Rangers took another step towards reclaiming the Scottish Premier League crown they surrendered two seasons ago with a 2-0 win over bottom club Motherwell.

The result extended their advantage over champions Celtic, whose minds are currently occupied on UEFA Cup matters, to six points, although Martin O'Neill's team now have two games in hand.

One is at Fir Park, where both Old Firm sides have fallen this season, but this match was further proof that Terry Butcher's band of emerging talents are still toothless away from home.

Well remained in the game after Barry Ferguson's opener but only until Peter Lovenkrands doubled the lead a minute after the restart.

Ferguson's early season torrent of goals had dried up around about the time Berti Vogts suggested he was good enough to play for Real Madrid or Bayern Munich - but the 17th of a successful season, and the first since January, arrived in the 18th minute tonight.

Motherwell defender David Partridge could claim an unwanted assist as he had fouled Michael Mols right in front of goal and just outside the 'D'.

It was Ferguson territory - and he curled the ball past the wall and goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau with aplomb.

Ferguson was not the only midfield star on view of course, with Ronald de Boer having shaken off pre-match fitness doubts to start.

And then there was the enfant terrible of Scottish football - Motherwell's James McFadden.

The Ibrox faithful were treated to both sides of the teenager's character during the first half and it took a fine seventh-minute block from home goalkeeper Stefan Klos to deny Dirk Lehmann after McFadden had sent a sublime 40-yard pass to put the German in on goal.

A challenge from Fernando Ricksen then appeared to ignite his notoriously short temper and it was not long before referee Hugh Dallas was gesturing him to keep his mouth shut.

Well duo Lehmann and Keith Lasley argued over why a counter-attack had gone so badly wrong when so many blue shirts had been stranded upfield, then Dougie Ramsay limped off to be replaced by David Cowan.

There were pre-break escapes for Well when Lehmann and Ferguson were just wide and Lovenkrands seeing an attempt to tee up de Boer for a close range finish foiled by a header that found only the goalkeeper's hands.

The Dane was booked in the 45th minute for barging McFadden over and joined Motherwell defender Tony Vaughan on a yellow card after the ex-Manchester City man had hauled Mols down on the edge of the area.

The CIS Insurance Cup trophy won on Sunday made an appearance at half time and although this game was never going to match that Old Firm encounter for drama it did briefly resemble it.

That moment arrived within 50 seconds of the restart when Lovenkrands was allowed to race clear down the inside left channel and slot home in the box to make it 2-0, just as he had at Hampden.

Kevin Muscat hadn't played in that match but with Jerome Bonnissel and Arthur Numan out injured he was asked to fill in on the left - and proceeded to leave challengers trailing as he motored forward before sending the Dane away.

De Boer was replaced by Bert Konterman before the hour mark and Shota Arveladze came on for Mols three minutes later - after Stephen Thompson spoiled his first start for Rangers with a mis-kick in front of goal.

A third energy-saving switch was made not long after, with Neil McCann replacing Lovenkrands as Rangers' thoughts turned to a Tennent's Scottish Cup quarter-final date at Dunfermline.

McCann was quickly into the game, sending a cross from the left that Arveladze met with his head and Dubourdeau made a smart block to deny the Georgian.

The goalkeeper repeated the trick after Arveladze had flicked the ball over Martyn Corrigan to create a shooting chance and Muscat was not far away with a curling long-ranger that ended up skimming the roof of the net.

Muscat was booked for a foul on McFadden before Cowan received a similar punishment for a rough challenge on Thompson and Well substitute Steven Craig was then shown a yellow for a foul on Muscat.

This had been the first game Rangers had played without Lorenzo Amoruso, who yesterday redceived a four-match ban for spitting at an opponent, and they had managed to get by well enough without him.

Teams

Rangers Klos, Muscat, Malcolm, Moore, Ross, Ricksen, Ferguson, de Boer (Konterman 58), Lovenkrands (McCann 66), Thompson, Mols (Arveladze 60).

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Hughes.

Booked: Lovenkrands, Muscat.

Goals: Ferguson 18, Lovenkrands 46.

Motherwell Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Hammell, Ramsey (Cowan 29), Adams, Lasley, Lehmann (Craig 75), Clarkson (Offiong 65), McFadden.

Subs Not Used: Woods, Fagan.

Booked: Vaughan, Cowan, Craig.

Att: 49,240

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).