Rangers' seemingly relentless march to regaining the Scottish title survived being knocked out of stride by a late Motherwell offensive at Ibrox.

After dominating the first hour of an unequal contest, Rangers led through Rod Wallace's 24th goal of a productive season on 32 minutes and a close-range Jonatan Johansson strike.

But thinking their job done, Rangers relaxed and allowed a previously quiet Motherwell side to stir after Mark Gower headed a goal back after 69 minutes.

Thereafter Rangers' dominance wavered and their supporters were forced to endure several tremors before a ninth consecutive victory was confirmed.

That it was ever in doubt was in part a result of an impressive Ibrox return for club legend Andy Goram who made several saves of note in the Motherwell goal.

Even given the visitors' late flurry, it was still an assured Rangers display and establishes an ominous 13-point advantage on second-placed Celtic who travel to Aberdeen tomorrow.

Yet manager Dick Advocaat will be concerned at evidence of complacency from a team still on course for a rare domestic treble in his first season at the helm.

Rangers were without both Colin Hendry (ankle) and Stephane Guivarc'h (hamstring), while the visitors missed the potential threat of suspended striker John Spencer.

From the outset, the Rangers faithful chanted Goram's name and were almost given reason to be louder still inside the opening minute had Johansson reacted sharper to a Lorenzo Amoruso pass.

Jorg Albertz set up Johansson again in Rangers next attack, but the Finn struck his shot wide of the mark under pressure from two Motherwell defenders.

Rangers came close to moving ahead in the 11th minute when a diagonal ball from Amoruso was met first time by a Neil McCann volley which looped over Goram but narrowly wide.

The home team had the ball in the net a minute later but Wallace's effort was ruled out for offside after he had converted a mishit shot from Van Bronckhorst.

McCann, likely to be named in Scotland's Euro 2000 plans later this month, missed badly after 24 minutes when an Albertz corner picked him out for a free back post header he sent well off-target.

Barry Ferguson then squared intelligently for Andrei Kanchelskis who cut inside with purpose only for his powerful strike to be deflected away for a corner.

Goram produced a stunning save after 28 minutes to push a fierce Van Bronckhorst volley onto the inside of the post, with the ball rebounding to safety much to Motherwell's relief.

However, the inevitable breakthrough came just four minutes later, Kanchelskis crossing for Wallace to unleash a low shot on the turn beyond Goram's reach to deservedly break the deadlock.

After 37 minutes, Albertz played the ball into Kanchelskis' stride, but the Russian winger snatched at his shot firing high into the side-netting when well-placed.

Moments before the break, Albertz shot well over after Van Bronckhorst tapped a free-kick into his path, but within 30 seconds of the restart Rangers might have made it 2-0 when Ferguson's pass was taken on by Kanchelskis only for the eventual shot to lack the quality of the build-up.

After 49 minutes, an Albertz burst from midfield found McCann on the left, but instead of looking for Wallace's run in the centre, the winger chose to shoot and sent his effort over the bar.

Sergio Porrini's searching pass found Johansson and the striker brought it down in one deft movement, before flicking the ball beyond Goram but agonisingly wide.

A Van Bronckhorst corner almost found its way into the net directly after 59 minutes, but for the alert Goram's touch-over, but that meant another flag-kick. From it Albertz floated the ball in for Porrini whose header through a crowd of players was blocked by Goram's leg only for Johansson to pounce on the loose ball.

At 2-0 and Rangers firmly in control, Motherwell's fate looked sealed, but substitute Pat Nevin picked out on-loan Tottenham midfielder Gower who calmly headed a goal back.

Rangers were again denied by Goram after 77 minutes after Albertz put Wallace one-on-one with the Ibrox legend, but the strike lacked genuine power and was saved.

Motherwell were suddenly confident and their second genuine attack of the contest almost resulted in an equaliser, Michel Doesburg missing his kick when free inside the area. The home support were not slow to notice the balance of proceedings shift and found themselves in the unusual position of calling for the final whistle at the close.

Teams:

Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Vidmar, Kanchelskis (Miller 86), Ferguson (McInnes 76), Albertz, Van Bronckhorst, McCann (Amato 90), Wallace, Johansson.

Subs Not Used: Wilson, McGregor.

Goals: Wallace 31, Johansson 59.

Motherwell: Goram, May, Teale, McGowan, McMillan, Brannan, Valakari, Doesburg, Gower (Matthaei 86), McCulloch (Miller 76),Adams (Nevin 65).

Subs Not Used: Ramsey, Bannister.

Booked: Doesburg.

Goals: Gower 68.

Att: 49,483

Ref: B Orr (Kilbarchan).