Goals from Russell Latapy, Tore Andre Flo and Fernando Ricksen earned Rangers
a comfortable victory over Motherwell.
The home side had been forced to treat the game as a damage limitation
exercise since just before the hour mark when defender Eric Deloumeaux was sent
off for his second bookable offence.
Rangers were already two goals ahead at that stage but superb goalkeeping by
Stevie Woods kept Rangers at bay until Ricksen netted with a scorching drive
from outside the area.
Latapy was not even supposed to be on the pitch when he opened the scoring as
the original team-sheet had Ronald de Boer's name on it.
The Dutchman picked up a knock representing Holland in midweek but had been
expected to feature ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup clash with Feyenoord.
But when de Boer had to pull out with the players already in the tunnel, it
was the little man from Trinidad who took to the field for only his second
league start under Alex McLeish, whose unbeaten run as Rangers manager now
stretches to 15 games.
Latapy had not had much of the play before he struck, executing a neat turn to
shoot before Karl Ready could put in a challenge.
Bert Konterman, the Old Firm goal hero earlier this month, had set up the
chance by robbing Stuart Elliott of the ball and sending Shota Arveladze on his
way.
There was a close call for the visitors soon after when Latapy and Barry
Ferguson exchanged passes to send the Rangers captain into the box.
Only Deloumeaux could stop him going all the way and although Ferguson went to
ground in the box under the Frenchman's challenge referee Willie Young waved
play on.
There was another escape for Well in the 21st minute when Lorenzo Amoruso
decided it was time for a goal of the season attempt.
Ready had been unable to cut out Fernando Ricksen's cross to the far post and
the Italian had jaws dropping all over Ibrox by first chesting the ball upwards,
then heading it forwards to set up a thunderous volley.
However he spoiled the effect by blasting the ball well over the bar.
Motherwell replies were few and far between but one on the half-hour mark
almost brought about an equaliser.
Konterman committed a foul on the edge of the area and when Steven Hammell
curled the ball into a well-populated box it found its way to Ready at the far
post.
The Welshman could only hit an upright from close range and when the ball
bounced back into play to Dirk Lehmann's shot was blocked by Stefan Klos.
Rangers were stunned into reaction and only 60 seconds of brilliance from
Woods kept them at bay.
A Ferguson piledriver was destined for the top corner until he threw himself
in the air to tip it over and when Tony Vidmar met a cross from the right
seconds later he found himself perfectly positioned to parry.
But Motherwell resistance was broken in the 41st minute when rookie midfielder
Keith Lasley was pressured into an under-hit backpass by Ferguson that allowed
Flo to take the ball past the exposed Woods and find the empty net.
Motherwell manager Eric Black resisted the temptation to put new signing David
Ferrere on at the break, despite the fact that the Frenchman had marked his
debut against Hibs last week by coming off the bench to score a hat-trick.
The slim chances of a repeat disappeared altogether just after the hour break
when Deloumeaux, who had been booked in the first half for a foul on Arthur
Numan, was sent off for clattering Peter Lovenkrands just before the hour mark.
Well's earlier trip to Ibrox, in the last days of Billy Davies, had seen far
too many bad-tempered challenges and the same indiscipline was once more
evident.
Ferguson clearly fancied getting on the scoresheet but four tries from outside
the area found either the goalkeeper or were off target.
Rangers took Flo off in the 69th minute to give Michael Mols a run out and the
Dutchman, who had been greeted with huge applause, was denied a goal almost
immediately by another good save from Woods.
And that was the case soon after when Mols' quick feet fooled his challenger
to set up a shot that Woods again beat away.
Again he tried and another superb turn left Greg Strong helpless. But once
more Woods was in the way.
The final quarter of an hour saw Billy Dodds handed a rare run out, with
Maurice Ross also coming on in place of Ferguson and Lovenkrands.
Dodds saw a shot deflected wide before ponderous finishing from Arveladze
enabled Woods to record yet another save.
But he was given no chance with five minutes left on the clock when Ricksen,
from Latapy's pass, blasted the ball past him from outside the area.
The game ended with Amoruso smacking a free kick on to the crossbar.
Teams:
Rangers: Klos, Konterman, Amoruso, Vidmar, Ferguson (Dodds 76),
Ricksen, Numan, Latapy, Arveladze, Flo (Mols 69),
Lovenkrands (Ross 76).
Subs Not Used: McGregor, de Boer.
Goals: Latapy 14, Flo 41, Ricksen 85.
Motherwell: Woods, Deloumeaux, Ready, Strong, Hammell, Lasley,
Leitch, Adams, Elliott (Pearson 79), Lehmann,
McFadden (Ferrere 68).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Forrest, Ramsey.
Sent Off: Deloumeaux (60).
Booked: Ready, Deloumeaux.
Att: 49,284
Ref: W Young (Scotland).
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