Steven Thompson was first to test Gordon Marshall but he collected the weak header easily, however when Croatian hitman Dado Prso powered through on goal he wasn’t so fortunate.
The former Monaco striker picked the ball up just inside the Motherwell half and stormed forward beating Stephen Craigan, then Martin Corrgian to charge into the box and coolly chipped the out-rushing Marshall.
It was real quality from the 29-year-old and he celebrated his fifth goal in 12 games wildly with the travelling Light Blue support.
The international break has clearly had a positive effect on Alex McLeish’s men and Gers started the game well, playing some very neat football going forward.
Prso was proving to be a real handful and won a free kick on the edge of the box in the 15th minute. Following his success at Pittodrie last month Fernando Ricksen stepped up, although Marshall saved well diving low to his right.
At the other end, Richie Foran thought he had equalised after powering down the left before hitting a fierce shot, but Stefan Klos produced an excellent save to block.
Frantic is the only way to describe this clash and Prso had the ball in the net once again just before the half hour mark but was ruled offside.
Two minutes later, however David Clarkson passed up the best chance of the game when he collected Scott Leitch’s ball over the top to break through on goal, but once again Klos dived low to save with his right hand.
The move seemed to spark Motherwell into life and they pushed forward with Scott McDonald, Phil O’Donnell and Richie Foran all squandering half chances.
But having not conceded a goal in the past five matches, the Light Blue backline looked strong as Big Eck’s side went in ahead at the break.
The same team emerged after the interval and Novo, who had to have stitches in his mouth after a first half knock, looked refreshed.
In the 49th minute Thompson dispossessed Hammell inside his own half and played in Novo down the right.
The little Spaniard then crossed from the by-line, but Prso’s shot skidded inches wide of Marshall’s post.
60 seconds later Jean-Alain Boumsong almost had his second goal of the season when he latched on to Burke’s corner, though his header rose well over the bar.
Chris Burke first featured wide on the left for the top team against Maritimo at the end of last month and he continued his spell in front of Gregory Vignal again this afternoon.
But the 20-year-old is undoubtedly much quieter on his less favoured side and struggled to make a real impact.
Just on the hour mark though he cut inside after collecting Prso’s pass and did well to fend off several Well players, but his chip went just over the bar.
The home side sent Gers a stinging reminder that this game is far from over though a minute later when Scott Leitch shot from the edge of the box and Klos did well to divert the ball past his post.
But with 83 minutes on the clock the visitors ended the match as a contest when Prso bagged his second of the day.
Ricksen won the ball on the edge of his own box to release Novo and the former Dundee striker ran the length of the pitch to play in Prso on inside the Well area and he slid home past Marshall.
But immediately after the restart some confusion in the Rangers box resulted in Motherwell being awarded an indirect free kick from the right of the area.
Klos picked up Boumsong’s back pass and Novo did well to head McBride’s chip off the line after it cleared everyone in the wall.
MOTHERWELL: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, Leitch, McBride, O’Donnell (Paterson 89), McDonald, Clarkson, Foran
SUBS: Corr, Burns, Quinn, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick
BOOKINGS: None
RANGERS: Klos, Khizanishvili, Andrews, Boumsong, Vignal, Burke (Namouchi 88), Ricksen, Malcolm, Thompson (Arveladze 55), Prso, Novo
SUBS: Smith, McLean, Davidson, Hughes, Fetai,
BOOKINGS: Thompson 40, Burke 41, Malcolm 72, Novo 78
REFEREE: John Rowbotham
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Dado Prso