James Tavernier’s 14th minute header was cancelled out by a late strike from Emmanuel Longelo in Russell Martin’s first domestic game in charge.
There was just one change from the UEFA Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos in midweek as Djeidi Gassama made his first start for the club, with Findlay Curtis named on the bench.
Rangers started with Jack Butland in goal behind a back line of captain James Tavernier, Nasser Djiga, John Souttar and Max Aarons.
It was the same midfield as midweek too, with Joe Rothwell, Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande lining-up in the centre of the pitch. Gassama, who was on target in Athens, joined Kieran Dowell in support of striker Danilo.
It was Rangers who got the action underway at Fir Park, and as expected it was a frantic start as both teams looked to get on the front foot under their new coaching staff.
Gers had an early set piece with five minutes played as Gassama was fouled just outside the box. Captain James Tavernier stepped up to the free-kick and tried to guide a right-footed strike into the top corner, but it was pushed wide by Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward.
From the resulting corner, Nico Raskin rose to get a head on a Rothwell ball, but it was just high of the target from the Belgian.
Rangers carved open another opportunity before the 10 minute mark and it was a really well-worked move from Martin’s men. Starting with Jack Butland, he found Rothwell who in turn flicked the ball into the path of James Tavernier.
The right-back made ground into a central area, before feeding in Nico Raskin who continued the drive up the pitch. Raskin then made use of the support from striker Danilo who touched the ball into the path of Djeidi Gassama, but his shot was just wide of the post.
Danilo clipped the bar with a looping strike from outside the box as Rangers continued to put pressure on the hosts.
The positive start paid off, and it was the captain who scored the first league goal of the 2025/26 season 14 minutes into this match. It was from a set-piece and it was another fantastic delivery from Joe Rotherwell from a corner. He swung the perfect ball into the box and James Tavernier got a strong head on it to guide it into the back of the net.
Motherwell almost had an equaliser on 24 minutes as Jack Butland was unable to gather an initial strike at goal from Emmanuel Longelo. Apostoplos Stamatelopoulos was quick to react to the loose ball but the Rangers number one blocked the close-range effort.
Gassama had an early chance in the second-half as Rangers looked to make their lead more comfortable at Fir Park. Kieran Dowell did well down the right to send an inviting ball into the box and the winger got his head to it, but it was held by Ward.
At the other end, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos fired over from inside the box after a free-kick for the home side.
With 51 minutes played, Motherwell had another good chance and again it came from a free-kick. The ball was swung into the box by Callum Slattery and Elijah Just had an almost free header at the back post but he was unable to keep it on target as, thankfully for Rangers, it went high over the bar.
The home side were having a good spell and with 55 minutes on the clock, Jack Butland pulled-off a fantastic save down to his left as he got a strong hand on a strike from Paul McGinn. Stamatelopoulos looked to pick up the rebound inside the box, but a brave tackle from John Souttar cleared the danger.
Russell Martin turned to his bench for the first time of the afternoon with just over an hour played at Fir Park. Lyall Cameron and Cyriel Dessers were both introduced. For Cameron it was his competitive debut for the club since joining from Dundee in the summer.
Cameron had a sight at goal in the 69th minute as Rangers looked to capitalise from another corner. Rothwell’s delivery was headed back across goal by James Tavernier, and landed for Cameron just inside the box but his low effort was gathered by Ward.
Motherwell were still pushing for an equaliser too, and Elijah Just and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos combined again with the latter grading over at the back post.
Martin turned to the bench once again in the 73rd minute, this time Connor Barron and Nedim Bajrami were introduced in place of Nico Raskin and Joe Rothwell. Barron sent a strike over the bar as the match entered the final 10 minutes in Motherwell, with Oscar Cortes next to be introduced for Rangers.
Motherwell did get their equaliser, and it came on the 87th minute through Emmanuel Longelo. The forward had started the attack for the home side and with his initial shot blocked the ball was fired back towards goal before EIlijah Just chested back into the path of Longelo who sent the ball into the back of the net.
In the final stages of the match, Butland pulled off another good save as he denied Motherwell’s Tom Sparrow with another low save.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Souttar, Aarons, Rothwell (Bajrami, 73), Raskin (Barron, 73), Diomande (Cameron, 63), Dowel, Gassama (Cortes, 82), Danilo (Dessers, 63)
Subs: Kelly, Jefte, Fernandez, Curtis.
Motherwell: Ward, Gordon (O’Donnell, 71), Slattery (Sparrow, 89), Stamatelopoulous (Said, 79), Fadinger, McGinn, Maswanhise, Watt, Just (Balmer, 89) , Koutroumbis, Longelo.
Subs: Oxborough, Halliday, Wilson, Whyte, Ross.