Rangers prefer the comforts of home over the festive period for good reason. In a historical quirk the Ibrox side’s last three away games on Christmas Eve had ended in defeat to Ayr United, Aberdeen and St Mirren. It was a run always likely to end at Fir Park.

This comfortable victory means Rangers are now unbeaten in 58 league meetings with the Steelmen, their longest ever top-flight unbeaten run over an opponent. Unbeaten in their 29 league visits to Lanarkshire their last defeat came on Boxing Day 2002.

Philippe Clement’s 16th game unbeaten as manager was done and dusted after 16 minutes. Clinically exploiting a lack of quality and confidence in their opponents the Belgian’s side continue to defy a lengthy injury list, building up a head of steam.

Second bottom of the top flight, rooted in the relegation play-off place, the Steelmen are a team in deep trouble. They’ve failed to win their last eight home games, losing five. They’re now winless in 15 games.

Rangers beat Motherwell with comfort to close the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic

Kieran Dowell opened the scoring inside four minutes with an emphatic finish high into the net

The visitors made it two with a strike of stunning simplicity from Todd Cantwell after 16 minutes

Making light work of hideous conditions Rangers scored two goals of stunning simplicity, aided and abetted by kamikaze defending. Before kick-off Kettlewell expressed a desire to build on a clean sheet against St Mirren last weekend. The plan fell to bits in four minutes.

Motherwell played themselves into desperate trouble playing the ball out from the back. Harrty Paton lost possession of a horrible pass from Shane Blaney 30 yards from his own goal, Kieran Dowell nicking the ball and playing a deft one two with Dessers before surging towards goal and thumping an emphatic finish high into the net Rangers made it two with a strike of stunning simplicity after 16 minutes.

Ridvabn Yilmaz swung the ball in from the left towards Abdallah Sima who simply chested the ball into the path of Todd Cantwell to bury it low in the bottom corner for his first league goal of the season and 2-0.

Callum Slattery produced first moment of mild anxiety for Jack Butland with rasping low drive fizzing past left hand post. In horrendous first half conditions, however, Motherwell were second best in every department. Posing no threat only a fingertip save from keeper Liam Kelly prevented Cantwell finishing the game before half time with a fizzing half volley.

The wind behind them for the second half the home side were more aggressive, they had to be.

Spencer Brodie drifted in at back post to meet a cross from Mika Biereth and should have done better than a misdirected effort. Motherwell chances were so few and far between they couldn’t afford to waste the ones they had.

They had a strong shout for a penalty with 18 minutes to play. Spencer tumbled to the ground under pressure from Ridvan Yilmaz, but seemed to play for it. And so a 73rd league game without a penalty being awarded against Rangers passed. Come January it could reach two calendar years since the last one.

Philippe Clement’s 16th game unbeaten as manager was done and dusted within 16 minutes 

When Georgie Gent’s shot was blocked after Rangers failed to deal with a free kick it was Motherwell’s first real attempt on goal. Over the piece they looked a team resigned to their status as relegation fodder. The lack of quality on show was striking.

But for two offside flags Cyriel Dessers would have continued his recent improvement, converting twice before the celebrations were curtailed. The second one, deep into six added minutes, was desperately tight. 

The game done by then, the gap on Celtic reduced to two points with a game in hand, the bigger concern ahead of next weekend’s Old Firm game was the sight of key central defender Connor Goldson leaving the fray gingerly nursing an apparent groin problem,