Motherwell claimed an Old Firm double when they left Rangers' unbeaten run for the season in tatters.

The bottom side had shocked Celtic earlier in the campaign and a single James McFadden goal allowed them to take all three points from the Ibrox side.

That left Rangers' lead at the top of the table slashed to just one point.

Rangers had insisted before this game began that they wouldn't treat bottom-side Motherwell with complacency and assume that the three points were already secure.

They had, after all, received a warning ahead of this Boxing Day fixture when they were forced to battle for a win against Partick Thistle on Sunday - another side who were tipped to be among the relegation candidates come the end of the campaign.

Although Rangers started the game well - they came close through a Michael Mols header within a minute of kick-off - it quickly became apparent that Motherwell were determined to continue the good run they had enjoyed over the last few weeks.

They had a great chance to take the lead after 12 minutes when Dirk Lehmann met a Steven Hammell cross before unleashing the shot but he was denied by the quick reflexes of Stefan Klos.

A Bob Malcolm error allowed Motherwell to heap more pressure on Rangers when he stumbled on the ball, giving possession to James McFadden, who surged into the box only to screw the effort wide.

But Rangers still looked capable of opening the scoring and they came close after 14 minutes when Fernando Ricksen exchanged a one-two with Mols before bulleting the shot at goal but he was denied by a one-handed save from Well goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau.

Motherwell were also looking dangerous. McFadden's cross was met by Lehmann who nodded the ball into the path of William Kinniburgh and he looked set to open the scoring with a superb volley but the ball cannoned off Craig Moore instead.

Lehmann had already tested Klos earlier in the game and he called the Rangers goalkeeper into action again. McFadden picked out the Well striker in the box but Klos was able to block the effort despite the ball bouncing awkwardly.

Both sides were creating decent chances and it was Rangers' turn to threaten again on the half hour mark. This time Mols played a short pass to Kevin Muscat who unleashed a superb shot that Dubourdeau only just managed to tip over the crossbar.

Five minutes later, both McFadden and Ricksen earned themselves the first cautions of the game. McFadden fouled the Dutchman before both players confronted each other and the referee showed each the yellow card.

McFadden could have grabbed the opener a minute before the interval when he met a Steven Hammell cross but his angled drive across the face of goal was just wide.

He earned Motherwell a free kick four minutes after the restart when he was fouled by Craig Moore, who was cautioned for the challenge. The young Motherwell star took the set-piece himself but sent the ball well over the crossbar.

He tried to make amends a few minutes later with an opportunist drive but, again, he was well off target and the scoreline remained level.

Rangers' first chance of the second half came courtesy of a long, low effort from Ferguson but the shot took a deflection off Scott Leitch and the Ibrox side had to settle for a corner instead.

The Rangers supporters were screaming for a penalty after 59 minutes. Ricksen supplied the cross to Caniggia, who's close range shot was blocked by Dubourdeau, before the pair collided in the box but the referee ordered the game to continue.

The Ibrox side were still desperate to grab the opening goal and Ferguson came close with a powerful shot that was only just blocked by the Motherwell goalkeeper.

But it was Motherwell who opened the scoring after 66 minutes when Lehmann nodded back to McFadden and he just managed to prod the ball past Klos from the edge of the six yard box to clinch a goal that will no doubt be disputed after Lorenzo Amoruso claimed he was fouled by Lehmann.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Rangers pushed forward in a desperate bid to find the leveller.

That could have come after 78 minutes when Ronald De Boer played the ball into the path of Mols who was eight yards from goal but he screwed the shot well wide of the upright.

Seconds later, a 35-yard drive from Amoruso forced Dubourdeau into an impressive save the deny the Italian defender.

A few minutes later, Amoruso embarked on an impressive solo run before being hauled down just outside the box and picking up an injury in the process but he chose to play on and refused the opportunity to be replaced.

Departing striker Billy Dodds could have snatched the draw late in the game with a header that was blocked at the far post by the Motherwell goalkeeper just seconds before Peter Lovenkrands fired wide with only Dubourdeau to beat.

Teams:

Motherwell Dubourdeau, Kinniburgh, Corrigan, Partridge, Hammell, Adams, Cowan, Leitch, Pearson, McFadden, Lehmann.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Ramsey, Ferguson, McDonald, Clarkson.

Booked: McFadden, Adams.

Goals: McFadden 65.

Rangers Klos, Malcolm, Moore, Amoruso, Muscat, Ricksen, Ferguson, Lovenkrands, de Boer, Mols, Caniggia (Dodds 72).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Nerlinger, McLean, Reid.

Booked: Ricksen, Moore, Mols.

Att: 11,234

Ref: W Young (Scotland).