Rangers and Motherwell were involved in a fiery, incident-packed afternoon at Ibrox on Saturday, yet only one goal separated the sides.
Rangers claimed a 1-0 victory thanks to Thelo Aasgaard’s second-half strike, but the match was filled with controversy and missed chances. Jack Butland produced a series of important saves, while Danny Rohl watched his team squander several clear opportunities before eventually securing all three points.
However, Rangers were perhaps fortunate to preserve their clean sheet, with Emmanuel Fernandez appearing to escape punishment for a clumsy challenge inside the box. The incident has since sparked debate, with footage suggesting Scottish FA officials may have made an error.
Speaking on BBC Sportscene, Rangers Women manager Leanne Crichton felt Fernandez was lucky not to concede a penalty. She admitted the challenge looked questionable in real time and even more uncomfortable when viewed again on replay.
Crichton explained that players’ reactions and body movement often reveal more than first impressions, adding that Lukas Fadinger appeared to be through on goal and had little reason to go to ground without contact. While the incident was checked by VAR, it was not reviewed for long, much to Rangers’ relief.
The episode underlined the need for reinforcements in Rohl’s squad. With John Souttar and Derek Cornelius both sidelined through injury, Fernandez has been partnered with Dujon Sterling in central defence.
Rangers are keen to add another defensive option in January, and this display highlighted why. Fernandez has shown his value going forward, particularly from set pieces, but defensively he remains a work in progress — something to be expected from a young player.
With greater experience around him, the Englishman has the potential to continue developing into a strong centre-back, and his recent run of first-team football should aid that progress.
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