MARK WARBURTON hailed Kenny Miller after the 37-year-old rode to Rangers' rescue against Motherwell.

The Ibrox side's last hope of clinching a trophy this season looked to be slipping away after Louis Moult gave Mark McGhee's side a surprise lead with quarter of an hour left in their William Hill Scottish Cup fourth-round clash.

But veteran frontman Miller dug the Light Blues out of a hole when he nodded in a Martyn Waghorn cross with six minutes remaining and then, as the game ticked into the final 60 seconds of normal time, raced onto a perfectly measured pass from loan signing Emerson Hyndman and tucked home the winner.

The former Scotland striker's dramatic late intervention - which took him to seven goals for the season - booked Rangers' place in Sunday's fifth-round draw and left Warburton to gush with praise.

He said: "We see it week in, week out. It was two quality finishes, a great ball in from Waggy and then the composure and the poise from Kenny.

"The second is a great ball in from Emerson and he finishes it with aplomb so it is no coincidence. It is the way he works on the training field, the way he eats. It is all credit to him and the senior players."

Gers laboured through the opening 75 minutes of the game and only sparked into life after Moult struck.

But Warburton felt his side merited victory all the same.

"I'm delighted we're through," said the Englishman, who felt his side should have had a first-half penalty when Michael O'Halloran was tripped by Stevie Hammell. "I thought we deserved to win the game of football but you find yourself 1-0 down with 15 minutes to go so that is the harsh reality of it.

"The positives were we passed the ball well. But we never penetrated, we never tested their keeper and we didn't have enough bravery in the final third.

"All credit to Motherwell - they were very hard working, very well organised and well marshalled. Our goals came late because that is when their players tire. Again two late goals is credit to our team, to their fitness and their desire."

Warburton introduced Hyndman off the bench but gave his other January loan acquisition Jon Toral a start, while out-of-favour O'Halloran - wanted by Well and a string of other top-flight clubs - won a surprise recall.

But the Gers boss said neither O'Halloran nor fellow wideman Barrie McKay, linked this week with a £6million switch to German side Leipzig, will be moving on unless he gets further new recruits.

He said: "You guys have asked me about players leaving. I hope not. It's that January window when things happen. Barrie's in a great place right here - he's very proud to play for Rangers and long may that continue.

"I read all these stories about where Michael is apparently going, what I have agreed to. It's complete news to me. I had 18 players today, Danny Wilson picked up an injury in training so we are down to bare numbers. But I am not letting players go out unless I get players in."

Motherwell boss McGhee admitted the defeat had left him feeling as low as he could remember at any time during his 26-year managerial career.

He said: "I am speechless. I've only ever felt as bad as this twice in my 900-odd games as a manager.

"Once at Millwall when we lost in the play-offs and the other time at Wolves when we lost to Crystal Palace in the play-offs.

"These are the only games that match how I'm feeling right now.

"Nobody has said anything after the game, nobody had any to say. I've said to the players what I've just said to you. They were the only words that were spoken.

"I couldn't speak for half an hour, I had nothing to say."