A goal in either half from Barry Ferguson and Peter Lovenkrands was enough to see off a lacklustre Well side even though the performance from the Light Blues was efficient rather than flashy.
It was always going to be hard to replicate the electric atmosphere created at Hampden just three days previous but the home crowd seemed strangely subdued as they peered through the fog at the action unfolding in front of them.
Admittedly the fans – and the players – could be forgiven for suffering from a touch of nerves as the season reaches a spectacular climax where even one slip-up could prove fatal.
The re-capture of the CIS Cup on Sunday was undoubtedly a welcomed achievement but with that success came the added pressures of delivering the much-heralded treble.
It is not an impossible mission but – following the recent league defeat at Celtic – the need to continue to churn out victories like this one remained essential.
The visit of the bottom side may not normally send shivers down the spine but with Motherwell fighting for their safety and boosted by the knowledge that they had already recorded a victory over Alex McLeish’s men it was never going to be a walkover for the home side by any means.
It was a re-shaped Rangers side that took to the field, with Lorenzo Amoruso sitting out the first game of a four-match ban and injuries sidelining Claudio Caniggia, Mikel Arteta and Jerome Bonnissel.
Steven Thompson made his first start since arriving at Ibrox and put in a tiger-ish display epitomised by one incident where he raced 30 yards to put in a sliding challenge near the half-way line.
His endeavour was heartily appreciated by the home crowd and they had further reason to cheer when Rangers took the lead after 17 minutes.
Michael Mols – visibly boosted by landing his first ‘proper’ medal at the weekend – was chopped down by David Partridge at the edge of the box.
Skipper Ferguson took the responsibility and curled a free kick past the dive of Francois Dubourdeau for his first goal in nearly two months.
After their shock win at Fir Park, Motherwell seemed much more timid away from home though still looked threatening on occasional bursts forward.
Much has been said about James McFadden – not all of it complimentary – but his touch and vision is exquisite at times.
He sent Dirk Lehmann away with an inch-perfect 35 yard pass at one point but the German’s first touch was poor and his compatriot Stefan Klos was quickly out to block the ball with his chest.
A Lehmann header that flashed narrowly wide was the closest Motherwell came after that and a minute after the break Rangers doubled their advantage.
Kevin Muscat – in at left-back for the injured Bonnissel and Arthur Numan – made a great darting run down the wing before sliding a pass through to Lovenkrands.
From a similar position to his goal versus Celtic at the weekend, the Whippet hared onto the ball and clinically dispatched it past Dubourdeau.
Bert Konterman and Shota Arveladze then replaced Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols respectively as play continued almost incessantly towards the Motherwell goal.
Thompson was inches away from connecting with a Fernando Ricksen cross and them mis-controlled when Konterman tried to play him in on goal.
Neil McCann came on in Rangers’ last change and – with perhaps a point to prove to Berti Vogts – stuck over a cross with more swing than an Australian fast bowler that the diving Arveladze headed goalwards.
Dubourdeau matched his effort with an equally impressive save and then denied the Georgian again a few minutes later with a juggled catch.
Motherwell, like a battered boxer stuck on the ropes, seemed unable to get out of their own half and Muscat wasn’t far away from his first Rangers goal from open play with a dipping drive.
Further strikes to boost the goal difference would have been appreciated but it was an efficient and professional performance nevertheless.
RANGERS (4-3-3): 1 Klos; 21 Ross, 3 Moore, 12 Malcolm, 17 Muscat; 2 Ricksen, 6 Ferguson(c), 14 de Boer (Konterman 57); 19 Thompson, 10 Mols (Arveladze 60), 26 Lovenkrands (McCann 66)
Subs: McGregor, Hughes
Booked: Lovenkrands (45), Muscat (76)
MOTHERWELL (4-4-2): 13 Dubourdeau; 5 Ramsay (Cowan 28), 15 Vaughan, 14 Partridge, 3 Hammill; 4 Lasley, 7 Adams, 10 McFadden, 2 Corrigan; 9 Lehmann (Craig 75), 27 Clarkson (Offiong 64)
Subs: Woods, Fagan
Booked: Vaughan (32), Cowan (83), Craig (89)
Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson