Friday 29 May 2015 07:34, UK
Ian Baraclough praised his Motherwell team for executing his game plan to perfection as it secured a first win at Rangers in 18 years in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership play-off final.
Lee Erwin’s deflected shot gave the Lanarkshire side a lead after it had absorbed pressure from Stuart McCall’s men and seen them miss opportunities through Marius Zaliukas and Kenny Miller.
The Fir Park team extended their advantage with two more goals in seven minutes straddling half-time through former Celtic defender Stephen McManus and Lionel Ainsworth.
Although Darren McGregor pulled one back for the hosts late on, Motherwell go into Sunday’s return match with a 3-1 advantage as they look to preserve their three-decade stay in the top flight.
Baraclough feels his side could even have won by more in Glasgow but was content to see them emerge on top with a first victory at Ibrox since 1997.
He said: "To a man, the lads were fantastic. We have come here with a game plan, drawing them in and then countering with pace. We did that fantastically well.
"We could have had a couple more but I can't fault them when they've scored three goals away from home.
"They dealt with the crowd and with the magnitude of the situation. We were fantastically calm when Rangers put the pressure on with balls into our box.
"We will have to wait and see if 3-1 is enough. To have a two-goal lead is great but we now have to work even harder than we did tonight to make sure get over the line.
"It's not going to be easy. No-one in our dressing room is kidding themselves, none of them are celebrating tonight. All the clichés are true - it's just half-time."
