Danny Rohl admitted Rangers were hurting after a late equaliser from Motherwell’s on-loan Celtic defender Stephen Welsh dealt a severe blow to their title bid.
The Ibrox side took an early lead through Nico Raskin at Fir Park, but they were second best for much of the contest.
And, despite losing Lukas Fadinger for a foul on Mikey Moore in the 77th minute, Welsh levelled for 10-man Motherwell with a minute of regulation time left.
‘We are finally disappointed that we dropped two points,’ said Rohl, whose team are now five points behind leaders Hearts who they face on Sunday. ‘We started well in the game, I think the first 10 minutes were really strong for us.
‘We have to be honest, the opponent was better in the first half, they created more pressure. But even before the half-time we had a big opportunity for the 2-0.
‘In the half-time we adjusted some things and then we controlled much more in the second half.
Rohl was left disappointed to see his side drop two points in the title race
Stephen Welsh’s late effort could prove decisive in the title race
‘Then you get the red card (for Motherwell’s Lukas Fadinger), and this is normal in football…the team is one man down, 10 men, nothing to lose. And then finally they scored after the second phase of the set play, which normally in the last couple of weeks was our strength.
‘We were really well organised, in this moment we lost our men in the middle of the pitch, and then you conceded a late equaliser and it hurts today.
‘Today is not like the title race over. It’s a bit of a blow because you dropped the two points very late, but on Sunday we have the next opportunity and (if) our reaction is right, we take the right result on Sunday.’
Now five points behind the Jambos following results midweek, the pressure is on Rangers to ensure they don’t lose more ground.
But Rohl is relaxed ahead of arguably Rangers’ biggest game of the season.
‘It’s not an easy one, but if there’s a chance for us, then we will see,’ he said. ‘I’m honest, since I’m here, every game is a must-win game.
‘I must say, there was not one game where I could say, this is not a must-win.
Nico Raskin had given Rangers an early lead at Fir Park, opening the scoring after six minutes
‘It’s what it is, when you come from behind there are big tasks, but we did until now well and now we dropped two points, but on Sunday it’s the next job to do.
‘And hopefully we create a good atmosphere, we bring fresh players on the pitch as well and then we go again.’
The visitors felt they had a strong shout for a first-half penalty when Youssef Chermiti went down inside the area, and while Rohl questioned a few decisions throughout a frantic encounter, refused to criticise the officials.
‘Normally I don’t speak about the ref,’ he said. ‘But there were a lot of situations in the first half, I think 50-50s…
‘But I’m looking more to us that we do our things, and it was in the first half, especially at 1-0, we missed a little bit the intensity.’
