Rangers 0-2 Motherwell

Louis Moult was lethal in front of goal to send his side into the Scottish League Cup final

A clinical double from Louis Moult sent Motherwell into the Scottish League Cup final at the expense of Rangers.

Moult pounced to volley home seven minutes into the second half following a scramble in the Gers' six-yard box.

The striker then lifted a sublime first-time lob over goalkeeper Jak Alnwick 22 minutes later to double his side's advantage.

The Steelmen will meet cup holders Celtic on 26 November.

It will be the club's first national cup final since the Scottish Cup showpiece of 2011, and their first League Cup final since 2005.

• Caixinha takes blame for Rangers defeat

• 'We knew we were fitter' - Well boss Stephen Robinson

• How the Rangers & Motherwell players rated

Sitting fourth in the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell are just a point and a place below Rangers and both had identical form guides from their last six matches before Sunday's showdown.

The men in blue started the sharper, with Josh Windass firing tamely at keeper Trevor Carson when clean through before Alfredo Morelos dragged an effort wide after Well defender Cedric Kipre badly misjudged a high ball.

Moult brilliantly cushioned his chip over Jak Alnwick from the edge of the Rangers box

Colombian striker Morelos then went down under a challenge from Charles Dunne when he looked to be racing clear, but referee Steven McLean was not interested.

Rangers were knocking on the door and Morelos and Windass had shots blocked before Bruno Alves powered a near-post header just wide from Declan John's free-kick.

The Steelmen then enjoyed a period of pressure that Rangers were lucky to survive.

First, Moult's effort from distance took a deflection that had Alnwick scampering as it squirmed wide.

From the resulting corner, Kipre seemed set to slam home from six yards out, but his half-volley was brilliantly blocked on the line by Ryan Jack, with Alnwick then reacting superbly to snuff out the danger from the rebound.

John had the last chance of the half, and it was one of the clearest, but his diving header from six yards slipped wide of Carson's left-hand post.

The second 45 started with Rangers dominant, as Morelos, Pena and Windass all missed chances, and the Ibrox side were made to pay for their profligacy.

The opener arrived from Chris Cadden's corner to the back post, with Peter Hartley's initial header striking the bar. Moult nodded the rebound off the bar again via Jack's touch before it fell to the Well striker once more and he smashed it into the roof of the net.

Motherwell were now brimming with energy and showing the type of high pressing that has served them so well recently.

Rangers came back, though, with Windass inches away from connecting with John's delivery into the six-yard box. Daniel Candeias then blasted high over the bar at the end of a fine Rangers move as the frustrated fans in blue tried to drive their side towards parity.

Those supporters were soon dealt another blow as Stephen Robinson's side broke upfield and scored a second.

Moult was quickest to react to a launch forward, sumptuously lobbing the ball over Alnwick from the edge of the box and into the corner.

Stephen Robinson and Pedro Caixinha faced off on the touchline after Ryan Bowman's heavy aerial challenge left blood pouring from the face of Fabio Cardoso

By then, both managers had been sent to the stand following a touchline spat, Pedro Caixinha furious when referee McLean took no action against Ryan Bowman after a challenge which forced Rangers centre-back Fabio Cardoso to depart with a bloodied face.

That added to the frustration and loss of fluidity in the Rangers side, whose passing deserted them when they needed it most.

With five minutes left, the prone Alves kicked out at Moult on the floor after the pair collided in mid-air, but the Portuguese escaped any censure, with only Moult and Rangers substitute Eduardo Herrera being booked for the aftermath.

Rangers could find no way through and it was Motherwell who looked more likely to add to their tally in the closing stages.

Two goals proved enough, though. It was a day to savour for Well boss Robinson, his players and their fans, who will be back at Hampden next month to take aim at holders Celtic.