Rangers put Motherwell to the sword at Ibrox as the SPL leaders romped to a resounding 6-1 success.
Smith's charges on song as Gers rout Motherwell
Rangers put Motherwell to the sword at Ibrox as the SPL leaders romped to a resounding 6-1 success.
Kenny Miller (2), Kris Boyd, Kyle Lafferty (2) and DaMarcus Beasley struck as Walter Smith's troops battered Jim Gannon's side.
Miller opened the scoring early on, however, it took until the second half before the avalanche came with Shaun Hutchison's 67th effort proving scant consolation.
The home fans had to wait slightly longer to celebrate than last weekend, when Boyd struck after 30 seconds against St Johnstone, but there were less than five minutes on the clock when Miller finished brilliantly from 22 yards.
Beasley and Miller combined to break quickly after a Motherwell move broke down and Steven Davis then rolled the ball into the path of the Scotland striker, who curled the ball in off the junction of bar and post.
Rangers have now scored inside the first 10 minutes in their last six SPL games at Ibrox and they showed the hunger to keep the pressure on.
Steven Saunders twice cleared off the line from Boyd after Stevie Hammell, playing on the left of Motherwell's midfield diamond, was caught in possession.
Brilliant cross
Broadfoot shot wide from 20 yards, the unmarked Sasa Papac glanced a header just past after a brilliant cross from Miller and the lively Beasley had a shot saved.
Rangers had goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Kevin Thomson back from hamstring injuries, but the midfielder broke down after less than 20 minutes with Lee McCulloch coming on.
Miller sliced wide with his left foot from 14 yards after good midfield play from Davis, but Motherwell quickly enjoyed some better possession after Mark Reynolds joined Saunders and Hutchinson in central defence midway through the half.
Well forced several corners and midfielder Steve Jennings came close with a deflected strike.
Rangers had to wait until injury time before seriously threatening again. Some sharp, short passes stretched the Motherwell defence but John Ruddy blocked with his feet from Papac.
Rangers started the second half with renewed urgency and Boyd put them two ahead in the 53rd minute. Beasley fed Davis on the right flank and he sent a perfect low cross into the path of Boyd, who slid in to poke the ball past Ruddy.
Miller added a third four minutes later when he ran on to Madjid Bougherra's long ball and nicked the ball away from Ruddy just inside the box before sliding home from a tight angle.
One-two
Motherwell reverted to a 4-4-2 when Steven Meechan replaced Hammell but their defence soon parted in the face of Papac's bursting run, only for the left-back to shoot wide following a one-two with Nacho Novo.
The visitors pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Hutchinson rose unmarked to head home Tom Hateley's corner from five yards.
But Rangers restored their advantage in the 75th minute when Lafferty tapped home at the far post after Broadfoot had got in behind the Motherwell defence with the aid of Miller's return pass.
Beasley notched his second goal in successive games in the 84th minute when he slipped the ball past Ruddy after Miller's pass inside Reynolds had set him free.
Motherwell substitute Jim O'Brien shot inches wide after beating Bougherra and Miller missed a chance for his hat-trick when he sliced substitute Steven Naismith's low cross wide.
But Rangers completed the rout in the 88th minute when Lafferty ran on to Beasley's ball over the top and squeezed it through Ruddy's legs.
