A GRAHAM DORRANS competitive debut double secured Rangers a 2-1 win over Motherwell to kick-start their Premiership campaign.

A deflected finish in the third minute and a second half penalty bookended a leveller from Ben Heneghan to deliver a three points in what will be a monumental first few games for Pedro Caixinha.

A quickfire start from the visitors at Fir Park had Stephen Robinson’s men on the back foot, with several glaring chances missed. However, a resurgent Motherwell fought back and in the end it was Rangers hearts that were in mouths as the Lanarkshire came desperately close to a leveller in the dying moments.

Attempting to build on last week’s friendly win away to Sheffield Wednesday, it was an unchanged Rangers that came flying out the blocks to take the lead on three minutes.

A Daniel Candeias free-kick to the back post was gathered by Bruno Alves who tossed it back across goal. Kenny Miller managed to knock it down for Dorrans, who swept a first-time shot into the net with the help of two heavy deflections beyond Heneghan on the line.

Caixinha’s men were rampant in the early stages and were almost gifted a second on nine minutes. A rejuvenated Josh Windass led the charge and he shoehorned a quick shot over on the back of Charles Dunne’s hashed clearance.

Motherwell’s first chance came on 17 minutes and it was a golden one. A poor pass out from the back from Wes Foderingham went straight to the hosts and a counter attack was launched. The ball was fed out to Chris Cadden on the right and his pin point cross found Louis Moult at the back post, but his volley from inside 10 yards went flying high and wide.

A minute later and Rangers countered spectacularly. Again, Windass was at the heart of it, and the former Accrington Stanley man’s bend shot from a tight angle inside the box came crashing back off the far post.

As the game progressed Motherwell steadied the ship in defence, even though going forward chances were few and far between. However, on 39 minutes Fir Park erupted as the hosts drew level. A short free kick from Richard Tait to Craig Tanner created an angle for the forward to swing in a swirling left foot cross to the back post. With the Rangers defence napping, centre-half Heneghan ghosted in to head the ball down and into the net.

The parity almost only last a matter of seconds. Rangers again on the counter, and again through Windass, caused Motherwell hearts to stop with the Rangers winger again crashing a shot off the woodwork. This time it was the bar who saved the hosts

The second half began a move even affair although Rangers will be wondering how they didn’t regain the lead through Miller on 51 minutes. Candeias wrestled his way by Charles Dunne on the byeline and with his cutback perfect for his Rangers team-mate, Miller’s first-time shot from 12 yars flew just over the bar with the Motherwell goal gaping.

On 63 minutes, Rangers’ chance came. Fabio Cardoso was caught by the elbow of Moult during a scramble in the box. Bobby Madden pointed to the spot and, despite Carson going the right way, Dorrans grabbed his second with a calm finish to the Well keeper’s left.

Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson decided to change it up, throwing on Ryan Bowman and Alex Fisher up front. With just 15 minutes left, it almost paid off as the former struck the post. A great ball behind the Rangers defence was flicked on by the former Gateshead forward six yards out but it agonisingly scuffed the far post and trundled out.

With the seconds ticking away and only four minutes left on the clock, the home side did it again. A cock up at the back from Ryan Jack allowed the ball to break for Fisher in the middle of the box. With just Foderingham to beat, the former Inverness man’s low shot took a big deflection off the Rangers keeper and somehow bounced just wide of goal.