Barry Ferguson scored a second-half winner as Rangers moved to within four points of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League table.

Ferguson volleyed a close range shot into the top right corner in the 74th minute following a corner by Steven Davis.

Rangers had dominated most of the encounter but failed to create any real chances before skipper Ferguson crashed in the only goal.

The first opportunity arrived with just two minutes on the clock. A neat pass from Jean-Claude Darcheville allowed Ferguson to release Kris Boyd through on goal but the danger was cleared by the Motherwell defence before he could shoot.

Boyd then played Darcheville into the box before making a run to collect the return pass only to lose his footing and swipe at fresh air.

David Weir also came close when he saw a long-range header touched onto the crossbar by goalkeeper Graeme Smith, before Nacho Novo lashed the rebound into the side-netting.

At the other end Stephen Hughes set up Ross McCormack, named in the Scotland squad for the first time earlier - but he dragged his shot across goal and narrowly wide.

With half-time approaching, Boyd teed up a shot for Darcheville - only for the Frenchman to rifle wide of target as the first half ended in stalemate.

Set-pieces had proved to be Motherwell's Achilles heel against Celtic last weekend and they almost succumbed to an opener against the other half of the Old Firm two minutes after the restart.

Davis' inswinging corner found the head of Weir but the veteran defender was again denied when he glanced across the goalmouth and past the upright.

Darcheville then pounced on a long clearance from Carlos Cuellar, only for Brian McLean to hoof his cross-cum-shot to safety - before blasting high and wide from just inside the box.

The breakthrough eventually came when a Davis corner was nodded on by Weir to Ferguson, who was waiting on the edge of the six-yard box to gratefully lash into the top corner of the net.

Motherwell immediately brought on Chris Porter and Darren Smith for McCormack and Keith Lasley, while Rangers swapped Darcheville for Charlie Adam.

Boyd thought he had wrapped up the win late on when he netted - but the nearside assistant had already flagged for offside before the shot had left his boot.

The striker then made way for Daniel Cousin as Rangers held on for a much-needed win and they now have 79 points from 34 matches behind Celtic on 83 points from 36 games.

Celtic have two games left in a nervous finish to their campaign as they bid for their third championship in a row.

Rangers have games in hand after their run to this season's UEFA Cup final against Zenit St Petersburg.

TeamTalk / Reuters