Rangers and Motherwell could be in for a long night

This time last year, if somebody would have offered you an odds-against price on Rangers to beat Motherwell at Ibrox in a Scottish League Cup tie, you’d have been straight to the bank getting out the biggest loan the girl behind the check out would allow you in order to lump on the most certain of certainties.

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How times have changed. Rangers, as everybody knows, are now in the bottom tier of Scottish football after being demoted due to disastrous and sustained financial mismanagement. But what is perhaps more surprising is that as Motherwell travel to Glasgow for this intriguing third-round tie, they do so as leaders of the SPL.

After seven league games, Stuart McCall’s side are top of the pile and even if they are unlikely to be there come the end of the season – Celtic will surely begin to fully focus on domestic matters as soon as they are knocked out of Europe – it is at least refreshing to see a new name sit at the summit of the SPL after years of domination from the Old Firm, no matter how early or fleeting it may be.

And to be fair to ‘Well, they were definitely the best of the rest last season, finishing third to fully deserve their crack at the Champions League. That they subsequently lost their qualifier to Panathinaikos (and their Europa League qualifier to Levante) says more about the state of the Scottish game than it does about Motherwell specifically, as does the fact that, even though three divisions now separate these sides, there are some who think McCall’s men are the underdogs going into this match.

Motherwell’s record against the Old Firm last season – no wins in eight – is enough to stop you taking the 9/5 and Rangers are a bit on the short side at 13/10 given that they failed to beat Queen of the South at Ibrox just a couple of weeks ago.

If you look at the prices on offer with bwin, that seems to be the general consensus. Rangers are the favourites at 13/10 to win the tie in 90 minutes, with Motherwell quoted as 9/5 outsiders (the draw is 9/4) and that tells you everything you need to know about the power that Rangers still possess, despite being in the fourth tier.

Ally McCoist’s men aren’t even top of the Third Division after picking up a few disappointing results in their first seven fixtures and actually lie second behind Queen’s Park. There is no doubt that the Gers will eventually make the step up into first position and win the championship, such is the players at their disposal, and with their home form still formidable they can give Motherwell a game.

At Ibrox, Rangers have won five and drawn one of their six games this year, which includes a 4-0 win over Second Division East Fife and a 3-0 victory against First Division Falkirk, and with a big crowd who will already feel starved of the quality of football they have been used to expected to pack the stadium, it will be a daunting task for Motherwell.

Having said that, the Steelmen have been fine on the road this year and are unbeaten in four domestic games, winning at Kilmarnock and Dundee, and will take confidence into the match. It is difficult to separate them, which is why the draw at 9/4 is the sensible shout.

Motherwell’s record against the Old Firm last season – no wins in eight – is enough to stop you taking the 9/5 and Rangers are a bit on the short side at 13/10 given that they failed to beat Queen of the South at Ibrox just a couple of weeks ago.

The two sides played out a goalless draw in May and it could be all square once more on Wednesday evening.

Recommended bet: Rangers and Motherwell to draw @ 9/4

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