Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Burke, Thompson, McCormack.Referee: D McDonald.Booked: Motherwell Craigan, McDonald, Clarkson, Foran; Rangers Ricksen, Ferguson, Kyrgiakos.Sent off: Ferguson (79).Man of the match: Vignal.Attendance: 10,210.. Substitutes not used: Corr (gk) Wright, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Kerr.Rangers (4-4-2): Waterreus; Ricksen, Malcolm, Kyrgiakos (Khizanishvili, 66), Ball; Namouchi (Arveladze, 66), Rae, Ferguson, Vignal (Lovenkrands, 60); Prso, Novo. Kevin McBride reduced the deficit with a 65th minute penalty, after Bob Malcolm had handled Steven Hammell’s cross and then Martyn Corrigan took advantage of Rangers’ numerical inferiority to thrash in a 25-yard shot, via Malcolm’s shoulder, to signal a raucous last six minutes.Goals: Vignal (4) 0-1; (32) 0-2; Prso (51) 0-3; McBride (pen 71) 1-3; Corrigan (84) 2-3.Motherwell (4-4-2): Marshall; Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell; McBride, Leitch, Corrigan, Paterson (Foran, 58); McDonald, Clarkson (Britton, 81). Goalkeeper Gordon Marshall made an error of judgement as he raced out to try to collect Hamed Namouchi’s teasing cross in behind Steven Craigan – but only allowed the alert Vignal the space to place a header into the net.Five minutes into the second half, Dado Prso seemed to have put Rangers in a comfort zone when he glanced in Ricksen’s free kick However, Motherwell responded with spirit. The Frenchman produced a perfectly timed run into the box to meet Fernando Ricksen’s cross and thump a right-foot volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards.Motherwell went two behind after 31 minutes. “However, our objective was to get the victory and get back to the top of the table.”Ferguson was sent off for a second yellow card in the 77th minute but it could easily have been a straight red after he raised his arms at Richie Foran in a touchline altercation with the Motherwell substitute.The dramatic denouement could not have been anticipated when Gregory Vignal gave Rangers a third minute lead.
The heated environment proved too much for Barry Ferguson who was sent off.
Alex McLeish could not hide his satisfaction at going back to the top of the Scottish Premier League, taking advantage of Celtic’s defeat against Hearts on Saturday, but neither could he hide his frustration at losing his key playmaker.”At this stage of the season, you need your best players available,” said the Rangers manager. Rangers survived a frantic finale at Fir Park yesterday in which Motherwell almost wiped out the three-goal lead they had handed out. West Ham: Reo-Coker, Noble, Harewood.Man of the match: Sheringham.Attendance: 12,993.. Substitutes not used: Bywater (gk), Zamora, Etherington, Williams.Referee: B Curson (Leicestershire).Booked: Wigan: Roberts, Mahon. Substitutes not used: Walsh (gk), Jackson, Graham.West Ham United (4-4-2): Walker; Repka, Ferdinand, Ward, Powell; Newton (Fletcher, 88), Reo-Coker, Mullins, Noble; Sheringham, Harewood. Marlon Harewood then drilled home a 67th-minute winner to deal a setback to Wigan, whose last-day draw with West Ham last season cost them a play-off spot.Having been in an automatic promotion place virtually all season, anything other than a win for Paul Jewell’s side against the leaders, Sunderland, at home tomorrow may let in Ipswich.Goals: Roberts (51) 1-0; Sheringham (55) 1-1; Harewood (67) 1-2.Wigan Athletic (4-4-2): Filan; Eaden, Breckin, Baines (Mahon, 87), Wright; Teale, Kavanagh, Bullard, McCulloch (Ormerod, 71); Ellington, Roberts.
Crucially, at the other end of the age scale, there is also Teddy Sheringham, who went off to celebrate his 39th birthday on Saturday evening.The veteran lashed home his 19th goal of the season after Jason Roberts had put Wigan ahead. “We can have one great result but an iffy one next time.” At least, for the moment, Pardew is off the hook with the fans, many of whom have been calling for his sacking “They were great today,” he said. “They have obviously made a conscious decision to put the troubles we have had this season behind them and just support the team.”Currently, it is a somewhat inexperienced one, including two 20-year-old central defenders in Anton Ferdinand and Elliott Ward, another of the same age in Nigel Reo-Coker in midfield, alongside the precocious 17-year-old, Mark Noble. West Ham’s credentials as promotion candidates ought not to be in doubt after a hat-trick of away wins against the sides currently occupying the top three places in the Championship. The acid test from Alan Pardew’s perspective, however, will come at Burnley tomorrow evening.
The outcome of his side’s visit to Turf Moor will be an indicator, the West Ham manager believes, of whether or not they can force their way back into the play-off places. After taking only two points from the five previous games, Saturday’s performance at the JJB Stadium rekindled Pardew’s optimism.
From this season, however, he knows only too well that one day’s awakened belief can quickly turn to bewilderment.”That’s been our problem,” he said. Brown then linked up superbly with Dean Whitehead, handing the visitors the lead with a confident first-time shot, before Julio Arca completed the turnaround.McCarthy’s opposite number, Ian Holloway, had some choice words for his players after the final whistle: “The players spoke of a loss of concentration after the game, but I wanted them to show desire. That’s what Sunderland had and there is a massive difference between the two.”Goals: Shittu (22) 1-0; Welsh (46) 1-1; Brown (63) 1-2; Arca (75)1-3.Queen’s Park Rangers (4-4-2): Royce; Bignut, Shittu, Davies, Padula; Rowlands (Sturridge, 34; Cureton, 63), Santos, Bircham (Miller, 87), Cook; Gallen, Furlong. Substitutes not used: Rossi, Baidoo.Sunderland (4-4-2) Myhre; Wright, Breen, Caldwell, Arca; Whitehead, Robinson, Whitley (Brown, 42), Welsh (Collins, 58); Stewart (Thornton, 77), Elliott.