The Nigerian international found the target with 24 minutes on the clock as Michael Beale’s men picked up three points in the league.
There were three changes to the starting XI from Thursday’s victory over Real Betis with Scott Wright handed his first league start of the season. He was joined in the starting XI by Sam Lammers and Cyriel Dessers, with Abdallah Sima and Kemar Roofe on the bench, while Tom Lawrence missed out on the match through injury.
That meant Rangers started with Jack Butland in goal and a back four of James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, Ben Davies and Borna Barisic. John Lundstram and Jose Cifuentes were in front of them, while Sam Lammers, Rabbi Matondo, Scott Wright and Cyriel Dessers completed the line-up.
Motherwell, who had a strong start to the Scottish Premiership season, had an early strike at goal through Harry Paton as he flashed an effort wide of Jack Butland’s left-hand post inside the opening five minutes.
From a free-kick, the visitors had another effort at goal as the ball was played into the path of Callum Slattery but his shot was also wide of the target.
Shortly after, Rangers had a good opportunity to attack after Jose Cifuentes did well to win the ball in a dangerous area and pick out the run of Cyriel Dessers. The Light Blues had numbers arriving in the area, but were unable to make the most of the chance as Motherwell’s defense stood strong to prevent Dessers delivering into the box.
Motherwell were proving difficult to break down, but with 24 minutes on the clock, Rangers had the lead at Ibrox.
Cifuentes, Scott Wright and Sam Lammers all linked-up well in the build-up, with Rabbi Matondo receiving the ball on the edge of the box. With space, the Welshman caught sight of goal, releasing a shot towards goal, with Cyriel Dessers able to get a good connection inside the box to send it beyond Liam Kelly.
Sam Lammers had a shot blocked well by Kelly after he was played in by Matondo inside the box as Rangers searched for a second in the match.
After going down earlier in the game for treatment, Rangers were forced into a change before the break as Rabbi Matondo was unable to carry on and was replaced by John Souttar, Beale’s men moving to a back three.
In first-half injury time, Sam Lammers was denied again by Kelly as the Motherwell stopper got a strong hand to a shot from outside the box, before Cyriel Dessers fired wide on the rebound.
Into the second-half, Lammers was denied again by Kelly after a one-two with Scott Wright saw the Dutch forward curl a low shot towards goal but it was held comfortably by the Motherwell goalkeeper.
There was another good chance for Rangers with 53 minutes on the clock at Ibrox as Jose Cifuentes fed the ball out wide to James Tavernier. The captain delivered an inviting ball into the box which Sam Lammers hit on the volley, but it was wide of the target.
Kelly produced another good save to deny Cyriel Dessers after John Lundstram won the ball back in the middle of the pitch. Dessers’ strike from inside the box was blocked by the goalkeeper before Lundstram again recovered the ball in midfield as Motherwell looked to clear the danger.
On receiving the ball from Lundstram, Tavernier played in Sam Lammers who took a touch inside the box to create space, but Kelly was able to tip his shot over the bar. With just over 20 minutes of the game remaining, Beale introduced Ryan Jack and Abdallah Sima in place of Cyriel Dessers and Scott Wright.
Jack Butland pulled off a good save as Motherwell almost found themselves an equaliser at Ibrox. Oli Shaw was able to get a shot away from a tight angle with Butland getting down to block the shot.
16-year-old Bailey Rice was introduced alongside Kemar Roofe for the final period at Ibrox replacing Jose Cifuentes and Sam Lammers.
James Tavernier produced a great block in the final stages of the game as he managed to block a shot on the line from Blair Spittal as Motherwell searched for an equaliser. From a free-kick, the visitors had another opportunity late in the game as Spittal delivered a dangerous ball into the box with Oli Shaw’s strike towards goal blocked.
Next up for Rangers is Wednesday evening’s Viaplay Cup quarter-final against Livingston.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Cifuentes (Rice, 78), Lammers (Roofe, 78), Wright (Sima, 67), Matondo (Souttar, 37), Dessers (Jack, 67).
Subs: McCrorie, Ridvan, Sterling, Lovelace.
Motherwell: Kelly, O’Donnell, Mugabi, Spittal, Slattery, Paton, Bair (Wilkinson, 78), Casey, McGinn, Spencer (Gent, 82), Miller (Shaw, 71).
Subs: Oxborough, Zdravkovski, McGinley, Blaney, Wilson, Ferrie, Wilkinson. Referee: Alan Muir