PRESSURE situations call for big players and, just as they felt the SPL heat cranking up like never before, up stepped Barry Ferguson to pull Rangers back from the edge of the abyss.

The Ibrox skipper weighed in with his first goal since the end of January last night to settle a tense home affair against Motherwell.

The sense of relief around the ground was palpable as he crashed a shot into the top corner of the net.

ONE BY ONE ALEXANDER Didn't have a save of note to make all night although happy to see McCormack's first half effort slither past. BROADFOOT As always, plenty of endeavour from the big defender. But hit the first man too many times with his delivery into the box. CUELLAR Superb display again from the man who holds Rangers together at times. Mopped up most of the Well danger. WEIR Could have had a first half penalty when pushed in the box but comfortable enough night overall at the back. WHITTAKER Poor distribution in the first half. For me, a better prospect in midfield than this alien left-back role. FERGUSON Struggled to keep up with visitors' midfield in first 45. But drove Rangers on and found a superb finish to break the deadlock. THOMSON Scrapped away in midfield all night and tried to keep Rangers going forward. Never gives up. DAVIS Has dipped a bit in recent weeks, maybe as a result of punishing schedule, but the Northern Ireland skipper never hides. NOVO Not his best night. Poor touch, sloppy with passing and never really got into scoring positions. DARCHEVILLE Started in positive mood, but faded. Not doing enough and not weighing in with the goals either. BOYD First start for almost a month. To be fair, worked hard and put himself about but needs games. Should have scored with second-half header. SUBS Adam came on for last 15 minutes and retained the ball well. Cousin was not on long enough to make an impact. FANS Sensed how much their team needed them and stuck with them throughout. SMITH Just delighted to get three points. Boiled over when injury time was indicated, showing how much he wants this title.

It was a crucial intervention from one of only two players in Walter Smith's squad - the other being Nacho Novo - who has experienced the drama and nerves of trying to close out a league title.

Given the way he stepped up to the plate in the second half, Ferguson returning to his old self for the first time in weeks as a player with vision and purpose, there is no doubt the captain was well aware of the seriousness of what was unfolding around him.

Without an SPL win in four games, and a poor overall record of just two victories in their last 10, Rangers simply had to beat the Fir Park side to keep their title flame burning.

They went into this one seven adrift of Celtic and in the certain knowledge that one more slip could prove fatal.

As the clock ticked, with Motherwell players throwing themselves in front of things and hacking the ball clear as chances were missed, the home crowd waited for that one moment of inspiration.

And Ferguson found it, his crucial strike in the 73rd minute settling the contest and reducing the gap between the Old Firm to four points, Celtic with two games to go, Rangers with four matches to fit in.

Whether it proves to be one of those pivotal moments people will reflect upon when the dust settles on this enthralling run-in, who knows?

But victory stopped the rot for Rangers. It allows them to regroup for Saturday's game against Dundee United, when the stakes will be exactly as they were last night, before they can focus on Manchester and next week's Uefa Cup Final with Zenit St Petersburg.

United have caused Rangers all sorts of problems this season, beating them and drawing at Tannadice, and losing a CIS Cup Final to Smith's side on penalties when they really should have won.

But United will need to go some to be as easy on the eye as Mark McGhee's side were in the first half at Ibrox. The only thing lacking at the end of some sublime passing movements was a final pass that would have led to goal-scoring chances.

McGhee is a clever manager, and knew the improved Ibrox surface would suit his side's free-flowing, passing game.

He also knew that, given the situation they were in, Rangers would go with two up front as they had to win the match.

So he flooded the midfield, and that numerical advantage allowed Motherwell to emerge from a spirited Rangers opening to dominate the game.

They knocked the ball around and passed the home side off the pitch, but the only chance they had came in the 33rd minute when the excellent former Rangers midfielder Stephen Hughes got in behind and centred for another ex-Ger, Ross McCormack, who slid his close-range shot just past.

Before that, Rangers' best opportunity had arrived when Davie Weir looped a header off the bar from a Steven Davis corner, with Nacho Novo unable to convert the rebound.

Smith tried to counter McGhee's plan by moving Davis into a more central role in the second half, which allowed Ferguson to pull more strings.

Much-maligned in recent times, the skipper began to get to grips with the game, but he looked to the skies on several occasions as his team-mates failed to breach Graeme Smith's goal.

Kris Boyd missed two headed opportunities inside the first five minutes after the re-start, then Smith raced out to make a great save from Novo.

In the 73rd minute, the ball was again hoofed clear from Motherwell's defence. It was going out for a Rangers throw, but as it dropped from the sky over-eager assistant Ally McCoist touched the ball before its full circumference had crossed the touchline.

The assistant flagged for a Gers throw, referee Charlie Richmond awarded a drop ball and Ferguson won it to send Rangers on another attack.

They won another corner on the right, Davis swung it over, and Ferguson gathered the ball at the back post before lashing it high into the top right-hand corner.

It was the moment Rangers craved, and they were rarely troubled in the final stages and should have had a penalty when Charlie Adam was held by Bob Malcolm in the box.

One game in this chaotic run-in chalked off, six more to come. And tension very much in the air.

NEED TO KNOW

RANGERS............1 MOTHERWELL............0

Was it a good game? Very enjoyable match with a real edge. Motherwell played some lovely stuff, but Rangers finally got on top and wore them down.

Rangers best player? Carlos Cuellar, once again. The Spaniard is just a class act.

And Well's top man? Defender Mark Reynolds had a great game and is surely destined for bigger things.

What about the ref? Charlie Richmond infuriated home fans but didn't get any real big decisions wrong. Assistants looked like cats on a hot tin roof.

Who's up next? Rangers final home game of the season is at 12.30pm on Saturday against Dundee United.

Talking point

Will Walter Smith stick with 4-4-2 in the four remaining SPL games he needs to win?