And he cleared let them know about it as they responded with a vastly improved performance to claim their 10th successive away victory in the SPL.
Kyle Lafferty scoresSteven Naismith and Kyle Lafferty gave the Ibrox team a healthy cushion at the midway point of this one.
And Gregg Wylde made the three points safe in the closing stages to send Gers into their return with Maribor this coming Thursday in Glasgow on a high.
The Light Blues went into this match knowing their loss in Slovenia had taken its toll in more ways than one.
Lee McCulloch and Kirk Broadfoot, both of whom played the full 90 minutes against Darko Milanic’s team, were ruled out with injuries.
And Carlos Bocanegra, who joined Dorin Goian in central defence three days ago, was absent due to his UK work visa not coming through in time.
All of that and injuries to the likes of David Weir, Kyle Bartley, Sasa Papac and Steven Whittaker – along with Maurice Edu’s suspension – meant the away side was a depleted one.
In came Jordan McMillan and Ross Perry to the back line for their first league starts, while Wylde and Lafferty also made first XI debuts for the season.
After Gers’ last-gasp midweek defeat, Well were clearly keen to press them back as much as they could in the early stages.
They made a flying start and Perry had to tackle well to halt their progress upfield, before Allan McGregor’s sharp reactions helped clear a wicked Tom Hateley corner.
At the other end, Nikica Jelavic headed Steven Davis’ flighted free kick just over, while a Wylde half volley was blocked when it seemed it might be heading goalwards.
It was a frantic start to the match but for all that the visitors were without key players, they certainly had chances to score in the opening exchanges.
Jelavic went close again with another header, while Lafferty should have done better with Davis’ perfect through pass and his casual finish allowed Darren Randolph to save.
In the first few games of the campaign, it’s fair to say Rangers haven’t always shown the great energy levels the possessed at the end of last term.
Gregg WyldeBut while Lafferty wasn’t always involved initially, his presence allowed Naismith to drop back into a deeper midfield role and that added a different dimension to Gers’ play.
Indeed, the former Kilmarnock man’s efforts led to the away side’s opener after just 19 minutes and they thoroughly deserved to go in front.
Naismith’s shot was deflected wide for a corner and when Davis swung it in, a ruck of players went up looking to get a touch.
Jelavic made the first contact with the ball and as it ripped into the net, he ran away claiming his fourth goal of the season.
TV replays showed, however, that Naismith had got the final touch off his head and instead it was he who basked in the glory of his third of the campaign.
It was also the first Well had conceded since the summer – and moments later they very nearly went 2-0 down.
McMillan did really well to win possession with a ferocious tackle and that gave Ortiz a chance to shoot.
His tame effort was blocked but Jelavic then laid off to Wylde and his attempt on his weaker right foot was actually bending into the top corner until a defensive header helped it away.
From there, Motherwell finally settled down and came back into the game but although they had plenty of possession, they didn’t penetrate as much as Stuart McCall would have liked.
Steven Hammell tried his luck with a fantastic arrowing drive from 20 yards but McGregor was equal to it as he held it with conviction.
Back came the champions on the break, with Lafferty teeing up Naismith after good work by Davis to set him clear.
This time, however, the Scotland cap held the ball up too long when he should he shot quicker and by the time he did release, the defence had got back to block and deflect behind.
Jelavic put another header over the crossbar from the resulting corner and that nearly proved to be costly as forced the ball over McGregor’s line eight minutes from full time.
Nikica JelavicWhile their goal was a well worked one, it was correctly disallowed as the ball struck Jamie Murphy’s arm before he rolled it in.
And just before the break a terrific first-half display was rounded off with a good second goal, scored by Lafferty.
Davis and Ortiz were heavily involved as Gers poured forward, with the latter sending a precise pass through into the box.
And just when it seemed Lafferty might be taking play too wide, he fired an excellent finish across keeper Randolph and into the back of the net.
Leading 2-0, McCoist’s men emerged after the restart looking confident and Ortiz, Naismith and Wylde all had early opportunities to net but couldn’t.
Lafferty then nearly had something to celebrate when he shouldn’t have as Randolph took an eternity to smother his shot from the left-hand channel of the box.
Naismith could have had his second when he was played in by the increasingly influential Ortiz but he fired just over.
And Davis smashed a stunning 30-yard drive off the top of the crossbar as Gers only looked like adding to their lead.
Chris Humphrey almost made McGregor look silly with a clipped cross from the right which the keeper thought was drifting out for a goal kick.
But he was relieved when the ball came back off his post and ran away from goal rather than to any of the home players who were there waiting to pounce on the rebound.
It was very nearly 3-0 when Lafferty sent Naismith and Ortiz scampering forward but on this occasion Rangers were too guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net.
In the end, Naismith did head against the upright after the Spaniard couldn’t quite convert Jelavic’s centre but a goal should have come already by that point.
With the game edging towards its conclusion, the result seemed in little doubt and Lafferty came off to a standing ovation as he came off for John Fleck.
The scoring wasn’t done yet though and five minutes from the end Wylde made sure of the result with a fine goal, his first for the club.
He collected the ball on the halfway line and despite the attentions of two Motherwell players, he simply hit the accelerator and outpaced them both.
There was still work to be done though and as he made his way into the area, the 20-year-old unleashed a well-placed drive across Randolph and into the back of the net.
With that, what had been a potentially tricky afternoon had turned into a rout instead and Well still remain without a win against Gers since Boxing Day 2002.