The only sour note for McLeish – aside from Motherwell’s late fightback that threatened to take the shine off a polished peformance – was the second-half dismissal of Barry Ferguson after the midfielder picked up a second yellow card following a tussle with Motherwell substitute Richie Foran, who was also booked.
Ferguson will now sit out the next SPL match at home to Dundee United on April 12 when Rangers will look to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points – for 24 hours at least.
Hearts’ surprise but welcome victory at Parkhead on Saturday had added a further twist to the ongoing battle for domestic supremacy and Rangers took to the field here in the knowledge that victory was again imperative if they harboured any real ambitions of clinching their 51st title.
As expected, McLeish chose not to play Marvin Andrews as he struggles with a knee problem while injury also sidelined both Thomas Buffel (hamstring) and Mo Ross (groin).
Their enforced absence meant a return to right-back for Fernando Ricksen while Hamed Namouchi and Alex Rae enjoyed the welcome opportunity of a place in the starting 11.
If McLeish had any fears of how this patched-up ensemble would perform at a venue that has notoriously proved difficult for his side then they were soon allayed as Rangers forged into an early lead.
Ricksen and Namouchi created the opening, the Tunisian latching onto his captain’s reverse pass and crossing into the danger area where it was only half-cleared to the edge of the box.
It was a difficult chance for Vignal to control but his well-timed right foot shot was sweet and true and gave Gordon Marshall no chance.
The fourth-minute goal sparked memories of Rangers’ recent 5-1 humbling of Well in the CIS Cup final but Motherwell offered sterner resistance on this occasion, clattering into tackles and not allowing those in Light Blue any time to dwell on the ball.
This aggressive stance was mirrored off the park as well where one disenchanted home supporter viciously hurled the ball at Ricksen as he trotted over to take a throw in.
Just as at Hampden, however, Motherwell’s defences were to be breached once more and, remarkably, Vignal was again the scorer.
The tireless Dado Prso shuffled a sideways pass to Namouchi and when the midfielder sent over a spiralling, tempting centre Vignal raced between goalkeeper and defence to connect firmly with a header that flew past Marshall.
Having scored only once previously all season – albeit a vital strike at Parkhead – the on-loan defender found himself in the unlikely position of chasing an incredible hat-trick with an hour of this contest still remaining.
Motherwell’s sole retort before the break was a Scott Leitch half-volley that Ronald Waterreus did well to parry leaving Rangers to troop up the tunnel at half-time feeling justifiably satisfied with a decent 45 minutes’ work.
That warm glow of satisfaction would grow further just six minutes into the second half when the Light Blues scored again.
Pauk Quinn bumped Prso to the turf close to the left touchline and the Croatian exacted instant revenge as he rose highest to glance Ricksen’s wicked free kick in off the post.
That seemed to have ended the match as a contest and the other side issue was settled shortly after as well when Vignal shot high into the stand in an elusive search for that hat-trick and moments later departed to a standing ovation to be replaced by Peter Lovenkrands.
Motherwell, for a team that had seemed down and out, were then handed a lifeline back into the contest when they were awarded a penalty with 70 minutes gone after the ball struck Bob Malcolm on the arm.
It seemed a harsh decision and when Kevin McBride emphatically converted the spot kick and then Ferguson was sent off minutes later Motherwell, somehow, were back in with a chance of salvaging something from this match.
It would get worse for Rangers when Motherwell then scored again six minutes from time, Martyn Corrigan’s deflected drive leaving Waterreus wrong-footed as the ball sped past him.
The agitated state of the visiting support was not helped when a fine Shota Arveladze goal was then ruled out for an alleged infringement before Lovenkrands managed to shoot over an empty net after great build-up play again from Prso.
When the final whistle finally sounded after four minutes of injury time, it signalled a welcome return to the top of the table for McLeish’s men – even if they did have to do it the hard way.
MOTHERWELL (4-4-2): 1 Marshall; 19 Quinn, 5 Craigan, 14 Partridge, 3 Hammell; 17 McBride, 8 Leitch, 2 Corrigan, 18 Paterson (Foran 59); 12 Clarkson (Britton 82), 7 McDonald
Subs not used: Corr, Fitzpatrick, Kerr, Wright, Kinniburgh
Booked: McDonald (8), Foran (79), Clarkson (79), Craigan (90)
RANGERS (4-4-2): 25 Waterreus; 2 Ricksen, 12 Malcolm 16 Kyrgiakos (Khizanishvili 72), 18 Ball; 31 Namouchi (Arveladze 66), 6 Ferguson, 8 A Rae, 24 Vignal (Lovenkrands 61); 9 Prso, 10 Novo
Subs not used: McGregor, Burke, Thompson, McCormack
Booked: Kyrgiakos (45), Ferguson (57), Ricksen (89)
Sent Off: Ferguson (79)
Man of the Match: Dado Prso