So a melee which resulted in Dado Prso and Marc Fitzpatrick being sent off three minutes after Prso was brought down for a penalty which won the game was still not enough to take centre stage.
The Ferguson affair, of course, dominated the build-up and aftermath of this contest and will no doubt continue to do so for days to come.
However, of immediate importance to Paul Le Guen and his team was a vital win which has taken Rangers back into second spot.
Gavin Rae had the difficult task of not only taking Ferguson’s place in the side but also taking the armband.
Regular chants in favour of the deposed skipper could hardly have aided his case, but Rae stuck to his task well although it was Jeremy Clement who was the stand-out in midfield.
The Frenchman put in a power of work, winning the ball at vital times, and linking the play better than recent games.
Le Guen made three other changes to the side.
Prso was back for Nacho Novo while Chris Burke replaced Charlie Adam and Ian Murray made his first top team appearance of the season, coming in for Sasa Papac at left back.
He knew he would get a battle at Fir Park and he was not disappointed.
Motherwell, fresh from a 1-1 draw with Celtic, were dangerous and aggressive but Rangers had the better chances in the first half.
Former Ibrox keeper Graeme Smith made excellent blocks from Chris Burke while Kris Boyd and Dado Prso were both profligate in their finishing although, once again, Prso was the inspiration.
He was the drive and purpose of the side – a qualify normally provided by Ferguson – coming back into the side after hamstring trouble at Aberdeen.
Prso should have scored with a header in 34 minutes after a great move down the right but missed the target.
And Boyd should have done better when Svensson stabbed the ball into his path two minutes before half-time but miscued at the vital moment.
Smith’s first save from Burke came in just two minutes when he held a powerful left foot shot.
However, his block just before half-time from the winger’s right foot drive was exceptional.
His old Murray Park training mate Allan McGregor made even better saves in the early moments of the second half as the game really opened up.
He made a great smothering stop in 57 minutes to deny the ever-dangerous Scott McDonald.
Then McGregor made an even better block in 62 minutes when he somehow clawed McDonald’s vicious 20-yarder over the bar.
Rangers had their chances too. Novo, who had to replace the injured Sionko after 24 minutes, had two efforts blocked in quick succession in 56 minutes.
Then in 64 minutes Prso burst through only to shoot into the side net.
The Croatian, however, was instrumental in the move that clinched it, winning a penalty in 69 minutes.
Burke played the ball into his feet on the right side of the box and as he took it wide, Smith bundled him to the ground.
Rangers have probably not been given stronger claims this season but the Light Blues were not complaining.
Kris Boyd spotted the ball and calmly slotted it into the left corner of the net.
Within three minutes, however, the match blew up into mayhem when virtually all 22 players were involved in a penalty box punch-up.
Players from both sides became involved as McGregor tried to claim the ball following two desperate goal-line clearances.
Mike McCurry decided that Prso and Marc Fitzpatrick were the chief offenders and sent them off.
The incident certainly did not reflect a well-fought contest and Prso now misses Sunday’s Cup tie at Dunfermline,
Motherwell fought hard to get back in it but Rangers held on for the win they wanted.
Now we all wait to see what develops on the Ferguson front.