RANGERS returned to the top of the Premiership. This wasn’t the result or the manner in which they wished to do so.

On the day that the league flag was raised, the champions suffered a setback in their title defence. A 1-1 draw with Motherwell was not how Rangers wished to mark the occasion.

When Fashion Sakala gave Steven Gerrard’s side an early lead, the rest of the script was seemingly written. As it transpired, there was a twist in the tale.

A Kaiyne Woolery equaliser changed the story. Motherwell were the villains on an afternoon where no hero would emerge for Rangers in the Ibrox sunshine.

The inability to finish chances and kill teams off cost Rangers dearly during Gerrard’s first two title challenges. That same trait cannot be allowed to undermine their Premiership defence.

The events of March and May – as the Premiership was won and then the silverware was lifted – will forever be etched in the minds of supporters. This draw with the Steelmen is not one that will live long in the memory as Rangers’ party was spoiled.

From a campaign that was relentless, the Ibrox crowd are now restless. News that Celtic were beaten by Livingston wouldn’t have raised their spirits, that is for sure.

The afternoon had started with a celebration. It would end with a post-mortem as Motherwell snatched a point and denied Rangers two that would have given them extra breathing space in the title race.

The flag day celebrations – conducted by Chairman Douglas Park, deputy John Bennett and John Greig – were short and low key. As Park pulled the chord, a rapturous round of applause and cheers greeted the first sight of the flag and pictures were taken before the plinth was wheeled away.

From that moment on, it was down to business. This was a chance for Rangers to show their mark of champions, yet they would drop points for the second time this term.

For most of the first half, and swathes of the second, it was hard to see that outcome unfolding, but Gerrard's side would shoot themselves in the foot as the positives became enveloped by the overwhelming negative of damage that was needless and careless.

When Motherwell made the trip to Ibrox in December, former boss Stephen Robinson famously set out with a unique formation of two banks of five in an attempt to stifle and frustrate a side still reeling from their League Cup defeat to St Mirren.

Thankfully, for the sake of the match as spectacle, Graham Alexander didn’t follow Robinson’s lead. Motherwell would still find themselves on the back foot for long spells, though.

The moments where they threatened were brief. Tony Watt couldn’t capitalise on an error from Jack Simpson as he was forced wide by Allan McGregor and foiled by Connor Goldson, while Kevin Van Veen was booked for diving as he went to ground rather than attempting to get a shot away late in the half.

By that stage, Alexander had also brought himself to the attention of referee Steven McLean. He was a vocal, agitated, presence throughout and McLean and his officials eventually had enough.

The booking wouldn’t have overly concerned Alexander, but he should have been worried by how comfortable Rangers were in the first half. The deficit was one, but it should have been greater.

The goal had come from Sakala after 12 minutes. A James Tavernier corner was flicked on by Joe Aribo at the front post and Sakala was in the right place at the right time.

Given the nod ahead of Alfredo Morelos after he picked up a knock against Lyon, this was a chance for Sakala to build on the reputation he earned in the opening weeks of the campaign, and especially in the win over Real Madrid.

He reacted smartly to Aribo’s flick, got in head of Stephen O’Donnell and converted from a couple of yards. Rangers were off and running as he scored for the first time in the league.

A last-gasp Juhani Ojala clearance, after a fumble from Liam Kelly, denied Sakala his second, while efforts from Steven Davis and then Kemar Roofe were dealt with relatively comfortably.

The front three of Sakala, Roofe and Scott Wright were bright and interchanged smartly. Rangers may have been too intricate at times, but there was more purpose and energy about their attacking display.

Wright and Sakala both tried their luck, to no avail, after the break. Rangers deserved the second goal to end this one as a contest, but their wait was becoming a frustrating one as a Tavernier cross, or perhaps it was a shot, from the left almost caught Kelly out.

The most glaring chance came at the end of a Davis breakaway. He would choose the wrong option and the opening was gone as Glen Kamara was smothered out.

That would ultimately sum up Rangers’ decision making and lack of cutting edge as the game unfolded. This one should have been done and dusted and the points should have been secured.

Out of nowhere, Motherwell would capitalise on Rangers’ profligacy. Ibrox was stunned and the scores were level.

The goal was, once again, soft to concede as Mark O’Hara skipped by Simpson and burst into the box. Goldson’s challenge became an inadvertent assist and Woolery made the most of the break as he nipped in ahead of Borna Barisic to finish.

Morelos and Juninho Bacuna – on for his debut – were Gerrard’s first switches. Scott Arfield would soon follow as Ibrox became increasingly on edge and upset.

The sign that six minutes would be added was the cue for one last rallying call from the stands. Rangers knew that time was against them.

Soon, it was up. This point took Rangers back to the top of the Premiership, but it was two squandered by the champions as opportunities were missed.

The boos that greeted the final whistle told their own story at Ibrox. This wasn’t a mark of champions.