Formed: 1886
Nickname: The Steelmen
Stadium: Fir Park
Stadium Capacity: 13,677
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Major Honours: Scottish Football League (now Scottish Premiership) champions: 1931/32, Scottish Cup winners: 1951/52, 1990/91, Scottish League Cup winners: 1950/51
SEASON SO FAR
Motherwell’s 1-0 victory at Heart of Midlothian on 3 September 2023 saw the Fir Park club go level with Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership table after winning three and drawing one of their opening four league matches of the campaign.
Stuart Kettlewell’s side suffered four consecutive league defeats thereafter, including a 1-0 loss here at Ibrox on 24 September 2023.
After 26 Scottish Premiership matches, Motherwell were ninth in the table with 26 points. They had drawn more games than any other side in the division at that stage of the season, with 11 ties and five wins.
Their results last month included a 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock, a 5-0 thrashing of Ross County and a 3-3 draw at Aberdeen.
NEW ARRIVALS
Motherwell strengthened their squad in the winter transfer window, as they signed New Zealand international defender Callan Elliot and Edinburgh-born winger Sam Nicholson on free transfers.
They also brought a number of players to Fir Park on loan, with Adam Montgomery (Celtic), Andy Halliday (Hearts), Jack Vale (Blackburn Rovers) and Jili Buyabu (Sheffield United) set to spend the remainder of the campaign with the Steelmen.
Rangers’ Adam Devine – who made his Light Blues debut against Dundee United in May 2022 – has also joined Motherwell until the end of the season. Devine made eight senior competitive appearances for Rangers last season.
TOP SCORER
Theo Bair’s brace in the 3-3 draw at Aberdeen last month saw him become the first Motherwell player to reach 10 goals for the season. His previous efforts – all in the Scottish Premiership – included a brace in a 3-1 win over Livingston at Fir Park on 30 December 2023.
Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Bair has been capped by Canada between Under-20 and senior level. He scored three goals in 37 MLS appearances for Vancouver Whitecaps at the start of his career before joining St Johnstone in January 2022. The forward’s contract at McDiarmid Park was cancelled by mutual consent in July 2023, enabling the forward to join Motherwell on a free transfer.
PREVIOUS MEETING
Two goals in the opening 20 minutes of Rangers’ visit to Fir Park back on Christmas Eve secured a 2-0 victory for the Light Blues. The triumph made it seven wins on the spin for Philippe Clement’s side, with the Gers boss stretching his unbeaten run to 16 games since his appointment in October 2023.
Kieran Dowell put the visitors one-up on four minutes, as he fired a shot beyond the reach of Well goalkeeper Liam Kelly after a neat exchange of passing with Cyriel Dessers. Todd Cantwell made it two on 16 minutes as he ran onto a ball chested into his path by Abdallah Sima before sweeping a glorious finish into the bottom corner.
Don't forget to pick up your copy of the Motherwell programme for today's game where you can find out more about the Steelmen.
Every issue has the best exclusive interviews and in-depth features, read more about what you can find in the Motherwell issue below:
Dujon Sterling is the feature player in the matchday programme, speaking about how he hopes he can nail down a position in Philippe Clement's starting eleven, even though he is happy to play anywhere on the pitch if it helps in the pursuit of more silverware.
Welcome message and update from CEO James Bisgrove
Returning academy striker Zak Lovelace speaks about how he is looking to bounce back stronger after his cruel hamstring injury that he picked up on his first start for the club.
Philippe Clement's and Captain James Tavernier's programme notes
The full lowdown on Motherwell and matches between the clubs with Oppo Focus, Previous Meetings, Fast Facts and more.
Club historian David Mason has an indepth feature looking at the 1902 Ibrox Disaster from the eyes of a player.
There's an indepth interview by Rangers Youth Development Company with former Gers defender Maurice Ross, who has a fond memory form his career scoring against the Steelmen in the 2005 League Cup Final.
Dutch midfielder Tessel Middag speaks about wanting the Gers to return to winning ways against Hibernian on Sunday after back to back draws in the SWPL.
There's all our regular features like On This Day, the Half Time Quiz, Junior Gers results, fixtures, a check in with th Rangers Charity Foundation and more!
All this plus so much more can be found in 84-page issue, price just £4.
Programmes can be purchased pre-match at Ibrox Stadium from our sellers outside the stadium, at the bar in Edmiston House, within the Museum Store or at every kiosk inside the stadium, or online here.