Dutch striker Michael Mols shattered Motherwell with an astonishing four-goal show at Ibrox yesterday.

The £4 million buy from Utrecht grabbed a brace either side of half-time to send Rangers back to the top of the Premier Division following Celtic's defeat by Dundee United earlier in the day.

Motherwell were so poor their only shot on target came in injury time when Lee McCulloch scored.

But Ibrox manager Dick Advocaat won't care about that. Even this early in the season, the result was important with Celtic losing a few hours earlier at Dundee United.

Advocaat made one enforced change from the side that defeated Parma midweek. Finnish goalkeeper Antti Niemi replaced Stefan Klos, who picked up a knee injury in the 2-0 victory against Parma in the Champions League third qualifying round, first leg game.

Andy Goram again came to Motherwell's rescue in the 35th minute when he saved from Neil McCann but six minutes later Mols opened the scoring. He delivered a stunning volley from the angle of the penalty area beyond Goram after a superb cross from McCann.

The pair linked up again on the stroke of half-time when Mols drove the ball home without hesitation after McCann had cut the ball back from the byline.

Anxious Motherwell boss Davies brought on the experienced Pat Nevin at half-time for the ineffective Matthaei.

However, Tony Vidmar almost added a third goal on the hour when his header from a van Bronckhorst corner drifted wide of the target.

Mols completed his hat-trick in the 70th minute with a clinical finish following a through ball from Reyna.

By now, there was no holding Mols and he scored his fourth in the 81st minute with another superb volley after a corner from van Brockhorst had only been partially cleared.

Rangers thought they had added a fifth goal four minutes from time when Wallace tucked away the rebound after a piledriver from Jorg Albertz had been beaten out by Goram. But it was disallowed for an infringement.

Motherwell grabbed a consolation goal in injury time when Lee McCulloch knocked in a cross from Nevin.

RANGERS: Niemi, Porrini (Adamczuk 74), Moore, Amoruso, Vidmar, Ferguson, Van Bronckhorst, Reyna (Albertz 74), McCann (Johansson 84), Mols, Wallace. Subs Not Used: Brown, Fitzgerald. Goals: Mols 41, 45, 69, 80.

MOTHERWELL: Goram, Doesburg, Thomas, Teale, McMillan, Spencer, Matthaei (Nevin 45), Brannan, Valakari, McCulloch, Nicholas (Townsley 64). Subs Not Used: McGowan, Woods, Halliday. Goals: McCulloch 90.

Referee: J McCluskey (Scotland).