Motherwell inflicted Rangers' first away league defeat of the season on the campaign's final day - but there was no UEFA Cup place to reward the Fir Park outfit for their achievement.

Hibernian's failure to defeat Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Tynecastle meant Motherwell's heroics were in vain in a game during which Rangers found themselves outplayed for long periods.

The home side were much the sharper from the outset, but did not move ahead until substitute Kevin Twaddle broke the deadlock after 67 minutes having only been on the field for five minutes.

Lifted by their goal, Motherwell reached heights their domestic rivals, Celtic included, have been unable to scale against the Scottish champions by almost instantly doubling their advantage.

On 72 minutes, former Rangers forward John Spencer's individual effort consigned Dick Advocaat's team to their first defeat since the Scottish Premier League's winter break.

It is only Rangers' second league loss of the season, the other at home to Dundee, but to seal third place and a European spot Motherwell needed a favour Hibernian were unable to provide.

Simo Valakari started his last game for Motherwell before his Bosman switch to Derby, while Pat Nevin, who has been released as a player despite being chief executive, played as a substitute. Steven Hammell stepped in for the injured Stephen McMillan (groin), while Rangers rested Billy Dodds to allow Jonatan Johansson and Seb Rozental to start in attack.

Rod Wallace, keen to prove his fitness ahead of next week's Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park, played as a late substitute, though Craig Moore remained sidelined.

Motherwell had the ball in the net after just 12 minutes only for the effort to be disallowed by referee Mike McCurry in what was far from a clear-cut decision. Ged Brannan, who collected a wrist injury in the early moments, floated in a free-kick from the right but Strong was adjudged to have pushed Tony Vidmar as he headed past Stefan Klos.

Motherwell spurned a clear opening when John Spencer's neat pass played Brannan clear on goal but Van Bronckhorst tracked back at pace and put him off his shot which Klos saved with relative ease.

Rozental made time and space for himself at the edge of the area after 23 minutes only to fire over while a minute later Neil McCann replaced the seemingly injured Johansson.

The home team could and perhaps should have moved ahead on 28 minutes when Derek Adams, in for the suspended Lee McCulloch, released Don Goodman but Klos was equal to his angled drive.

On the half-hour mark, Goram produced a fine one-handed stop to deny Jorg Albertz, while at the other end the busy Spencer hooked a half-volley over the bar.

After 41 minutes, the match took a stormy turn as after Derek Adams fouled Barry Ferguson he retaliated and both were booked - much to the fury of the other Rangers players. A delegation headed by Arthur Numan surrounded the referee and the Dutchman, booked for dissent, continued his protests to manager Dick Advocaat on the touchline before a linesman intervened.

With Hearts leading against Hibernian at the interval, Motherwell knew their fate was not in their own hands, but pressed forward regardless, Brannan testing Klos from close range.

On the hour mark, a Paul Harvey corner, his last contribution before making way for Kevin Twaddle, saw a deflected Greg Strong shot bounce just past Goodman's outstretched leg. Kanchelskis, who was enduring a miserable afternoon, missed a chance for Rangers on 64 minutes miskicking badly after Numan and McCann had combined well on the left.

A minute later the visitors were punished as Twaddle raced onto a long ball from Benito Kemble and after holding off a weak Porrini challenge clipped the ball expertly past Klos for 1-0.

After 67 minutes, Vidmar was fortunate to escape with a yellow card only as he hauled back Twaddle as he looked to capitalise on a through ball from Spencer.

Motherwell were in charge now in a manner few sides have managed against Rangers this term, though still the visitors might have levelled when McCann failed to turn in a Van Bronckhorst free-kick virtually on the goalline.

However on 72 minutes it was 2-0 to Motherwell as Twaddle fed Spencer who cut inside with pace before crashing the ball beyond the reach of Klos to leave Rangers reeling.

Van Bronckhorst had an opportunity to pull a goal back after 78 minutes but Goram, who had until today never won against Rangers since his departure, held firm to save.

Rozental summed up his sluggish display, and that of his team, by scooping over when put through by substitute Tugay Kerimoglu in the 89th minute as the title winners looked well beaten.

Teams:

Motherwell: Goram, Corrigan, Kemble, Strong, Hammell, Harvey (Twaddle 61), Valakari, Brannan, Adams, Spencer (Nevin 72), Goodman.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Nicholas, Townsley.

Booked: Adams, Spencer.

Goals: Twaddle 64, Spencer 71.

Rangers: Klos, Reyna, Vidmar, Porrini, Numan, Kanchelskis (Wallace 68), Ferguson (Tugay 74), van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Johansson (McCann 23), Rozental.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Malcolm.

Booked: Porrini, Reyna, Numan, Ferguson, Vidmar.

Ref: Michael McCurry (Scotland).