How Rangers were dissected by Roberto Mancini blueprint and 'flaky' defending - anatomy of a goal

Despite only scoring once, Rangers had put in arguably their best 45 minutes of the season and the team was playing some excellent stuff from box to box.

The second half saw a slight drop in intensity, but until 55 minutes or so the home side was packed around the Motherwell penalty area in search of a second goal.

As the game fell back into a more reserved rhythm on the hour mark, it felt as though Rangers may have missed the opportunity to add a second during their period of ascendancy.

When, of all people, Steven Davis overhit the final pass to Glen Kamara on the counterattack on 63 minutes, a goal from open play seemed frustratingly unattainable.

Motherwell hadn’t had a shot on target but in the lead up to the equaliser they managed to retain pressure, create space and then exploit it.

Although the goal was entirely avoidable from a home point of view, the away side managed to generate a situation their game plan was geared towards to go level.

In the phase leading up to the goal, Motherwell found a route behind the defence too easily. A ball from the right-back position was played down the line after Stephen O'Donnell had been picked out by a switch of play.

Kamara appears comfortable that his team are set to deal with the ball, he doesn't really make a bid to stop the pass.

After Jack Simpson blocks a subsequent cross, Borna Barisic plays the ball to Steven Davis in a central area.

Davis is in a tricky situation here, it’s too risky to try and skip around the man closing him down given the numbers Motherwell have up the pitch.

As shown by their heatmap, this area is where Motherwell pressed most aggressively.

When McGregor receives the ball from Davis, he tries to play out and anticipates his right-back will create an angle. But Tavernier’s positioning shows he expects a long ball.

READ MORE: Rangers vs Motherwell StatsBomb tactical and data-driven match report as wasteful hosts pay price

The miscommunication leads to a throw-in and a rare spell of possession for the visitors.

Juhani Ojala receives the ball from the throw. Here Rangers are set well defensively, so what do Motherwell do?

They create their own space by passing backwards to draw out the opposition.

Before analysing the goal, let's look at the way in which Motherwell tried to impact the game offensively.

They had a clear plan in possession to play over the Rangers press and switch play often. Goalkeeper Liam Kelly did not make a single short pass in the entire game.

118 of the away side's 279 passes in the match were high and they often looked to stretch the game.

As Lyon manager Peter Bosz explained in midweek: "Change side every time as then it was going to be difficult for Rangers as they have to run a lot and will get tired and it will open up for you."

How did this combine for the equaliser? Motherwell went backwards to go forwards.

During the Euros, tactical writer Michael Cox explained how Italy would often attack by first going backwards, enticing the opposition out of their shape and exploiting the subsequent areas opened up.

Without a recognisable No.10, they relied on creativity from deep and to utilise that, coaxing the opposition into a press was necessary.

A similar tactic was used by Graham Alexander's side yesterday and explains why they often looked long. The above stats regarding their long kicks show they believed they could open Rangers up by making the pitch big and creating gaps.

Ojala, as mentioned, has few options in this frame. Central players don't seem to be showing for the ball.

He assesses play before laying the ball backwards, meaning the hosts squeeze the game up.

As shown in Kelly's pass-map above, he rarely kicked straight and often launched balls into the wider areas.

This trend continues as he kicks to the left flank.

Look at the options as Kelly kicks long, the defence is higher, the attack has squeezed up the pitch and Steven Davis has followed Callum Slattery into his own half while Mark O’Hara has stayed high as a second striker.

Motherwell have created the space to attack by going backwards - now they are in an area where they can try to hurt the opposition.

The ball is played to Kevin Van Veen. He could use O'Hara here, but delays by cutting infield.

By the time he has beaten Tavernier, who is fooled too easily, Goldson has been dragged away by Watt's run as he tries to provide an option down the line - which leaves a huge gap in the middle of the defence. 

With no midfield protection, as Davis is up the pitch and Aribo's lack of defensive nous shows, the Motherwell midfielder can run at Simpson. The defender's positioning is just a yard or two off which provides the space for O'Hara to exploit.

READ MORE: Rangers have 'had these lessons' before – they should have learned to not be their own undoing

Davis should perhaps fall deeper but likely expects his two centre-backs to deal with the threat.

Goldson covers well but has to go into the challenge with his right foot.

The ball falls centrally and Woolery beats Barisic, who is slow to react to the unfolding situation, to the clearance. 

The goal was the fifth Rangers have conceded in the league this season in six outings, a stark contrast to the 13 lost from 38 last season.

"Their goal has come from us being a little bit flaky," was Gerrard's press conference summation of the strike. 

"We could have got out wide quicker, we could have dealt with that situation and unfortunately we conceded a goal on the back of that which is where the frustration comes in."

Frustration was the word, Rangers need to deal with such situations far better to prevent sides an accessible blueprint to goal.