THREE goals from Scott Arfield earned Rangers three points at Fir Park as Steven Gerrard’s side took another step towards securing second spot in the Premiership. 
After easing by Hearts at Ibrox in midweek, this was another accomplished performance from Rangers and boss Gerrard will hope there are plenty more to come as he looks to finish the campaign in encouraging fashion.
The previous two matches between these sides had produced 14 goals and countless talking points but this was a more straightforward affair.
Motherwell would have fancied their chances, but individual errors cost them dear as Rangers recorded a pleasing and comfortable victory.

RANGERS HAVE QUICKLY RECOVERED FROM THEIR OLD FIRM DEFEAT
A week is a long time in football. Rangers have used the last seven days wisely, though, as the disappointment and frustration of their loss at Parkhead has been put to one side with successive wins.
The reaction has been just what Gerrard would have demanded from his players. The showings have been impressive, the victories well deserved against combative and potentially difficult Premiership opponents.
There were few moments to really trouble Rangers and Gerrard was pleased with the way his side controlled the game. The goals from Arfield were fine finishes and Rangers could easily have won by a larger margin at Fir Park.
It is all too late, of course, in terms of the top flight title race but Rangers can’t afford to just drift through the final fixtures this term and standards must be maintained. 

SCOTT ARFIELD SHOULD HAVE SCORED MORE GOALS THIS SEASON
The three goals that Arfield scored were moments to savour for himself and the team as he netted his first professional hat-trick. It also highlights what he could, and should, have done more often this season.
The 30-year-old has shouldered much of the creative and attacking responsibility from the middle of the park in his first campaign at Ibrox and Gerrard has been pleased with his efforts, both in terms of his numbers and his attitude.
His three finishes here were terrific and took his tally for the term to 11. It certainly isn’t a bad return, but Arfield is more than capable of surpassing that next term.
Gerrard will look to add a playmaker to his squad during the summer but Arfield will feel he can add his weight in the final third again.

JERMAIN DEFOE SHOULD GET A RUN IN THE TEAM EVEN AFTER MORELOS RETURNS
Steven Gerrard hinted the other day that Alfredo Morleos may not come straight back into the starting line-up once he completes his suspension and it would be no surprise to see Defoe get the nod more often than not in the remaining weeks.
There are still times when Rangers don’t look as if they have fully adjusted to the change in styles of Morelos and Defoe but that will only come with time.
The Englishman may not have added to his tally at Fir Park but he still showed some nice touches and was unselfish to set up Arfield for his hat-trick rather than score himself.

MOTHERWELL ADD THEIR NAME TO THE ROLL OF SHAME
Football fans, it seems, just never learn. When the spotlight is on the game, when politicians are lining up to have a go and images of supporters disgracing themselves are all over the papers and social media, it might be a good time to keep a low profile.
That proved beyond one Motherwell punter, though. Late in the first half, a lighter was thrown towards Rangers captain James Tavernier as he waited to take a throw-in. 
Fir Park chiefs must just have put their head in their hands. It was the latest in a long line of moments of sheer idiocy this season and the perpetrator shouldn’t see another game in Scotland for a very long time.

THERE ISN’T MUCH AT STAKE FOR THE STEELMEN IN THE FINAL WEEKS
Motherwell’s top six ambitions came to an end on Wednesday night and they went into the final pre-split fixture knowing that even a memorable win here wouldn’t be enough for them.
For a brief spell this term, it looked as if Stephen Robinson’s side could have found themselves dragged into the relegation fight in the Premiership. An impressive run after the winter break ended those fears, though.
Finishing top of the bottom half isn’t much to shout about, but it is a target nonetheless, and certainly an achievable one for a team that are moving in the right direction.