Rangers extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League over Celtic to nine points but were forced to endure a stubborn display from Partick.

It took the home side 70 minutes to break the deadlock when Michael Mols nodded home after Rangers had squandered several chances.

Mols had been one of the main offenders but he found his scoring boots and four minutes later grabbed his second of the day to secure the win.

With Barry Ferguson, Lorenzo Amoruso and Kevin Muscat all banned and Arthur Numan and Jerome Bonnissel both injured, Rangers boss Alex McLeish deployed Fernando Ricksen as a right-back.

Regular right-back Maurice Ross was forced to switch to left-back and Bert Konterman and Stephen Hughes were drafted into midfield.

Rangers enjoyed much of the possession throughout the opening 45 minutes but the number of changes probably played a part in allowing Partick to head into the break on level terms as the home side struggled in front of goal.

Partick had a chance to take the lead after eight minutes when the ball broke to Gerry Britton and he charged towards the area but a timely interception by Ricksen denied the striker.

Partick looked capable of snatching the opener and they came close again after 22 minutes. Jamie Mitchell flicked the ball into the path of Britton who unleashed a shot from eight yards which never troubled goalkeeper Stefan Klos.

At the other end, Partick goalkeeper Kenny Arthur was called into action when Peter Lovenkrands bulleted a shot at goal - the rebound fell to the feet of Ronald de Boer but he fired well wide.

Rangers should have netted after 29 minutes when de Boer released Mols into the box. He tried to square into the path of Lovenkrands just a few yards out but Stephen Craigan intercepted and cleared for a corner.

Rangers tried to grab an early goal in the second half when Mikel Arteta embarked on a run before trying his luck with a shot on the edge of area which went well over.

Partick put the home side under pressure when Alex Burns latched onto a poor back pass from Ross. Only the heroics of Klos, who pounced off his line to block, kept the scoreline level just a minute after the restart.

That proved to be Ross' last contribution and he was replaced by Neil McCann after 50 minutes.

Two minutes later, de Boer surged into the box only to be denied the shot by Craigan's interception. The ball broke to Lovenkrands but he wasted a golden opportunity by thundering his shot over the crossbar.

Mols was also guilty of squandering chances. De Boer supplied the pass for his fellow Dutchman and he looked certain to find the back of the net only to send the ball across the face of the goal.

A free-kick on the edge of the area gave Rangers another chance and McCann had a decent attempt at curling the shot into the top corner but Arthur produced a great save to deny him.

McCann took the resultant corner and found Craig Moore in the six-yard box but the defender could nod inches over.

The breakthrough eventually came with 20 minutes remaining. Hughes did well to take the ball round Jamie Buchan before supplying the cross for Mols to nod home from six yards.

Four minutes later the Dutch striker claimed a double to make amends for the chances he had missed earlier in the game.

De Boer had been impressive throughout and he supplied a great pass for Mols, who initially stumbled over the ball but managed to recover and stab the ball over the line even though Arthur managed to get a slight touch.

Klos again did well to deny Partick the chance to pull a goal back when he blocked a point-blank David Rowson shot with his feet late in the game.

Teams

Rangers: Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Malcolm, Ross (McCann 50), Arteta (Caniggia 61), Konterman, Hughes, De Boer, Mols, Lovenkrands (Arveladze 76).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Eggen.

Goals: Mols 70, 75.

Partick: Arthur, Lilley, Craigan, Paterson (Whyte 9), Archibald, Mitchell, Buchan, Fleming (Waddell 78), Rowson, Burns, Britton (Walker 85).

Subs Not Used: Pinkowski, Gibson.

Booked: Britton.

Att: 49,472

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).