WELL, Stuart McCall had demanded that his Rangers players, at the very least, go down fighting in the second leg of the SPFL Premiership play-off final against Motherwell.

Sadly for him and the Ibrox club, his charges did not exhibit their combative qualities during the course of a game they lost heavily, with the result that their slim chances of winning promotion to the top flight were snuffed out.

A thoroughly wretched afternoon for McCall's team was exacerbated further after Ian Baraclough's side had completed a convincing 3-0 triumph which gave them an emphatic 6-1 victory on aggregate.

Bilel Mohsni, the Rangers centre half who had replaced Marius Zaliukas towards the end of a match screened live on television, sparked an on-field brawl after kicking and punching Lee Erwin, the Motherwell striker.

Mohsni, the notoriously temperamental Tunisian internationalist whose time in Scotland has been blighted by such infractions, had refused to shake Erwin's hand or accept his words of consolation following the final whistle.

His rival shoved him in the back and his violent response resulted in an astonishing melee involving players of both sides, coaching staff, stewards and bystanders, and which led to referee Craig Thomson red-carding three players - Erwin, Mohsni and the unused substitute, Fraser Kerr - in his room afterwards.

The former Ipswich and Southend United centre half is now out of contract and his manager confirmed he would, as had been widely expected even before his latest indiscretion at Fir Park, not be offered an extension.

The ugly incident, which will almost certainly result in further disciplinary action from the SFA and possibly criminal charges, was a sad footnote to a depressing day for Rangers who will now have to spend at least another season in the lower leagues.

But Rangers can have no complaints, none whatsoever, about the outcome of the play-offs. Sure, the first two goals they conceded to Motherwell yesterday owed something to ill luck. But they were well beaten in both legs of the final by superior opponents.

McCall, the interim manager who had hoped to take the Govan club into the Premiership and be appointed on a full-time basis, will meet with directors to discuss his future this week. He has done well since coming in just over two months ago. But this failure will damage his prospects of long-term employment.

Many of the players who were found wanting in their bid to restore the fallen giants to the top flight - an outcome that will have serious financial repercussions for an institution which continues to wrestle with serious off-field issues - will now move on. Ian Black, Kris Boyd, Lee McCulloch and many others have almost certainly played their last games for their current employers.

Motherwell had shown improved form in the second half of the season after Ian Baraclough made some shrewd signings in the January transfer window. They did not do well enough to avoid being dragged into the play-offs. However, their impressive showings in this double-header will secure their livelihoods for another season.

Neutral observers present at an intense fixture that was played out in a febrile atmosphere were left scratching their heads and wondering how a side that could boast Lionel Ainsworth, Erwin, Marvin Johnson, Scott McDonald and Stephen Pearson could have found themselves in such a predicament. They can look forward with optimism.

McCall, whose team trailed 3-1 from the first leg, made three changes to his starting line-up due to a suspension and the fact his side had performed so abysmally three days earlier in a bid to produce a comeback.

McCulloch was drafted in to replace the absent Darren McGregor. Boyd was recalled up front and Shane Ferguson, the on-loan Newcastle United midfielder who only made his first-team debut last week, was handed his first start.

Baraclough, unsurprisingly, kept faith with the same individuals who had blown their opponents away in the opening hour at Ibrox.

The game was not dissimilar to the one that had preceded it in the opening exchanges. The home team sat back and invited the visitors to press. Rangers enjoyed plenty of possession without creating an opening in the final third that Boyd or Miller could convert.

Motherwell looked the likelier of the sides to break the deadlock when, after fully half an hour had elapsed, they abandoned their tentative approach and started to venture upfield to a greater extent.

It was, unsurprisingly given the significance of what was at stake, a full-blooded encounter with uncompromising physical challenges being made by both teams. Referee Craig Thomson booked no fewer than five, one from Motherwell and four from Rangers, players during the course of the 90 minutes.

It was a wonder that both sides made it to full-time with a full complement of players. McCulloch, in particular, was lucky not to be red-carded for his two-footed challenge on McDonald inside the centre circle shortly before half-time.

Motherwell's opening goal seven minutes into the second half was fortuitous. Johnson's powerful shot was diverted high into the air by the outstretched foot of Zaliukas. A back-tracking Cammy Bell tried to punch it clear with one fist, but failed to connect properly and the ball ended up in the net.

McCall reacted to his side falling behind instantly. He withdrew Ferguson, who had drifted out of the game, and put on Tom Walsh. Boyd was also taken off and Nicky Clark introduced. His changes, though, made little difference.

Ainsworth made Motherwell safe after 70 minutes. His low shot came off the underneath of Zaliukas once again and spun past Bell. John Sutton capped a joyous afternoon for Motherwell when he netted from the penalty spot after Lee Wallace had brought down Erwin in the second minute of injury time.

It was fortunate that a pitch invasion by hundreds of jubilant Motherwell supporters, many of whom went across to taunt their Rangers counterparts in the South Stand, as the players walked off the park did not lead to further trouble. It took mounted police to restore order.