However, with 19 minutes remaining he had to be carried off by stretcher after taking a kick on the leg and things looked bleak for the goal hero.
It transpired that it was only a knock on a nerve and the 26-year-old should be fine to continue in his striking role next Saturday against Livingston.
Just as well. That’s 10 goals in eight games for Lovenkrands and Alex McLeish does not want to lose that kind of firepower as he chases those above him.
Motherwell feel aggrieved that they didn’t take anything from this game and they have a case.
However, Rangers did enough to win the game and that is all that is necessary at this stage.
They found themselves under considerable pressure in the early part of the match as Motherwell showed great purpose and desire.
Indeed the Steelmen might have scored twice in the first seven minutes.
There were just two minutes on the clock when Scott McDonald found Phil O’Donnell on the edge of the box.
Marvin Andrews did well to block O’Donnell’s shot, flinging his body in the way, but the danger was not over.
The ball broke to Brian Kerr who hammered a right foot shot which skimmed the top of the crossbar,
Rangers were opened up again in seven minutes when Martin Corrigan crossed from the right and McDonald hit a right foot shot which tested Ronald Waterreus. Fortunately the Dutchman was up to the task.
Rangers finally got going in 16 minutes when Chris Burke made an excellent bursiting run to the Motherwell box but his intended pass to Peter Lovenkrands was cleared by Stephen Craigan.
The sheer energy and endeavour of Motherwell made life difficult for McLeish’s men but as the first half drew to a close there were encouraging signs.
Soto Kyrgiakos almost got on the end of Bob Malcolm’s free kick in 32 minutes and then Lovenkrands forced former Ranger Graeme Smith into a decent save two minutes later after a good free kick routine between Ferguson and Malcolm.
Lovenkrands had the ball in the net in 39 minutes but Buffel was ruled offside before releasing him.
Rangers had looked vulnerable again, however, in 36 minutes when Waterreus missed Ritchie Foran’s corner and Kyrgiakos had to clear O’Donnell’s shot off the line.
And there seems little doubt that Alex McLeish welcomed the half-time whistle to regroup his troops.
The system involving Buffel linking behind Boyd and Lovenkrands had not seemed to work and when Buffel missed an excellent chance four minutes into the second half it eemed to sum up his day.
Malcolm flighted a free kick to the back post where Andrews headed the ball back across the box where Buffel was waiting but the Belgian miscued his shot wide from five yards.
It was a major disappointment for the Rangers bench but there was joy five minutes later when the Light Blues took the lead from a similar move.
This time Boyd flicked on Malcolm’s free kick towards the back post, Andrews helped it back into the middle and Lovenkrands lashed in a left foot shot from close range.
The deadly Dane had done it again, claiming his 10th goal in eight games – a remarkable run.
Sadly for Peter he was to find himself out of the match with 19 minutes to go with a leg injury when he fell awkwardly after being challenged from the back.
Nacho Novo was his replacement and by this point Dado Prso was also back in the action for the first time in two months having replaced Buffel.
Both did their jobs as Rangers largely controlled the game but Waterreus had to make two terrific saves to deny Motherwell a point.
The Dutchman made a superb block from O’Donnell’s shot in 65 minutes and then brilliantly denied McDonald in 76 minutes with a similar sort of save.
It was not the prettiest of performances, but Rangers got the job done to edge ever closer to third placed Hibs.
MOTHERWELL: 15-Smith; 2-Corrigan, 5-Craigan, 22-Kinniburgh, 3-Hammell; 6-McCormack (24-Fitzpatrick 86), 4-Kerr, 10-O’Donnell, 7-McDonald; 9-Foran, 16-Hamilton (17-McBride 78).
Subs not used: 18-Meldrum, 21-Fagan, 29-Maguire, 37-Smith, 39-Reynolds.
Bookings: Hammell (80), McBride (84)
RANGERS: 25-Waterreus; 24-Murray, 5-Andrews, 14-Kyrgiakos, 34-Smith; 17-Burke, 6-Ferguson, 12-Malcolm, 26-Lovenkrands (10-Novo 71); 4-Buffel (9-Prso 63), 15-Boyd.
Subs not used: 1-Klos, 7-Hemdani, 20-Hutton, 8-Rae, 44-McCormack.
Bookings: Buffel (61), Smith (77). Malcolm (84). Boyd (90+1)
Ref: Kenny Clark.