Malik Tillman's moment of magic set Rangers on their way to a much-needed three points despite a late Motherwell rally at Fir Park.
The USA international's brilliant solo run and finish lit up an otherwise dreary Premiership encounter before John Lundstram's header should've put the under-fire Ibrox men out of sight. But Stuart McKinstry's looping free-kick strike, the youth academy product's first for the club, sparked a nervy finish from which Giovanni van Bronckhorst 's men just about emerged with three points.
They arrived in Lanarkshire still smarting from a 7-1 Champions League demolition at the hands of Liverpool on Wednesday and with the knowledge that Celtic had moved five points clear at the Premiership summit by scoring six of their own against Hibs on Saturday. Van Bronckhorst had faced calls for his immediate sacking in the wake of a humiliation that equalled Rangers' worst-ever defeat, so it goes without saying that maximum return was all that would really do for the Dutchman should he wish to quell those demands for his head.
His team were miles short of their best and it took Tillman's individual excellence to break down a Motherwell side who offered little of their own. That opening goal aside, it certainly wasn't a 90 minutes that will feature on any trips down memory lane but victory keeps the wolves from Van Bronckhorst's door and, crucially, keeps his team in the league title race.
Tillman for Fashion Sakala was the only unenforced change from Rangers' Liverpool debacle, with Leon King coming in for the injured Connor Goldson. The youngster has considerable shoes to fill given Goldson's ever-presence over the past four years but he at least showed he can ping a diagonal like his central defensive counterpart, firing a raking pass wide for Ryan Kent to feed Borna Barisic on the overlap, only for his cut-back to be blazed over by Tillman.
That and a previous foray into the box from Kent promised a lively first-half that simply did not materialise. Rangers were slack and uninspired in possession, failing to really carve out anything else of note. Their lethargy served as encouragement to Motherwell, who grew into proceedings as their visitors toiled.
The always-watchable Kevin van Veen showed some deft touches and Ross Tierney was as energetic as ever, yet Well could only follow Rangers in serving up a lack of quality in the final third. They will, however, have been content with how little Rangers troubled them in a truly dire 45 minutes of football.
Both sides emerged unchanged, likely with demands from their respective managers to not produce a half like that ever again.
Rangers did fashion an opportunity in the early minutes following the restart as Barisic's cross found the usually clinical Antonio Colak - but he was unable to steer a header on target. Immediately up the other end, Van Veen stung the palms of Allan McGregor with a low, left-footed drive.
Suddenly there were signs of life at Fir Park, a slight spark that was then duly lit as Tillman burst through a ruck of Motherwell bodies from deep and found himself one-on-one with Liam Kelly. The on-loan Bayern Munich star made no mistake and finally we had a goal, one of such excellence it was hard to believe it followed what had come before.
Rangers didn't quite sparkle from there on out, but they did fashion a second via Lundstram's turning home Barisic's fine corner which should've ensured there was no grandstand finish. But when McKinstry's free-kick from wide left fooled Allan McGregor and looped into the top corner, suddenly it was game on once more.
Hammell's side finally let the handbrake off in search of a dramatic equaliser but Rangers were able to make it over the line without any considerable scares.
3 talking points
Rangers unconvincing
This was a performance that suggested Rangers' confidence has been badly knocked by what transpired on Wednesday night. Slow, ponderous and lacking in any real imagination, it was all rather difficult to figure out what the gameplan was for a fixture that simply demanded three points.
All the attention pre-match was on a centre-back pairing of King and Davies but, in truth, it was only they who came out of this turgid afternoon with any credit. Rangers' centre-backs were largely untroubled while those ahead of them gave Motherwell a similarly easy ride at the other end due a poor first-half.
Van Bronckhorst isn't the type to read the riot act but it's clear whatever he said at the interval elicited a response that yielded what was, eventually, a precious three points for his team. Tillman's touch of class and Lundstram's scrappy but effective second saw to that.
Magic Malik
With both sides toiling for sustained momentum, it seemed a moment of brilliance or a complete howler provided the most likely route to goal for fans starved of some high noon entertainment. That old cliche rarely comes to pass but Malik Tillman took it upon himself to ensure this hugely forgettable encounter did not end without at least one moment to remember it by.
After a bright start to the campaign, the American had somewhat faded from view in recent weeks. His impact in the Champions League, as with all his team-mates, in fairness, has been minimal and there had been little in the way of discussion around a player who was being tipped for big things this season.
Perhaps this was the moment to get an undoubtedly talented footballer back on track. Yes, Motherwell's defending was abject, but Tillman showed delightful balance and composure to weave his way through the home rearguard before beating the excellent Liam Kelly.
Steelmen disappoint
You sensed there was an opportunity for Motherwell to get after a wounded Rangers side but the problems Rangers faced over the 90 minutes were largely of their own making. Only when they reduced Rangers' advantage in the closing stages was there anything like the urgency you'd have expected from minute one.
There was a promising bounce when Hammell took the reins from Graham Alexander and a well-received change to a more adventurous style of football. However, McKinstry's set-piece cracker aside, there was little of that positive intent on display here.
Not only was it a disappointing performance against a side with vulnerabilities of their own, it's now just one win in their last seven Premiership outings for the Fir Park men.
