Match ends, Rangers 2, Motherwell 0.
RangersRangers2MotherwellMotherwell0
Danny Wilson and Alfredo Morelos scored in the second half as Rangers overcame stout Motherwell resistance to win.
Both sides lost key players to first-half injuries, Motherwell's Carl McHugh suffering a head knock and Rangers' Ryan Jack stretchered off.
The breakthrough came when Wilson finished confidently inside the area from a corner kick.
Morelos sealed the victory by drilling a shot past Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
Motherwell were seeking their first league win at Ibrox since 1997, and hoping to take advantage of a Rangers side that had lost two consecutive games.
Ibrox manager Graeme Murty made four changes to his starting line-up, with Bruno Alves, Niko Kranjcar, Jack and Eduardo Herrera coming into the side.
Rangers looked nervy on occasion even after scoring, having thrown away leads against both St Johnstone and Kilmarnock, but this time the home side held on for a victory which keeps them three points behind second-placed Aberdeen.
Murty did suffer a setback as he prepares to face Celtic on Saturday, with Jack looking to have suffered a painful injury in a challenge by Cedric Kipre and having to leave the field on a stretcher.
While Rangers edged the first-half chances, James Tavernier, Kranjcar, Morelos and Herrera all spurned the opportunities that fell their way.
Otherwise, Stephen Robinson's well-drilled Fir Park outfit managed to frustrate the hosts, even though they suffered a problem of their own when the captain, Carl McHugh, had to come off during the opening period with a head knock.
Soon after Jack departed, Kipre was also involved in another uncompromising challenge, earning a booking for catching Herrera in the face with his boot.
With both teams suffering enforced substitutions due to injuries, eight minutes were added on before half-time and the visitors almost made the most of it as Allan Campbell - McHugh's replacement - fizzed a shot across the face of goal.
Rangers returned for the second period with renewed vigour, and they were rewarded in the 55th minute.
Motherwell could only clear a Kranjcar corner to the edge of their box where Jamie Barjonas - the substitute on for Jack - was lurking to knock the ball back into the danger zone. Alves diverted it down for Wilson, who smashed his third goal in six games into the top corner from 15 yards.
Morelos wasted a great chance to double the lead on 70 minutes after being slotted through by Kranjcar, firing straight at Motherwell goalkeeper Trevor Carson.
But the striker did beat the Northern Irishman six minutes later, squeezing a low drive into the far corner of the net from a tight angle for his fourth goal in five games.
The defeat keeps Motherwell in eighth place in the Premiership, and they are now on a run of eight games without a win.
Line-ups
Rangers
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Foderingham
- 2Tavernier
- 22Bruno Alves
- 6Wilson
- 3John
- 40McCrorieBooked at 68mins
- 8JackSubstituted forBarjonasat 41'minutes
- 23Holt
- 19KranjcarSubstituted forPeñaat 83'minutes
- 15Herrera
- 20MorelosSubstituted forHardieat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 17Hodson
- 21Candeias
- 24Bates
- 27Peña
- 31Hardie
- 32Kelly
- 35Barjonas
Motherwell
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Carson
- 21KipreBooked at 42mins
- 6Hartley
- 18Dunne
- 2TaitBooked at 45mins
- 5BigirimanaBooked at 73mins
- 8McHughSubstituted forCampbellat 20'minutes
- 4GrimshawBooked at 82mins
- 15RoseSubstituted forBowmanat 62'minutes
- 17FisherSubstituted forNewellat 78'minutes
- 27Tanner
Substitutes
- 3Hammell
- 12Bowman
- 19Xenodochof
- 22Campbell
- 24Newell
- 26MacLean
- 31Turnbull
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 49,273
Match Stats
Home TeamRangersAway TeamMotherwell
- Possession
- Home56%
- Away44%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away1
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away20
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rangers 2, Motherwell 0.
Post update
Foul by James Tavernier (Rangers).
Post update
Craig Tanner (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. James Tavernier (Rangers) right footed shot from very close range is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
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Carlos Peña (Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Allan Campbell (Motherwell).
Post update
Corner, Rangers. Conceded by Richard Tait.
Post update
Ryan Hardie (Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Peter Hartley (Motherwell).
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James Tavernier (Rangers) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Allan Campbell (Motherwell).
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Jason Holt (Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Cedric Kipre (Motherwell).
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Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by James Tavernier.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jamie Barjonas (Rangers) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Ryan Hardie replaces Alfredo Morelos.
Substitution
Substitution, Rangers. Carlos Peña replaces Niko Kranjcar.
Post update
Foul by Declan John (Rangers).
Post update
Allan Campbell (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
