But Brian Kerr’s long-range equaliser early in the second half proved a turning point and despite throwing everything at the visitors thereafter, it wasn’t enough to clinch a third successive win for the Light Blues.
The match started brightly and with eight minutes gone Barry Ferguson capitalised on a loose ball in midfield to release Nacho Novo through the middle.
The Spaniard burst into life making a beeline for goal, but Motherwell defender Mark Reynolds did enough to push him wide, resulting in the shot screwing just past the post.
Ferguson was the instigator again after 14 minutes when he fed Kris Boyd and the bustling striker powered into the box before trying to get his shot away.
He was out-numbered by the visiting backline, however, and hustled off the ball before the danger was cleared.
But like any good forward his head didn’t go down and 60 seconds later he came close to opening the scoring.
Buffel showed great skill to skip past his marker and send Stevie Smith on his way down the left.
He whipped in a great low ball, which Boyd connected with perfectly, but Jim Paterson charged the shot and diverted it for a corner.
In similar fashion to the last home game against Inverness, Rangers enjoyed a lot of possession against Maurice Malpas’ side but just couldn’t get the goal their play deserved.
Calum Elliot launched the visitor’s sole chance of the opening stages after 22 minutes, but his long-range effort flew well wide of the target.
There was much more urgency in Gers’ play today, it has to be said , than two weeks ago against the Highlanders and four minutes later Ferguson smashed a fierce volley goal-bound, but again Well cleared, this time Jim Paterson being knocked off his feet with the impact.
Much to the home fans’ relief though a goal was just around the corner and it was a great team effort that sliced Motherwell open.
Nacho Novo has been a real inspiration of late and he was the catalyst again after 34 minutes when he won the corner that led to the goal.
He chased Adam’s long cross to the corner flag and then Paterson with a drag-back before bursting into the box.
He then fired in a low cross, which Quinn cleared off the line conceding a flag-kick.
Buffel stepped up for the resultant set-piece and after playing a short one-two with Ferguson chipped the ball to the back post, where Boyd was waiting.
He rose majestically to meet the Belgian’s cross from the left and Colin Meldrum could do nothing to stop his header from such close range.
There was an audible relief around Ibrox and to be fair it was nothing less than Paul Le Guen’s side deserved.
Within a minute of the second half beginning Stephen Craigan bowled over Novo and a free kick was awarded 30-yards out just right of centre.
Ferguson curled in a low cross and Rodriguez did well to nip in ahead of his marker to bullet a header on goal. Meldrum was alert and saved well, but it was good early pressure from Gers.
Well responded by breaking up the park and Elliot crossed from the right for Ritchie Foran, who was waiting at the back post but his header dropped over the bar.
It should have served as a warning to Rangers because two minutes later the Steelmen bagged an equaliser.
Scott McDonald’s low cross into the box was not cleared and when Elliot tapped the ball back to Brian Kerr on the edge of the area he made no mistake drilling his strike past Letizi.
The Light Blues have not managed a clean sheet in their last four matches but they set about regaining the lead immediately.
Novo raced on to Alan Hutton’s long ball down the line and whipped in a first time cross, which fell perfectly for the on-rushing Charlie Adam.
He struck a sweet volley that looked to be destined for the back of the net, but Quinn defended well and diverted wide.
Dado Prso was sent on to bolster the attack, at the expense of Charlie Adam, but it was Novo who looked the most dangerous up front.
The former Dundee striker ran on to Buffel’s through ball and burst into the box before firing a fierce drive, but Meldrum got down well to save.
It was to be his last involvement as Filip Sebo was introduced to the game with 12 minutes remaining in the hope of repeating his antics against Aberdeen.
The dream almost became reality for the Slovakian after 83 minutes when he collected the ball just inside the box, but as he was about to pull the trigger Quinn charged in to bundle him over.
It was as clear a spot kick as you will see but astonishingly Charlie Richmond, who was right up with play, waved the claim away.
In the last two weeks Rangers have been on the receiving end of two awful penalty decisions and today was equally as bad.
It really was backs to the wall for Motherwell as the clock ticked down, Rangers throwing everything forward in a bid to snatch a winner, but it wouldn’t come and the home side are left to lick their wounds again.
RANGERS: 21 Letizi, 20 Hutton, 27 Rodriguez, 5 Papac, 26 Smith, 6 Ferguson, 7 Hemdani, 25 Adam (9 Prso 69), 4 Buffel, 15 Boyd, 10 Novo (23 Sebo 78)
SUBS: 22 McGregor, 16 Bardsley, 19 Svensson, 11 Rae, 8 Clement
BOOKINGS: None
MOTHERWELL: 18 Meldrum, 19 Quinn, 5 Craigan, 30 Reynolds, 11 Paterson (20 Fitzpatrick 84), 4 Kerr, 14 McGarry (17 McBride 77), 22 Lasley, 31 Elliot, 7 McDonald, 9 Foran
SUBS: 1 Smith, 15 Kinniburgh26 Connelly, 27 Coakley
BOOKINGS: Quinn 28, Paterson 68, McDonald 90
REFEREE: Charlie Richmond
KEY MAN: Barry Ferguson – worked tirelessly in the midfield