BURNS - Robert, not Tommy - must have experienced something similar to this before he came up with that line about the best laid plans of mice and men. Only the most quixotic Motherwell supporter could have imagined that the organisation of Rangers' nine in a row celebrations would gang so agley.

Motherwell showed themselves on the day to be spectacularly superior to the champions in waiting.

Rangers must wait a little longer than widely anticipated, at least until tomorrow night, when they travel to face Dundee United in search of the one point they need to secure the 100th Scottish League championship.

The Ibrox club already have 46 successes in the ledger, but were never likely to make it 47 through the agency of this remarkable contest. Owen Coyle's double gave Motherwell the least they deserved from their sustained ascendancy.

The result was as meaningful to the Fir Park club as it was to the home side perhaps even more so - as it took them out of second from bottom position in the Premier Division and above Kilmarnock and Hibernian on goal difference.

With one match remaining, at home to Dunfermline on Saturday, Motherwell are suddenly favourites to avoid the dreaded play off against Airdrie, the First Division runners up.

Long before Rangers spluttered into life, however, Motherwell were a goal up and should have been further ahead.

The visitors' were contrastingly motivated, but allied a composed fluency to their keenness, a potent combination. That first goal began with Mick Weir's corner kick from the left, the ball headed back out to McMillan. The midfielder's diagonal centre from the left found Coyle, who hit the ball sweetly on the turn with his left foot away to the right of Dibble.

The Rangers goalkeeper made a fine save from Shaun McSkimming, Tommy Coyne headed another golden chance over the bar and then squandered a platinum one when Andy Dibble played the ball straight to him.

Only Mark Hateley's header off the bar brought the Rangers support any excitement before Paul Gascoigne came on. The England man confirmed the suspicion that he is not at peak fitness, and the absence of Glenn Hoddle suggested that his intended visit may have been cancelled after being forewarned that the midfielder would not start.

Motherwell always comfortable with the magnificent van der Gaag and Brian Martin in central defence and a tireless midfield and front line tied up the match seven minutes from the end. Coyle coolly converted the penalty awarded when Ian Durrant pulled down Weir at the end of another sweeping, menacing surge from the visitors.