IT WAS the day Motherwell walked into the lions' den and sent them away with their tails between their legs.

 

May 5, 1997. A date that now means little to many but so much to so few. In reality it should have been the other way about.

This was the day Rangers were set to make history. This was the day a club would celebrate. This was the day to be remembered forever. This was the day that ended up being forgotten about.

Over 50,000 fans crammed into Ibrox 18 years ago to witness the Glasgow club claim their legendary nine-in-a-row.

Thousands of pounds had been spent on the occasion, with parties planned and the champagne sitting ready to be popped. With this signifying their last home game of the 1996/97 season, this was Rangers' chance to celebrate the occasion in front of their own fans.

Understandably they were confident. A Gers team filled with superstars, only Alex McLeish's Motherwell, a collective staring down the barrel of a gun at a relegation play-off, stood in their way.

As it turned out, it was a day of cocky celebration that was to backfire spectacularly on Rangers.

After just eight minutes Ibrox was silenced by the left foot of Owen Coyle as the Fir Park striker swept a low shot into the net from 10 yards under Andy Dibble.

Things were to get worse with seven minutes remaining. After Paul Gascoigne lost the ball in the middle of the park, a quick counter led to Mickey Weir being brought down in the box by Ian Durrant, allowing Coyle to convert for a spectacular double.

It topped off a fine 2-0 victory for Motherwell, and to this day the result still stands as the last time they won at Ibrox. The victory also went a long way to securing their safety as this and a 2-2 draw with Dunfermline on the last day of the season saved them from a play-off.

Now that exact fate is staring them in the face this week as a trip to Govan awaits in the SPFL Premiership play-off final first leg, the man who scored there twice in 1997 speaks exclusively to SportTimes on how that day goes to show a repeat 18 years on can be achieved.

"I remember it well," said Coyle, who is now working in the MLS as manager of Houston Dynamo. "Rangers had spent something like £50,000 on hospitality that day and took it for granted that they would beat us.

"They were going for nine-in-a-row but we had our own agenda that day. We had to win, ironically to stay out of the play-off position that season.

"Obviously that win went a long way to ensuring that happened and I think Hibernian played Airdrie that year in the play-off.

"I think Rangers went to Tannadice the following game and won the league with a Brian Laudrup header but that day at Ibrox belonged to Motherwell.

"The great thing about that game is that it shows that if they need to try and get a win at Ibrox then it can be done."

He added: "At the time when we went there we were playing a Rangers team who really were an elite side. They could have gone toe-to-toe with anybody in Europe, as they did in the Champions League in various campaigns due to the quality in their team.

"But if we were able to do it then against that team then there's no reason why you wouldn't think Motherwell are more than capable of doing it now."

Coyle is confident Motherwell have not only the belief but the talent within them to pull off another shock at Ibrox this Thursday.

While manager Ian Baraclough has brought in a host of his own players, there is still a host of experienced heads who have performed at the home of the Glasgow giants before.

Old pros like Stephen McManus, Scott McDonald, Stephen Pearson, Stevie Hammell, Keith Lasley and John Sutton are just a few who know what to expect when stepping out on to the pitch this Thursday.

"They have a nucleus of good players in a good team," said Coyle of his old team. "I've said it before that's why Rangers will be in for two very tough games against Motherwell.

"I did the play-off games last year for BT Sport when Hamilton overcame Hibernian, and nobody thought that would happen after the first leg when Hibs were 2-0 up. That's the nature of these games.

"I've been fortunate to play in these games both north and south of the border and come out of it very well.

"They are fraught with danger, they really are. The important things about the play-off games is people stand up and be counted, that's where you see the big personalities.

"You need to handle the mental strength, handle the occasion and I'm in no doubt it will be an intriguing two games."

Having been in the United States since the turn of the year, Coyle has still kept close tabs on how things have developed in Scottish football.

And while he has been sad to see Motherwell decline over the last campaign, he knows only too well that they should not be written off yet.

"I think it's always difficult for clubs," said Coyle. "What you need to remember is what Stuart McCall and Kenny Black did for Motherwell. For three seasons what they did in terms of league placing was incredible, they were second best in the league behind Celtic.

"For Motherwell to do that consistently is testament to the job the two of them did given he is losing four or five of his best players at the end of every season.

"But where they are Motherwell still have an opportunity to stay in the league given it'll be a play-off against Rangers.

"That's the nature of football, things can change very quickly."

Eighteen years on, Coyle's two goals are living proof.