RANGERS had to come from behind to restore parity on points at the top of the Premiership and avoid a costly Ibrox stumble against an impressive Motherwell.

Devante Cole gave Stephen Robinson’s side a shock lead and the Steelmen put up a fight before Jermain Defoe levelled just before the break. That gave Rangers the foundations upon which to build in the second half.

And it was Filip Helander that was the Light Blues’ hero as the Swede headed home a James Tavernier corner. The Gers skipper had earlier missed a penalty and the relief around Ibrox was clear as a crucial three points were secured.

RANGERS HAD TO DIG DEEP TO GET OVER THE LINE

The showings that Gerrard’s side turned in against Hearts and Porto could not have been more different. This one was closer to that of Tynecastle than the draw that gave Rangers a huge Europa League boost on Thursday night.

Gerrard knew his side couldn’t afford to slip up again on their return to Premiership duty and the points were far more important than the performance. Rangers were far from their best but matches like this need to be won if title challenges are going to be put in.

The first half was particularly poor in an attacking sense but Rangers did pick up after the break as they looked more dangerous in the final third. In the end, it was just enough.

“Winning ugly is probably the best way to describe it,” Gerrard said. “I was disappointed with us in the first half.

“It was a fantastic goal from Jermain, he did well again. It was a great finish, typical of him, looking to smell a chance out.

“The penalty miss was big again. But we weren’t at it in the first half. There was a big improvement in the second half. But we’ve definitely got away with one today.”

IT’S ALL SQUARE AT THE TOP ONCE AGAIN

The Old Firm were separated by the narrowest of margins heading into the weekend and Celtic have increased their advantage ever so slightly in terms of goal difference. The title rivals are still locked together on points, though, heading into the midweek card.

Both managers will play down the significance of the table at this stage of the campaign but neither can take their eyes off what is happening across the city.

Every win earned and every point dropped is hugely important and the scenes when Helander headed home the winner were a mixture of celebration and relief for Rangers.

TAVERNIER NEEDS TO FIND HIS FORM QUICKLY

Boss Gerrard insisted that no player in his squad was undroppable as he addressed the form of his captain in Portugal last week, but he was also unequivocal in his backing of Tavernier. He is, he stated, not the kind of manager to bomb a player out after a couple of poor displays and he urged the Ibrox crowd to keep with the right-back after another mixed afternoon here.

It was Tavernier that provided the corner for Helander to head home the winner but a first half penalty miss, his third of the season, and a couple of errors gave his critics a chance to get on his back once again.

“I will consider it,” Gerrard said when asked if he could take Tavernier off penalty duty. “I don’t think I have to make that decision right now but it will certainly be on my mind over the next 24 to 48 hours.”

THIS WASN’T A GOOD AFTERNOON FOR ANDREW DALLAS

You got a feeling early on that Dallas was going to have one of those games and both managers had cause for complaint towards the whistler. Rangers had two appeals for penalties – both for handball against Peter Hartley then Liam Grimshaw – waved away, while Liam Polworth was furious at the award when Tavernier went down.

It was the decision not to penalise Defoe for his coming together with Liam Donnelly in the build-up to the equaliser that really upset Motherwell, though. Within seconds, the ball was in the net and the complexion of the game had changed.

“For their penalty I think you can always tell by players' reactions,” Robinson said. “Have a look back at the penalty and their goal. You make your own mind up - if I say something I will probably get a 20-game ban."

MOTHERWELL GAVE IT A RIGHT GO AT IBROX

Robinson and his players may have been left with no points to show for their efforts but they should still be proud of what they put into this one as they pushed Rangers all the way. On another day, they could even have headed for home with a famous win to their credit.

Gerrard was complimentary of the way that the Steelmen were set up and the way that they performed. The goal from Cole was a lovely finish and the visitors were always competitive as they put themselves about but also played with the confidence and quality that has been the hallmark of an impressive start to the campaign.

“We kept two players up front and I thought Devante Cole and Christopher Long were both brilliant,” Robinson said. “We coped well with them and we hit them on the break. When you look at the level we are at and what we are able to recruit and pay, we have done excellent. It shows you how far we have come that we have come away from Ibrox frustrated at not getting a point.”