Rangers survive fightback but lose Ferguson

Motherwell 2 Rangers 3

Rangers survived a frantic finale at Fir Park yesterday in which Motherwell almost wiped out the three-goal lead they had handed out. The heated environment proved too much for Barry Ferguson who was sent off.

Alex McLeish could not hide his satisfaction at going back to the top of the Scottish Premier League, taking advantage of Celtic's defeat against Hearts on Saturday, but neither could he hide his frustration at losing his key playmaker.

"At this stage of the season, you need your best players available," said the Rangers manager. "However, our objective was to get the victory and get back to the top of the table."

Ferguson was sent off for a second yellow card in the 77th minute but it could easily have been a straight red after he raised his arms at Richie Foran in a touchline altercation with the Motherwell substitute.

The dramatic denouement could not have been anticipated when Gregory Vignal gave Rangers a third minute lead. The Frenchman produced a perfectly timed run into the box to meet Fernando Ricksen's cross and thump a right-foot volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Motherwell went two behind after 31 minutes. Goalkeeper Gordon Marshall made an error of judgement as he raced out to try to collect Hamed Namouchi's teasing cross in behind Steven Craigan - but only allowed the alert Vignal the space to place a header into the net.

Five minutes into the second half, Dado Prso seemed to have put Rangers in a comfort zone when he glanced in Ricksen's free kick. However, Motherwell responded with spirit. Kevin McBride reduced the deficit with a 65th minute penalty, after Bob Malcolm had handled Steven Hammell's cross and then Martyn Corrigan took advantage of Rangers' numerical inferiority to thrash in a 25-yard shot, via Malcolm's shoulder, to signal a raucous last six minutes.

Goals: Vignal (4) 0-1; (32) 0-2; Prso (51) 0-3; McBride (pen 71) 1-3; Corrigan (84) 2-3.

Motherwell (4-4-2): Marshall; Quinn, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell; McBride, Leitch, Corrigan, Paterson (Foran, 58); McDonald, Clarkson (Britton, 81). Substitutes not used: Corr (gk) Wright, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Kerr.

Rangers (4-4-2): Waterreus; Ricksen, Malcolm, Kyrgiakos (Khizanishvili, 66), Ball; Namouchi (Arveladze, 66), Rae, Ferguson, Vignal (Lovenkrands, 60); Prso, Novo. Substitutes not used: McGregor (gk), Burke, Thompson, McCormack.

Referee: D McDonald.

Booked: Motherwell Craigan, McDonald, Clarkson, Foran; Rangers Ricksen, Ferguson, Kyrgiakos.

Sent off: Ferguson (79).

Man of the match: Vignal.

Attendance: 10,210.