Hateley scored during a dominant period for the home side
By Andy Campbell
Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers fought back to claim a point against Motherwell at Fir Park.
Tom Hateley, son of former Rangers striker Mark, gave Well a deserved lead with a superb free-kick on 28 minutes.
Keeper John Ruddy denied Rangers a first-half leveller with saves from Kris Boyd and Lee McCulloch.
Ross Forbes had a goal controversially disallowed for the home side before Boyd slammed home an equaliser with 10 minutes remaining.
The result allowed second-place Celtic to cut the gap at the top of the division to eight points.
Motherwell looked more assured in the opening stages of the match and John Sutton headed over from Hateley's cross.
Lukas Jutkiewicz had a couple of efforts at the Rangers goal but keeper Allan McGregor claimed the ball on both occasions.
Another Sutton attempt, this time a shot from outside the box, had McGregor scrambling across his line to claim.
A foul by Stephen Craigan on Boyd 19 yards out gave Rangers an opportunity in a central position but Steven Davis' shot curled just wide of the target.
And within minutes, Motherwell had won a free-kick of their own after Steven Naismith had felled Jim O'Brien, Hateley curving a shot into the top corner from long range.
Rangers were struggling to open up a stubborn Motherwell defence and a rare sight of goal for Boyd saw the striker volley into the arms of Ruddy.
Boyd claimed his 20th goal of the season to secure a draw
Davis then burst into the box and, when the ball ricocheted up off a defender, Naismith's volley skewed harmlessly across the face of the goal.
Forbes' lofted shot forced another save by McGregor before Boyd teed up McCulloch for a volley, which Ruddy saved well.
Motherwell looked to extend their lead at the start of the second half and Forbes knocked the ball into the net after Craigan headed down Hateley's free-kick but the goal was ruled out for offside.
However, video replays appeared to show that both Craigan and Forbes had been onside.
Motherwell kept up the pressure and Sutton's powerful drive was saved at full-stretch by McGregor.
Another volley, this time by substitute Novo, was met by a diving save from Ruddy as Rangers' frustration continued.
Davis' trickled shot was palmed away by the keeper moments before a defensive mistake allowed Boyd in on goal only for the striker to blaze over the bar.
But Boyd did find the net after Sasa Papac's delivery was missed by Mark Reynolds.
Forbes' replacement Jamie Murphy flashed a shot wide of the Rangers goal late on as both sides were forced to settle for a draw.
Motherwell manager Craig Brown: "I don't think it was a bad performance, nor was it a bad result.
"Tonight, I think we deserved to win the game. I thought that we were the better side, certainly for the first hour. We created more chances.
"We might have had a second goal, which I think would have killed the game. Unfortunately that was not given to us so we're a bit aggrieved.
"But, I'm always on the side of officials and I give them the benefit of the doubt and therefore, I'm not going to be churlish and start moaning.
"Both players were onside according to the television evidence. We'll get some decisions and we'll not get some decisions. On this occasion, we might have been unfortunate.
"Tom Hateley deserved to score that goal because he's been one of our best players since I've come here. He strikes the ball exceptionally well.
"Rangers' goal was not a goal, which was created, it was gifted because of indecision at the back. You can't give Kris Boyd half a sniff at goal and expect to get away with it."
Rangers manager Walter Smith: "We were poor in the first half. In the second 45 minutes, we picked up and were far better.
"Motherwell started very brightly. We knew that would happen and we didn't have any great reaction to that in the first 45 minutes.
"I don't think anyone who was standing in the dugout could see (the disallowed goal). By all accounts, the player was onside. Sometimes you get these decisions.
"Everybody will look at Rangers and Celtic say they always get these decisions but they don't always get the decisions. We've had quite a number of poor ones against us this season. It happens sometimes and you just get up and get on with it.
"After the first-half performance, it was good to get a point."
90:00+2:05 The final whistle is blown by the referee.
90:00+0:39 Tom Hateley restarts play with the free kick.
90:00+0:39 Booking Sasa Papac shown a yellow card.
90:00+0:33 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Sutton by Sasa Papac.
89:54 Short corner taken by Steven Davis.
89:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee McCulloch on Jim O'Brien. Jim O'Brien restarts play with the free kick.
86:56 Jamie Murphy has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box which goes wide left of the goal.
86:27 Handball decision goes against Madjid Bougherra. John Ruddy restarts play with the free kick.
86:03 Corner taken by Steven Davis, John Sutton makes a clearance.
84:17 Sasa Papac fouled by Lukas Jutkiewicz, the ref awards a free kick. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
80:26 Substitution Jamie Murphy comes on in place of Ross Forbes.
79:23 The assist for the goal came from Sasa Papac.
79:23 GOAL - Kris Boyd:Motherwell 1 - 1 Rangers Kris Boyd scores a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Motherwell 1-1 Rangers.
76:29 Shot from deep inside the area by Kris Boyd goes over the bar.
76:00 Steven Davis takes a shot. Save made by John Ruddy.
75:21 The offside flag is raised against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Allan McGregor restarts play with the free kick.
73:46 Steven Whittaker takes a shot. Save made by John Ruddy.
70:40 Free kick taken by Steven Davis.
70:40 Booking Tom Hateley goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
70:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Hateley on Kyle Lafferty.
68:14 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Ross Forbes, Madjid Bougherra makes a clearance.
66:20 Effort on goal by Nacho Novo from 20 yards. Save made by John Ruddy.
65:36 Corner from the right by-line taken by Steven Davis, Mark Reynolds manages to make a clearance.
64:28 Jim O'Brien takes a shot. Save by Allan McGregor.
62:27 Substitution (Rangers) makes a substitution, with Kyle Lafferty coming on for Steven Naismith.
61:22 John Sutton produces a drilled left-footed shot from 30 yards. Save by Allan McGregor.
59:41 Steven Whittaker concedes a free kick for a foul on John Sutton. Free kick taken by Stevie Hammell.
58:26 Sasa Papac challenges Jim O'Brien unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Hateley.
53:58 The referee blows for offside against Ross Forbes. Free kick taken by Allan McGregor.
53:07 Madjid Bougherra gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lukas Jutkiewicz. Tom Hateley takes the direct free kick.
51:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sasa Papac by Tom Hateley. Steven Davis restarts play with the free kick.
49:44 Lukas Jutkiewicz challenges David Weir unfairly and gives away a free kick. David Weir restarts play with the free kick.
46:17 Shot from just outside the box by Ross Forbes goes over the crossbar.
45:32 Jim O'Brien fouled by Steven Naismith, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ross Forbes.
45:01 The match restarts for the second half.
45:01 Substitution Nacho Novo replaces Kirk Broadfoot.
Half Time
45:00+0:06 The referee blows for half time.
40:51 Lee McCulloch takes a shot. John Ruddy makes a save.
39:44 Sasa Papac crosses the ball, John Ruddy makes a save.
38:39 Shot from 20 yards from Ross Forbes. Save by Allan McGregor.
36:39 Steven Naismith has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
35:23 Lukas Jutkiewicz concedes a free kick for a foul on David Weir. Allan McGregor takes the direct free kick.
35:01 Kris Boyd has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Save by John Ruddy.
31:51 Booking The referee cautions Lee McCulloch for unsporting behaviour.
31:34 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jim O'Brien by Lee McCulloch. Stephen Craigan takes the free kick.
29:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lukas Jutkiewicz on Lee McCulloch. Steven Davis restarts play with the free kick.
27:28 GOAL - Tom Hateley:Motherwell 1 - 0 Rangers Free kick scored by Tom Hateley from long range to the top left corner of the goal. Motherwell 1-0 Rangers.
26:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steven Naismith on Jim O'Brien.
24:04 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stephen Craigan on Kris Boyd. Steven Davis shoots direct from the free kick.
22:31 Shot from 25 yards from John Sutton. Save by Allan McGregor.
19:45 Corner taken left-footed by Ross Forbes to the near post, Lee McCulloch manages to make a clearance.
19:10 Lukas Jutkiewicz has a volleyed shot. Allan McGregor makes a save.
18:34 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley played to the near post, David Weir manages to make a clearance.
15:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee McCulloch by Keith Lasley. Direct free kick taken by Sasa Papac.
15:23 Effort from 25 yards by Lukas Jutkiewicz. Save by Allan McGregor.
14:39 Lee McCulloch concedes a free kick for a foul on Jim O'Brien. Free kick taken by Tom Hateley.
12:00 Tom Hateley delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the area by John Sutton goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
8:34 The assistant referee flags for offside against Kenny Miller. Free kick taken by Stephen Craigan.
6:59 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Tom Hateley played to the near post, clearance by Lee McCulloch.
5:55 John Sutton challenges Lee McCulloch unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by David Weir.
4:51 Keith Lasley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Steven Davis. Direct free kick taken by Madjid Bougherra.
2:33 Steven Naismith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on John Sutton. Stevie Hammell restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The game gets underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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