Rangers hand Motherwell six of best

Doubles from Kenny Miller and substitute Kyle Lafferty gave Rangers a 6-1 win over Motherwell which extended their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.

Miller followed up his double in the 3-0 win over Dundee United on Tuesday with two super strikes either side of Kris Boyd’s 13th goal of the season.

Shaun Hutchinson pulled one back for Motherwell with a bullet header but it was just a consolation as Lafferty netted either side of a DaMarcus Beasley strike to seal an emphatic win.

With rivals Celtic not playing Hearts until Sunday it gives Rangers a four- point advantage at the top.

Walter Smith made two changes from the side which swept past Dundee United on Tuesday with Allan McGregor returning in goal and Kevin Thomson replacing Lee McCulloch.

For the second week in succession Rangers got an early lead at Ibrox when Miller scored after just four minutes.

The Motherwell defenders were static as Steven Davis teed up Miller at the edge of the box and he curled his first-time shot into the net off the crossbar.

Steven Saunders came to Motherwell’s rescue three minutes later when he twice cleared Boyd shots off the line.

Kirk Broadfoot was next to be given time and space in the Motherwell half and he fired a long-range effort just wide of John Ruddy’s post.

Thomson’s return from injury lasted just 20 minutes as he trundled off to be replaced by McCulloch following an ankle knock.

A good passing move resulted in Davis picking out Miller in the box but after turning his marker he sent a left-foot shot high and wide.

Lukas Jutkiewicz flashed a header across goal and Steven Jennings fired just wide as Motherwell grew in confidence.

Sasa Papac missed a golden chance to score on the stroke of half-time after Nacho Novo found him in space in the box but he sent a shot straight at Ruddy which the keeper blocked with his legs.

Boyd doubled the lead in the 53rd minute.

Davis played a perfect pass into the path of the Scottish Premier League’s top-scorer and he got in front of Hutchinson to fire it low past the out-rushing Ruddy.

Miller got his second five minutes later.

The Scotland striker chased down Madjid Bougherra’s long ball over the top before finishing from a tight angle to score his fifth goal in three league games.

Motherwell pulled one back with their first shot on target in the 67th minute.

Hutchinson found himself unmarked in the six-yard box to bullet a header past McGregor from Tom Hately’s corner.

Lafferty replaced Boyd in the 70th minute and it took him just five minutes to get on the score-sheet.

Miller played in Broadfoot and the right-back’s pass across goal was met by the Northern Irish international who tapped in from two yards out.

Miller was involved again as Beasley scored the fifth in the 84th minute.

The Scotland striker played a pass down the wing and the American held off Mark Reynolds to slot past Ruddy from an acute angle.

A mistake from Ruddy helped Rangers make it 6-1 with two minutes left.

The keeper rushed out his box to attempt to clear a long ball from Beasley but Lafferty got there first and fired the ball through the legs of Ruddy to get his second of the game.