Rangers came from behind against Motherwell to secure a win that stretches their lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to 16 points.
Cedric Itten struck in between a Kemar Roofe double in the final 17 minutes to ensure Rangers avoided a second defeat within four days.
Rangers struggled to break down the visitors after they had taken the lead through Callum Lang on six minutes.
But their comeback consigned Motherwell to a fourth consecutive defeat.
Stephen Robinson’s side remain fifth, 10 points behind Aberdeen, despite a run of six games without a win and will view this is an opportunity missed.
Steven Gerrard’s side had not lost all season until their shock midweek exit away to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final and, for much of this game, it looked like Rangers defeats were about to arrive like buses.
Buses was the correct description for the way the Motherwell defence was parked around their own penalty area as they repelled and frustrated the increasingly desperate home side after Lang’s early strike.
Rangers looked like they were determined to sweep aside the memory of that midweek disappointment as restored striker Jermain Defoe tested goalkeeper Jordan Archer shortly after kick-off.
However, as Dundee United had shown despite defeat last week, they still struggle to break down a side determined to pack their defence. As St Mirren showed in midweek, they have suddenly showed a fragility at the back.
Well scored in their first attack as Declan Gallagher held the ball up on the edge of Rangers penalty box, laid the ball to Scotland colleague Stephen O’Donnell and his low cross found Lang ghosting in unmarked at the back post for his fifth goal of the season.
Ryan Kent headed wastefully wide before the break and Steven Davis had a goal disallowed for offside as Rangers looked to be running out of time and ideas to break down opponents that gave them some nervous moments on the break.
However, Kent made up for his miss by poking the ball into the path of Roofe to score from close range and signal a late Rangers rescue act.
Itten headed in at the back post after a corner evaded everyone else in a packed six-yard box before Roofe supplied yet another close-range finish as the ball bobbled the packed area.
More to follow.
Player of the match
LangCallum Lang
Rangers
Squad number11Player nameItten
Squad number15Player nameZungu
Squad number7Player nameHagi
Squad number25Player nameRoofe
Squad number17Player nameAribo
Squad number9Player nameDefoe
Squad number14Player nameKent
Squad number10Player nameDavis
Squad number2Player nameTavernier
Squad number6Player nameGoldson
Squad number31Player nameBarisic
Squad number1Player nameMcGregor
Squad number18Player nameKamara
Squad number37Player nameArfield
Squad number5Player nameHelander
Motherwell
Squad number29Player nameLang
Squad number7Player nameO’Hara
Squad number31Player nameGallagher
Squad number33Player nameO’Donnell
Squad number6Player nameCampbell
Squad number32Player nameWatt
Squad number8Player nameCrawford
Squad number2Player nameGrimshaw
Squad number13Player nameArcher
Squad number16Player nameMugabi
Squad number4Player nameLamie
Squad number5Player nameMcGinley
Squad number9Player nameWhite
Squad number17Player nameSeedorf
Squad number19Player namePolworth
Squad number44Player nameCole
Line-ups
Rangers
- 1McGregor
- 2Tavernier
- 6Goldson
- 5Helander
- 31Barisic
- 37ArfieldSubstituted forHagiat 62′minutes
- 10Davis
- 18KamaraSubstituted forAriboat 45′minutes
- 25Roofe
- 9DefoeSubstituted forIttenat 71′minutes
- 14KentSubstituted forZunguat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bassey
- 7Hagi
- 11Itten
- 15Zungu
- 16Patterson
- 17Aribo
- 21Barker
- 24Stewart
- 33McLaughlin
Motherwell
- 13ArcherBooked at 82mins
- 33O’Donnell
- 16Mugabi
- 31Gallagher
- 4LamieBooked at 77minsSubstituted forSeedorfat 85′minutes
- 2GrimshawSubstituted forPolworthat 85′minutes
- 6Campbell
- 8CrawfordSubstituted forColeat 85′minutes
- 7O’Hara
- 32WattSubstituted forMcGinleyat 65′minutes
- 29LangSubstituted forWhiteat 76′minutes
Substitutes
- 5McGinley
- 9White
- 15Maguire
- 17Seedorf
- 19Polworth
- 26Cornelius
- 27Johnston
- 34Chapman
- 44Cole
Live Text
Match ends, Rangers 3, Motherwell 1.
Second Half ends, Rangers 3, Motherwell 1.
Goal! Rangers 3, Motherwell 1. Kemar Roofe (Rangers) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Joe Aribo.
Joe Aribo (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sherwin Seedorf (Motherwell).
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Stephen O’Donnell.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Allan Campbell.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Allan Campbell.
Foul by Borna Barisic (Rangers).
Sherwin Seedorf (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Devante Cole (Motherwell) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nathan McGinley.
Substitution, Motherwell. Liam Polworth replaces Liam Grimshaw.
Substitution, Motherwell. Sherwin Seedorf replaces Ricki Lamie.
Substitution, Motherwell. Devante Cole replaces Robbie Crawford.
Foul by Borna Barisic (Rangers).
Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution, Rangers. Bongani Zungu replaces Ryan Kent.
Goal! Rangers 2, Motherwell 1. Cedric Itten (Rangers) header from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Ianis Hagi following a corner.
Jordan Archer (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card.
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Liam Grimshaw.
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