Motherwell 0-2 Rangers: Alfredo Morelos sent off as visitors win

Rangers eased aside Motherwell - and remain two points adrift of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership - despite having Alfredo Morelos sent off for gesturing to fans after scoring.

After three games without a win, Steven Gerrard's side claimed victory to move briefly above Celtic until they beat Hibernian later on Sunday.

Nikola Katic and Morelos scored in either half, but the Colombian was shown a second yellow - and his first red card of the term - by Don Robertson in the immediate aftermath of his goal.

Morelos, who was dismissed five times last season with one later rescinded, had only been booked twice in this Premiership campaign before being cautioned for a foul on Jake Carroll 14 minutes before his sending off.

Motherwell, meanwhile, missed the chance to return to third place after a performance in which they rarely looked like taking something.

• Referee 'desperate to give red' - Gerrard

• Who was your man of the match?

• Robinson denies wrongdoing after being charged

Morelos takes centre stage again

It had been the biggest week in Gerrard's Ibrox managerial career with three huge tests on three different fronts.

A place in the last 32 of the Europa League secured, but points were dropped in the title race and a cup final was lost.

Fir Park was another big obstacle against a Motherwell side that could have narrowed the gap on their opponents to four points if they could manage a first home win against them since 2002.

And the hosts threatened early, with Rangers captain James Tavernier's intervention stopping Devante Cole adding the finishing touch to Christopher Long's cut-back.

But the visitors showed little sign of weariness from Thursday's draw with Young Boys of Switzerland to get their noses in front after a spell of pressure.

Glen Kamara blasted over before Morelos twice forced fingertip saves from Motherwell goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, the second leading to a corner from which Borna Barisic picked out fellow Croat Katic. The defender proved too strong for Bevis Mugabi, shrugging him off to bullet a header home.

Alfredo Morelos was dismissed after gesturing to Motherwell fans

Colombian striker Morelos was at the centre of everything after that.

He had a strong case for a penalty when Mugabi barged into the back of him, but referee Robertson dismissed the claims.

He continued to pepper the Motherwell goal as Gillespie tipped another angled low drive away from the near post before blocking his goal-bound effort after the defence were caught napping.

Motherwell's Declan Gallagher and Rangers' Ryan Jack were shown yellow cards after a half-time confrontation, and Morelos soon received the first of his two yellows for a late challenge on Jake Carroll.

Gillespie pushed away Ryan Kent's drive, and at the other end Allan McGregor also had to produce heroics - throwing up an arm to push away Long's header from two yards out.

It was to prove a crucial moment, with Morelos making it 2-0 when he collected Aribo's cross, stepped away from Gallagher, and drove the ball into the net.

However, his final contribution was to be sent off seconds later after earning a second booking for gesturing towards the Motherwell fans during his celebrations.

There was still time left for the hosts to get themselves back in the game but they struggled to make an impact, and only a fine save from Gillespie denied Barisic a third for Rangers from a free-kick.

Man of the match - Scott Arfield

BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at Fir Park

Rangers' goals may have been scored by defender Katic and striker Morelos, but the game was undoubtedly won by the Ibrox club's dominance in the middle of the park.

Glen Kamara must be the steal of the century at just £50,000, while Ryan Jack once again showed the form that has now brought him an international call-up. But the award goes to their team-mate Scott Arfield.

The former Falkirk and Burnley player was immense from the first whistle to the last and his tireless work which at times goes unnoticed was the mainstay in Rangers' victory.

'We were below par' - reaction

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson: "We're really disappointed. I think we had five or six players who were below par. We say that and we're 1-0 down at half-time to a set-play.

"There wasn't much in the game at all but did we deserve anything out of the game? No, I don't think so because we had players below par."

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "The result is exactly what I was looking for - a strong, solid away win. We were fantastic defensively and had a good base and structure about us.

"Both Scott Arfield and Joe Aribo could be contenders for man of the match. Both were outstanding."