THE last time Rangers returned to domestic action after facing Spartak Moscow in the Europa League, they produced one of the worst performances of the campaign. This time, they recorded the biggest win of Steven Gerrard’s reign.

The draw with the Russians last month was followed by the lacklustre showing against Aberdeen as the Gers saw their Betfred Cup ambitions ended. Now, though, they have breathed fresh life into their Premiership hopes after an emphatic 7-1 win over Motherwell at Ibrox.

It was just the kind of response that Gerrard would have demanded from his side in the aftermath of the rather shambolic showing against Spartak on Thursday night. This was certainly one way to banish the memories of a first European defeat of the season.

Scott Arfield and Eros Grezda both netted twice, while James Tavernier scored from the spot and Alfredo Morelos and Glenn Middleton also scored. A Curtis Main strike that had threatened to upset Ibrox wasn’t even a consolation for a Motherwell side that collapsed after Carl McHugh’s first half red card.

The numerical advantage undoubtedly gave Rangers an upper hand. It was one they certainly made the most of, though, as they stormed to a win that takes them to within two points of Premiership leaders Celtic.

At the end of another three-game week, that was the main positive to take for Gerrard and the wins against St Mirren and Motherwell are what have really mattered.

The performance and the result in midweek had caused concern for Gerrard and the Ibrox crowd and it was no surprise to see changes made as Rangers returned to Premiership duty.

The introduction of Grezda in place of Daniel Candeias was always likely but Connor Goldson, Jon Flanagan and Lassana Coulibaly could have had no complaints about dropping out of the side along with the suspended Portuguese.

Rangers had to move on from Moscow as quickly as possible but the failings that cost them so dear were evident at times here. Soon, they were motoring to victory, though.

Rangers once again got off to a perfect start as Arfield collected a ball over the top from Tavernier, made the most of a slip from Tom Aldred and found the bottom corner to give Rangers an eighth minute lead. Like against Spartak, they couldn’t consolidate it, though.

Motherwell had already come close through long range efforts from Gael Bigirimana and McHugh but it was good link-up play from their two strikers that paid off as they pulled level.

Ryan Bowman brushed past Nikola Katic with relative ease and then had time to pick out Main. From inside the six yard box, the forward poked the ball home to stun Ibrox.

Rangers needed to respond quickly to ensure the home crowd didn’t get increasingly tetchy and when tempers did boil over, it was in the dugout rather than in the stands.

What started with a decision to award a penalty ended in Rangers scoring their second goal as Tavernier converted from the spot. It was far from that straightforward, though.

Motherwell were furious that McHugh was penalised for handball and the flashing of a yellow card, just minutes after he had been shown his first for a foul on Morelos, compounded their anger. Andy Halliday had fired in a shot from the edge of the area and his appeals paid off as referee Craig Thomson pointed to the spot.

Boss Stephen Robinson and assistant Keith Lasley became embroiled in a heated exchange with coach Tom Culshaw on the touchline before Gary McAllister also became involved. As Tavernier waited to take the penalty, Thomson sent Robinson off to a chorus of cheers from the home crowd.

Back on the park, Tavernier slotted the ball beyond keeper Trevor Carson but with Thomson looking the other way, the Ibrox captain had to do it all over again once Robinson had finally made his way up the tunnel. Tavernier made no mistake second time around, placing his shot in the same corner as before as Carson went to his right this time.

It was left to Lasley to reshuffle the Motherwell pack but the Steelmen had barely regrouped before they had lost their third goal. This time, it was Morelos that did the damage.

A Middleton corner was swung in to a dangerous area with pace and curl and the Colombian nodded the ball across Carson and in off the post. Unlike in Moscow, a frantic couple of minutes had benefitted Rangers on this occasion.

Gerrard would not have accepted his side not being able to see it out twice in a couple of days. That never looked likely, though.

The clinical finish from Middleton, the winger found by Grezda before he beat Carson at his right hand post, was the one that put the result beyond any doubt at Ibrox.

Arfield then started to add a bit of shine to the score line as Rangers looked to go on and record their biggest win of the Gerrard era. That was the 5-1 victory over St Johnstone in September and Arfield took them to that mark with a neat finish from inside the area.

Soon, the scoreboard was ticking over again. A jinking run from Grezda took him to within range and his low strike left Carson with no chance as he opened his Ibrox account.

The Albanian didn’t have to wait long for his second, either. Tavernier picked him out at the back post and his header brought the Gers fans to their feet again as another handful of Steelmen supporters made for the exits.

There were few in Light Blue doing likewise as they savoured a slick attacking showing from Gerrard’s side and celebrated a crucial league win ahead of the international break.

Gerrard will be pleased Rangers didn’t pick up where they left off in Russia. That is exactly what they must do when Livingston visit Ibrox in a fortnight, however.