Rangers step up and play as Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side prepare for Europa League semi with Motherwell win

This was an afternoon that could have seen Rangers suffer another blow in their seemingly forlorn attempts to retain their title. Instead, it was one which kept the dream alive.

Amid a hectic, high-stakes schedule and with an injury list that leaves him deprived of key options, Van Bronckhorst had called on his players to make the most of their chance against Motherwell as they sought to build momentum for the challenges that await. They did just that.

All Rangers can do in the closing weeks of the campaign is take care of their own business and then see what Celtic do. If their Old Firm rivals win their games and handle the pressure, then the reign as champions will end after just one season.

Rangers held up their side of the bargain here. A Scott Wright double and James Tavernier penalty ensured Van Bronckhorst’s side didn’t stumble against the Steelmen once again.

The Ibrox boss can now turn his attentions fully to RB Leipzig and the Europa League semi-final on Thursday night. This fixture was moved forward 24 hours to help the preparations for that occasion and Rangers must put the time to good use.

The focus was on securing the victory here, but one eye was already on the meeting with the German giants and the team news at Fir Park was indicative of how Van Bronckhorst saw the coming days. As his biggest hitters were left on the sidelines, the Ibrox boss set out his stall.

Eight changes were made from the Old Firm win at Hampden. It was no surprise, but an unfamiliar looking line-up wouldn’t have inspired confidence amongst a support that were hoping for a Premiership miracle this weekend.

Amad Diallo came in from the cold but wouldn’t – through no fault of his own - see the interval as his chance to impress was fleeting. Wright and Fashion Sakala completed an unconventional front three and time will tell how Van Bronckhorst sees things in Leipzig in the absence of Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.

He can be pleased that goals were not hard to come by here, at least. This was a test of Rangers’ character as well as their quality and it was one they deservedly overcame as the deficit to Celtic was cut ahead of their trip to Ross County.

Rangers ended the first half level in the match but a man down. Both positions were self-inflicted as Van Bronckhorst’s side paid the price for two criminal decisions.

The opening half an hour was satisfactory for the champions and their lead was a deserved one as Wright opened the scoring. It would briefly go wrong after that, though.

The deadlock was broken 15 minutes in, and it was a moment that Liam Kelly won’t want to see back when the Steelmen sit down to watch the footage of this one in the coming days.

Motherwell survived a scare when Jake Carroll blocked an effort from Amad Diallo. One corner was dealt with, but the second wasn’t.

Both sides were reduced in number after Balogun and Rickie Lamie received treatment following a clash of heads. It was Rangers who would capitalise.

A short corner was worked between Diallo and Tavernier and Connor Goldson nodded the ball back across goal. Kelly flapped at it and Wright was on hand to ensure it was bundled over from just inches out as a scrappy moment gave Rangers the lead.

Scott Arfield saw a strike blocked in the area, while Tavernier whistled an effort narrowly by the far post on the angle. A low drive from Callum Slattery was all Motherwell had in response.

The game changed on the half hour mark, though. A moment of madness and recklessness from Leon Balogun cost his side and undermined Van Bronckhorst.

The challenge on Dean Cornelius was as stupid as it was needless and Nick Walsh had no option but to go straight for a red card. His call just seconds later to only book Juahni Ojala for a lunge on Wright was more debateable.

In the week that VAR was voted through by SPFL members, that moment was another tick in the box for the introduction of technology. It certainly merited a second viewing.

Diallo was the one who had to make way as Calvin Bassey’s afternoon off was cut short. Within minutes, Rangers had squandered their lead.

The mistake from Glen Kamara - as he failed to clear his lines and blundered on the ball – was in excusable. After nipping in to pinch possession from the Finn, Ross Tierney compounded Kamara’s error as he nodded a fine header, from a Carroll cross, into the net.

From a position of strength, Rangers were now staring a strenuous second half. It was almost symptomatic of their season as they once again made life more difficult for themselves than it needed to be.

It was Wright who stepped up when required. His first of the afternoon was perhaps fortunate, but there was no dismissing the quality of the second.

The move from Rangers was incisive as Sakala burst forward, while the finish from Wright clinical as Kelly was beaten with a low drive from the edge of the box. The champions had done exactly what they needed to just three minutes after the restart.

The disadvantage in terms of numbers hadn’t impacted Rangers. When Tavernier made it 3-1, there was no doubt about where the points were heading.

Sakala again caused Motherwell problems and Bevis Mugabi was penalised as Walsh pointed to the spot. After Tavernier steadied himself and placed the ball for the second time, he dispatched the penalty with aplomb as Kelly was sent the wrong way and the away crowd could celebrate once again.

The closing stages allowed them to toast a merited victory. The game was one, the job was done as Rangers basked in the Lanarkshire sunshine.

The setting and the stakes will be very different come Thursday night but it is an occasion that Van Bronckhorst’s side should relish. History awaits Rangers.

The Ibrox boss will once again ask his players to dig deep and rise to the challenge. If they can do so once again, then European glory could become even more realistic than Premiership success this season.