“Did Rangers really deserves the win?”- Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell delivers blunt verdict after 3–1 loss to Rangers.

Stuart Kettlewell: “This is massive for our belief and our identity”
After a commanding 3-1 victory over Rangers, Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell spoke to the media in a confident, composed mood — acknowledging the significance of the result, praising his players, yet remaining grounded about the work ahead.

On the result

“I haven’t got a lot of superlatives for the performance tonight,” Kettlewell said, before pausing and smiling. “It’s one of those nights you savour.

To beat Rangers in the fashion we did – three goals, comfortable margin – it sends a message about what we’re trying to become as a club.”
He went on: “Not many will have given us a chance ahead of this.

We believed. The players believed. That was key. We showed character, we showed quality in the final third, and we defended with real purpose in the moments when it mattered.”

The turning points

Asked what turned the game, Kettlewell pointed to two moments: “The first goal opened the door. Once we got that, we were invited into the game in a way we’d prepared for. Then the second goal before half-time put us in a strong position.

After half-time we dictated the tempo, controlled the game, and when Rangers mounted their pressure we had the calm to see it out.”
He also acknowledged that conceding what became the solitary Rangers goal “was a moment to tighten up” but stressed that his side responded, which gave him satisfaction.

Player performance & squad depth

Kettlewell praised key individuals: “Credit to the front three for being ruthless tonight. They created, they took their chances. The midfield did the dirty work. The defence and the keeper were organised.

That’s how you beat a side of Rangers’ quality.”
On squad depth, he added: “We’ve talked all week about the players who haven’t played as often; tonight many of them stood up and made an impact. That’s crucial for the long haul of the season.”

The club identity, mentality & expectation

“From day one I’ve said we are building something,” said Kettlewell. “This result is not the end of the story – far from it – but it’s a statement. It’s one we’ve earned.

It’s allowed us to measure ourselves against one of the Scottish game’s big clubs and come out on top.”
He added the caveat: “We must not get carried away. The league is long. Momentum is nice, but you need consistency. I’m pleased tonight, but tomorrow the work begins again.”

On the next steps

When pressed on what comes next, Kettlewell outlined his intentions: “We’ll enjoy this result, we’ll praise the players and then we’ll reset. We’ve got fixtures coming thick and fast. We must maintain standards.

We must ensure that when teams raise their game to try and beat us, we’re ready. That means training, focus, sharpening our mental and physical edge even further.”

Summary
In short, Stuart Kettlewell’s post-match remarks after a 3-1 win over Rangers were bullish yet measured.

He celebrated the victory, praised the squad, emphasised the club’s growing identity but stressed this is just one step on the journey.

For Motherwell, the message is clear: the ambition is real, and nights like this are proof that belief, preparation and execution can deliver results.