Relieved Rangers boss Le Guen backs Buffel

RANGERS manager Paul Le Guen refused to criticise Thomas Buffel after the Belgian’s profligacy in front of goal almost cost the team victory in their Bank of Scotland Premier League opener against Motherwell at Fir Park.

The Frenchman’s tenure began with a nervy victory in a match that could and should have been a stroll after the interval.

The visitors took the lead through midfielder Libor Sionko after only eight minutes, but in an impressive first-half performance which saw them swarm all over the hesitant home side, Buffel spurned at least three clear-cut chances to put the game out of the Steelmen’s reach.

Le Guen’s side looked as if they might pay for Buffel’s ineptitude when Motherwell midfielder Phil O’Donnell equalised after the break but a Dado Prso header in the 63rd minute gave Rangers all three points.

However, Le Guen was in a conciliatory mood and said: “I am relieved because we had so many chances to win the game that we had to be rewarded with a victory.

“I did not speak to Thomas after the game because I don’t want him to worry about it, he will score in the following games. And the most important thing is that we got three points.

“I know that he is able to score in such positions and the most important thing for me is that he knows how to create chances and he has the capacity to put them away. But I was very happy with the game, it was good for our confidence.

“We knew Celtic and Hearts had won yesterday so it was very important not to lose points. And the way we played was very encouraging because we had so many chances and we played well.”

Motherwell manager Maurice Malpas, also making his debut as boss, enjoyed his first game in the hotseat but admits his side were let off the hook in the first half.

“It could have been done and dusted in the first 20 minutes, they could have got three or four in that time but we could have got something in the second half.”

MOTHERWELL: Graeme Smith, Kerr, Craigan, Paul Quinn, Robert Donnelly, Foran (Fitzpatrick 78), O’Donnell, McGarry (Clarkson 78), Paterson, McCormack (McDonald 61), Hamilton.

RANGERS: Letizi, Hutton, Svensson, Rodriguez, Smith, Sionko (Novo 80), Clement, Hemdani, Adam, Prso, Buffel (N’Diaye 90).