RANGERS made it four victories in a row in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 away win at Fir Park over Motherwell this afternoon.
The Light Blues had to wait until the second half to break the deadlock, but they were rewarded with a fine individual effort from Malik Tillman.
John Lundstram added a second for the away side shortly after as the Ibrox men returned to winning ways despite Stuart McKinstry’s free-kick late in the contest.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst named three changes to his side for the trip to Fir Park, with Leon King, Tillman and Rabbi Matondo replacing Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack and Fashion Jr.
Rangers engineered the first opportunity of the game inside four minutes when Ryan Kent played a neat give-and-go with Tillman, although the former’s effort was blocked into the grateful arms of Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal.
Tillman was at the heart of the action minutes later as he went close from inside the penalty area. Kent combined effectively with Borna Barisic and, when the Croatian’s delivery fell to the USA international, he could only steer his effort off target.
The Light Blues had a sighting at goal in the 22nd minute when Tillman collected a loose ball in the attacking third before striding towards goal, but Kelly was equal to his low driven effort.
McKinstry curled a shot towards goal for the home side shortly after, but it was no threat to McGregor who watched the ball float wide of his far post.
Barisic delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area on 39 minutes as Antonio Colak lurked with intent, but it was collected by Kelly before it could reach the Croatian.
Matondo then got down the outside of Matt Penney and flashed a wicked ball towards Colak at the front post, although Motherwell stood strong to clear the danger.
Barisic and James Tavernier threatened with a sequence of crosses on the stroke of half time, with Colak and the Light Blues captain contesting a cross from the left that was eventually claimed by Kelly.
Rangers almost had an opener five minutes into the second half. Barisic stood up a dangerous first time cross where Colak rose highest and powered a header wide of the far post.
Kevin Van Veen stung the palms of McGregor from a tight angle down the opposite end after being played in by Sean Goss.
The Light Blues then took the lead with an extraordinary solo effort in the 52nd minute. Tillman collected possession on the halfway before striding forward, beating four Motherwell players on his way, and planting an unerring finish into the bottom corner.
Rangers had a spring in their step after the goal as they went in search of a second goal, with Tillman dinking a lovely cross towards Colak that required Ricki Lamie to header back to his goalkeeper.
However, the second goal arrived in the 70th minute as the Gers got the rewards for their second half endeavour. Barisic whipped a delicious near post corner towards John Lundstram who stole a yard on his marker and glanced a header into the opposite corner.
McKinstry pulled a goal back for the home side from a free-kick that sailed into the far corner.
Lundstram had the chance to add a third goal for the Light Blues when he received a pull-back from Barisic on the edge of the area, but his left-footed effort was off target.
The full time whistle blew to put the seal on all three points for the Gers as Dundee now await in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup at Ibrox in midweek.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, McGinn, Solholm, Lamie (Mugabi, 57), Penney, Goss, Slattery (Cornelius, 89), Tierney, Morris, McKinstry, Van Veen
UNUSED SUBS: Oxborough, O’Donnell, Maguire, Miller, Ross, Ferrie
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, King, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Tillman, Arfield (Davis, 65), Matondo (Wright, 65), Colak (Morelos, 81), Kent
UNUSED SUBS: McLaughlin, Ridvan, Sands, McCann, Fashion Jr., Devine
REFEREE: David Dickinson
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