’t win, but for example they get a point against Celtic and the other games against the Old Firm was a one-goal difference. So we know it’s going to be a hard game to break the wall and we need to watch out not to take transitions, not to take set-pieces. It’s a team that will wait for their moments, they have nothing to lose in games like this so it’s going to be a hard fight.

On Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling starting in midfield:

It’s [midfield] a very important position, but in the football I want to play all the positions are important.

You miss also the leadership of Lunny [John Lundstram] in the midfield and his coaching, so it’s a really interesting test for them. They did really well in the second half [against St Johnstone] of course with 10 men, now we need to confirm against 11.

There’s a real need for the thermals as the players take to the pitch to step up their prep with their pre-match warm-up ahead of this one.

Kick-off for this one is fast approaching and we’re at t-minus about 23 minutes to go.

It’s blowing a gale and absolutely teeming with rain for this festive fixture but here’s hoping the 22 players on the pitch can serve a winter warmer of a performance to heat things up.

Kieran Dowell was speaking to Rangers TV in the buildup to this early-afternoon kick-off and the former Norwich midfielder was happy to embrace the busy festive period his side are facing.

Yeah, another game they’re obviously coming thick and fast at the minute, so we’re buzzing. That’s what you want as footballers just a game every three or four days, so yeah we’re looking forward to it.

On the weather, Dowell quipped:

You don’t get many sunny days in Scotland do ya! So like you say, keep the ball on the grass and I think we’ll be sound.

Motherwell’s 14-game winless run speaks for itself, but drilling down a bit further it’s even more galling as the Steelmen have been ahead for only 24 minutes in this barren spell.

Football, though, has a habit of upsetting the odds when you least expect it so Motherwell fans will be clinging onto hope that they can pull off a shock this afternoon.

For Stuart Kettlewell, it’s an unchanged XI despite his Motherwell side enduring a 14-game winless run but the former Ross County boss will be hoping that some continuity will breed success after a battling draw at St. Mirren last time out.

Rangers have seen their squad ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and the majority of the team really picks itself this afternoon, but there is a freshness and pace to attack with McCausland and Sima off either flank and Cantwell operating in the No. 10 position.

Cyriel Dessers continues in the lone striker role after Kemar Roofe’s latest setback ruled him out of this one and the Nigerian international must seize the opportunity with Danilo also facing an extended period on the sidelines.

As expected, it’s Dujon Sterling who will partner Kieran Dowell in the midfield engine room after a couple of stellar cameos in his unnatural position against Betis and Aberdeen in the League Cup Final.

Three points and no additions to the laundry list of absentees would be the perfect Christmas Eve present for Philippe Clement.

The Rangers players have arrived and have getting a festive catch-up with one of their old pals, Scott Arfield, who is in town for some punditry duties with the MLS Playoffs having ended at the start of the month.

Motherwell have posted that the ticket office will be open right up until kick-off for this one, so if you’re in the area and fancy some festive fitba then the option is there.

Alternatively you can stick with us right here and we’ll bring you all the action and reaction.

With just eight days until the January transfer window opens, Philippe Clement and new director of football recruitment Nils Koppen will be working overtime to try and identify the targets required to help the Belgian manager put his own stamp on a squad he has so far done an admirable job in revitalising since the departure of Michael Beale.

Clement will have his own ideas as to who he wants to remain as part of his Ibrox revolution and who he will want to usher towards the exit door, but with the winter market always a tough nut to crack, it will be interesting to see how Rangers navigate the January transfer window.

It was actually Boxing Day in 2002 the last time Motherwell claimed a league victory over Rangers, with James McFadden netting the only goal of the game.

McFadden (seen here sporting his trademark red mohawk) was in the early knockings of his stellar career at that stage and, while it wasn’t the most spectacular goal of his career, it’s certainly up there with his most important as the Rangers defence failed to clear a long ball into the box leaving the attacker free to stab home past visiting goalie Stefan Klos after the ball had been diverted into his path.

What price another festive shock in this fixture this afternoon?

The home side have arrived as they look to cause a bit of a shock by claiming their first league win over the visitors today in just under 21 years.

David Dickinson will be the man in the middle for this one and he leads the on-field team of officials bolstered by assistants Jonathan Bell and Chris Rae, while Colin Steven is your fourth official this afternoon.

In the VAR Room, Greg Aitken is the man in charge of the monitors and he’ll be assisted by his AVAR Graeme Stewart.

We’re all hoping for a pre-Christmas cracker as Motherwell host Rangers in the final 90 minutes before Santa comes.

Both sides will be going all out to avoid having their own Nightmare before Christmas and while we are awaiting the official team lines, the Rangers midfield pretty much picks itself with FOUR centre mids ruled out of this one through injury.

Raskin, Jack, Lundstram and Cifuentes are all ruled out leaving Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling as the only options available to Philippe Clement as he attempts to cut the gap to Celtic back to two points.

It’s sure to be a good old fashioned battle and we’ll have all the build-up, match action and reaction LIVE right here.

Paul McGinn reckons he’s answered opposition fans’ prayers by donning a mask as he recovers from a smashed cheekbone.

But the Motherwell defender insists it’s his own punters’ wishes he’s focused on delivering over Christmas – as there’s no disguising Well’s need for points after a 14-game winless run.

It has become a meme at this point – but Bobby Madden has demanded more transparency over spot-kicks after a flashpoint involving Ross McCausland.

The injury problems are ramping up with Kemar Roofe and John Lundstram are definitely out of the game in ML1..

The Ibrox side are set to be down to the bare bones, so who will make the starting line-up?

Christmas is just around the corner – but the Scottish Premiership fixtures don’t stop!