Rangers might yet be a plot-twist in the script of this championship race. It has been a haggard few days for these players and their manager, Dick Advocaat, given the savaging doled out following their European exit on Thursday. This result at least keeps domestic fires burning.

Motherwell committed three players to attack - a policy always to be lauded, but yesterday misguided. They battled hard in midfield and enjoyed a couple of gaping openings before Barry Ferguson scored a peculiar second goal for Rangers on 78 minutes.

Billy Davies, the Motherwell manager, was entitled to feel hard done by as three players - Benito Kemble, Kevin Twaddle and Scott Leitch - all departed early with injury.

The game had a doleful air about it, mostly provided by a throng of Rangers fans whose dejection over their UEFA Cup hiding from Kaiserslautern on Thursday was brought with them to this sabbath chore of Scottish Premier League duty.

Advocaat, though, treats no match lightly; Rangers still have two games in hand over the league leaders Celtic, and their successful negotiation, as well as every other impediment between now and May, will rest heavily on his mind.

The quest to be re-named champions may yet invigorate Rangers, though other factors at Ibrox will bring only depression; Michael Mols is still only an imitation of the striker whose knee gave out in Munich a year ago. Yesterday was one of the Dutchman's rationed first-team outings since his slow recovery from surgery.

Not a lot had gone right for Rangers before Bert Konterman hung in the air to nod home a corner from Albertz after 39 minutes. The moment was savoured by Konterman, a defender who, like a few other Rangers players, spent the latter part of last week cowering from the shrapnel which flew following the UEFA Cup debacle.

Ferguson's goal had a freak air to it. Every Motherwell player appeared to freeze at the sight of Tugay's cross, and before Andy Goram had rubbed his eyes, Ferguson's header had bounced past him into the net.

RANGERS: Klos, Ricksen, Konterman, Wilson, Vidmar, Ferguson, McCann, Johnston (Carson 83), Albertz (Dodds 67), Mols, Flo (Tugay 25). Subs Not Used: Christensen, Ross. Booked: Ricksen, Wilson. Goals: Konterman 39, Ferguson 78.

MOTHERWELL: Goram, Corrigan, Kemble (Oueifio 31), Strong, Hammell, Leitch (Adams 69), Twaddle (Spencer 72), Lasley, Brannan, McCulloch, Elliott. Subs Not Used: Woods, Nicholas. Booked: Brannan, Twaddle, Oueifio, Corrigan. Att: 46,058.

Referee: T Brown (Scotland).