Barry Ferguson ensured Rangers remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple with victory over Motherwell.
Rangers skipper finally breaks Motherwell resistance
Rangers captain Barry Ferguson ensured his side remain in contention for an unprecedented quadruple with a narrow victory over Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League.
Walter Smith's side are now four points adrift of leaders Celtic with two games in hand after ending their four-game winless run against a Well side, who arrived at Ibrox determined to defend deep and in numbers.
The energy-sapping demands of chasing silverware on four fronts is clearly taking its toll on the Gers, who looked as though they would be frustrated into dropping more points before Ferguson's late intervention.
In front of watching Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat, on a scouting mission ahead of Wednesday's Uefa Cup final between the two teams, former Blackburn midfielder Ferguson was on hand to rifle home into the top corner after Steven Davis' corner reached him at the far post.
Deadlock
The closest Rangers came to breaking the deadlock was when David Weir's towering header following a corner from the right was clawed away from under his own crossbar by Graeme Smith.
With Smith grounded in the back of his own net, Nacho Novo had the chance to put the home side in front, but he rushed the shot and fired wide of the near post.
Motherwell's best chance fell to the talented Ross McCormack, but he failed to trouble Neil Alexander in the Gers' goal.
Keith Lasley's astute pass released Stephen Hughes, who made it to the byline before cutting the ball back across the face, but McCormack failed to get a clean contact and dragged his effort beyond the far post.
Jean-Claude Darcheville then should have done better in added time at the end of the first half, but again failed to hit the target after exchanging passes with Kris Boyd.
Boyd then went close at the start of the second period as his glancing header from Davis' corner flashed past the back post.
Relief
Rangers continued to press and flooded the Well box with blue shirts as Boyd headed over and then captain Ferguson drilled narrowly high and wide.
With 25 minutes remaining, and his team seemingly no closer to breaking through the massed ranks of Motherwell's defence, Smith left his seat in the stands to join assistant boss Ally McCoist on the sidelines.
But Rangers finally got the goal they craved in the 74th minute with Ferguson showing tremendous agility to fire Davis' latest corner back across goal and into the top corner.
Uefa Cup hopefuls Motherwell finally became a little more adventurous up front, but failed to test Alexander in a tense finale, with the final whistle bringing as much relief as jubilation.
