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BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Motherwell 1-1 Rangers
Rangers dropped points of the opening day for the third Scottish Premiership season in a row after Motherwell scored a late equaliser to deny Russell Martin a winning league Longelo's low strike with three minutes left was just reward for an inspired second-half display by Jens Berthel Askou's new Tavernier's early opener for Rangers came at the expense of an error by home captain Paul McGinn, who needlessly conceded a corner which was nodded low past Calum Ward by the Ibrox a game littered with cheap concession of possession and some careless risk-taking, momentum shifted considerably after the break, with Rangers looking increasingly leggy after their midweek exertions against Just somehow contrived to divert a header off target after a pacy delivery from Callum Slattery, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos almost broke clear, and McGinn nearly atoned for his earlier mistake, but was denied by Jack then nodded just over after an excellent stand-up to the back post from Just. Close but not close enough. The reward came in dramatic fashion, though, when Just chested the ball into Longelo's path and he smashed the ball low past Butland.A point, in truth, was the least Motherwell deserved with substitute Tom Sparrow close to a sensational winner deep into injury time. What was the main talking point? The shift in momentum after half-time. Whether that was down to Rangers tiring after their midweek exertions or an impressive Motherwell display is unclear. But in the second half the home side were completely on top and fully merited taking something. Equally, Rangers just couldn't get a grip of the game, which will be a concern to supporters and Russell Rangers seized on opportunities to attack after Motherwell lost possession in dangerous areas and were rewarded with the opening question at that stage for Motherwell was whether they have the players to execute this style against this quality of opposition? Especially without coveted teenage midfielder Lennon Miller as transfer speculation around him second-half display will have convinced many. But at the first Premiership hurdle, Rangers have stumbled in the type of fixture they have to win if they are to challenge Celtic for the title. Which players stood out? Motherwell's entire team in that second half. You have to credit them for really having a go. Stamatelopoulos got into so many great positions but couldn't finish. Just was a threat on goal and in his set-up play. Longelo takes the headlines but full credit to everyone in claret and Rangers, that second half drop off across the team will be a concern. They have had a testing time but the expectation is to come through that. They didn't. The standout stats Motherwell have only won their opening league game once in 10 seasons and it's 2002 since their last home league win over Rangers. The latter stat remains but doesn't begin to tell the story of this match. A total of 17 shots for the home side was evidence of the threat they carried. They got a point but could easily have recorded that elusive win over Rangers at home. What's next for these teams? Motherwell travel to face St Mirren next Saturday (15:00 BST) while Rangers' hectic schedule continues with a Champions League third round qualifying first leg tie against Viktoria Plzen at Ibrox on Tuesday (19:45). Where next? Motherwell reaction & have your sayAll the Rangers news and viewsRead the predictions of the BBC punditsAre Rangers ready to challenge for trophies under Martin?Motherwell receive bids as Miller talk 'intensifies'
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Charley Hull surges into contention at Women's Open as leader wobbles
There are few things more exciting in golf than a marauding Charley Hull. Not only did we witness precisely that at Royal Porthcawl, but Hull sent an errant shot whizzing past the head of Minjee Lee for added theatrical effect. Hull had been battling to make the Women's Open cut for much of Friday afternoon. She started her third round 11 shots adrift of Miyu Yamashita. Within nine holes, Hull was five under par and on the charge. Further birdies at the 12th and 13th meant the Englishwoman was only four behind Yamashita. Hull did bogey the 14th, meaning a 66, but Yamashita's failure to build on her 36-hole position suddenly makes this a highly intriguing scene. Yamashita had just one player within six strokes of her at halfway. A messy 74 means Yamashita leads by a single shot. Her short putting touch totally deserted her over Saturday's closing stretch. Hull is only three behind Yamashita. On the penultimate hole, Yamashita outrageously saved par from 40ft. This was a rare highlight. Thoughts of a procession have quickly vanished. Back to back nines of 37 saw to that. The prospect of wind and rain on day four means this could turn into an epic scrap. Hull was in wonderfully bullish mood. 'I just enjoy chasing,' she said. 'It's quite fun. I like it. It's more fun that way. I like hunting someone down.' Will Hull go for it on Sunday? What a silly question. '100%,' she added. 'I haven't got anything to lose, have I?' It would, in one sense, be ridiculous if Hull ends her wait for a major on the Welsh coast. She has never been a huge fan of links golf and entered this Women's Open nursing a back problem. Hull had also admitted she lost four kilograms because of an illness which saw her removed from the course at the Evian Championship on a medical cart. 'Kind of like playing golf with your mates,' said Hull of her mindset for the final round. 'You just want to make birdies on every hole. That's how it feels tomorrow.' Unsurprisingly, she now feels as strong as ever. At Porthcawl, Hull came close to injuring another member of the field. A rare loose shot, at the 4th, went flying past Lee after a single bounce as she addressed her ball on the 17th tee. The ball rebounded from signage at the back of the tee, meaning Hull was spared a shot from deep rough. 'I like Minjee, I wouldn't want to take her out,' said Hull with a smile. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Lee was unperturbed by the incident. 'It was nothing major,' said the Australian. 'I was glad the ball bounced. I'm pretty focused. I just reset and then just go hit the ball.' This is not just the Yamashita and Hull show. Yamashita's Saturday wobbling brought a host of players back into the tournament. Kim A-lim is the closest player to Yamashita's nine under. Andrea Lee is a shot further back at minus seven. Megan Khang, Rio Takeda and Minami Katsu are alongside Hull at six under. Georgia Hall will fancy her chances from four under. Hall is a shot ahead of Lottie Woad. Twenty three players are within seven of what is now very much an under pressure leader.
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kilmarnock 2 Livingston 2: Martindale's men fight back from two down to earn point on Premiership return
A meeting between Kilmarnock and Livingston perhaps wasn't the most eye-catching of the six Premiership fixtures on the schedule to kick off the opening weekend of the new campaign, but the rest will do well to top the entertainment offered up at Rugby Park. The first of many 'El Plastico' derbies set to grace the Scottish top flight this year contained everything you could hope to see. Two fingers well and truly stuck up to those who can't wait to ditch the artificial turf at the end of this season. David Martindale must have been wondering how his players went into the break two goals down. But a stirring second-half fightback — aided in no small part by a red card for Kilmarnock defender George Stanger — earned them a share of the spoils. Their well-known — and wildly unpopular — attritional approach was ditched in favour of a more attacking mindset in the Championship last term. Martindale suggested that would be way of things going forward as they look to improve on their measly tally of five wins recorded during their most recent Premiership campaign. And on this evidence, it looks like he'll be true to his word. They were slick early on. On-loan Celtic man Adam Montgomery was first to threaten. His shot from the edge of the edge of the area took a nick on the way through to Max Stryjek, who made a quick readjustment down to his left to keep it out. Stryjek's fellow summer arrivals Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels at the other end showed the odd glimpse of quality, but that strike partnership will clearly take some time to gel. The service wasn't up to much, to be fair. That all changed seven minutes before the interval. Liam Polworth robbed Montgomery midway inside the visitors' half, before feeding an inch-perfect ball in behind for Daniels to run on to. From an acute angle and with Ryan McGowan for company, the big Dutchman lashed a brilliant left-footed strike high into the net for his third goal since making the switch from Cork City. A lengthy VAR check for offside followed before referee Matthew MacDermid pointed to the centre circle. That advantage was immediately doubled. Montgomery once again failed to cover himself in glory, allowing former Livi captain Jamie Brandon to nick in before cutting the ball across the six-yard line. Jerome Prior's parry landed right at the feet of the grateful David Watson, who prodded home. It's set to be a big campaign for the 20-year-old. After scooping up all the awards in his first full season of first-team football, he found himself dropped to the bench for a decent chunk of last year before successfully reclaiming his place. Stuart Kettlewell played no small part in turning Lennon Miller into a multi-million pound talent at Motherwell. Watson, it would seem, is in good hands. Robbie Muirhead appeared to have a decent shout for penalty on the hour mark after being hauled down by Stanger. MacDermid was quick to wave it away but overturned that decision after being called over — around 30 seconds after the incident — for a look at the pitchside monitor. A red card for the Killie defender to boot. 'I do want the centre-back to deal with the ball,' Kettlewell said. 'I don't think it's going at enough pace to guarantee that it's going back to the goalkeeper. 'But even at that, George's contact, is it enough for Muirhead to go down in the fashion that he does? I probably sit in the camp of it being soft, really soft. 'But once you put yourself in that position, it becomes a difficult one to argue.' Muirhead made no mistake from the spot. Substitute Zak Rudden was thwarted by the feet of Stryjek, but the ex-Livi keeper could do nothing to stop Scott Pittman powering in a richly deserved equaliser on the 86th minute thanks to great work from Macauley Tait down the right-hand side. 'I would have probably taken a point before the game,' Martindale admitted. 'You have to remember who you're playing. 'We are a new group back in the Premiership, albeit a few of us have been there before, so coming away to Kilmarnock is going to be difficult game. 'But I was happy with how the boys bounced back, they showed real resilience.'
