Novo helps keep Rangers in touch

Scottish Premier League/Rangers - 4 Motherwell - 1: Rangers striker Nacho Novo grabbed a double against Motherwell to help cut Celtic's lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League table to a single point again. The Spaniard struck twice in the opening 15 minutes at Ibrox to bring his season total to 17 - level with Celtic's John Hartson.

The visitors had hauled themselves back into the game four minutes after the break through Scott McDonald. But Shota Arveladze scored in the 52nd minute, while Steven Thompson's strike killed off any hopes of a revival for Motherwell.

Rangers were in front inside three minutes. Fernando Ricksen flighted a cross into the box and Novo wriggled between the static Martyn Corrigan and Stephen Craigan to collect the ball and send a delightful flick into the back of the net from six yards.

Rangers were applying all the pressure early in the game and they could have added to that tally when Dado Prso went on a surging run, skipping past Craigan before eventually being hauled down on the edge of the box by David Partridge.

Gregory Vignal stepped up for the free-kick and the resultant effort was powerful enough, but he was just off-target.

Rangers did not have to wait too long for their second goal, however, and they doubled their advantage after 15 minutes as Novo grabbed his second.

Ricksen's head-flick found Arveladze and he fed the ball through to Novo to send a curling effort past stand-in Motherwell goalkeeper Barry John Corr for his second of the day.

Motherwell pulled a goal back just four minutes into the second half.

Scott McDonald collected the ball inside the box and created space for himself before sending a curling effort past Stefan Klos into the top corner of the net.

But Rangers stretched their lead again in the 53rd minute. This time, Novo was the provider when he set up Arveladze, who swept home at the near post leaving Corr with little chance.

Steven Thompson replaced Prso with 15 minutes remaining and had the final say in the game when he turned Partridge in the area before firing past Corr with just four minutes to go.

RANGERS: Klos, Hutton, Andrews, Khizanishvili, Vignal, Ricksen, Malcolm, Mladenovic (Alex Rae 60), Arveladze, Prso (Thompson 77), Novo. Subs Not Used: Hughes, Namouchi, Steven Smith, Graeme Smith. Booked: Vignal, Khizanishvili, Malcolm. Goals: Novo 3, 15, Arveladze 53, Thompson 86.

MOTHERWELL: Corr, Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell, McBride, Paul Quinn, Fitzpatrick (Wright 72), Paterson, Scott McDonald (Burns 72), Foran. Subs Not Used: Cowan, Fagan, Kinniburgh, Keogh, Ewings. Booked: Foran, Partridge. Goals: Scott McDonald 49.

Ref: A Freeland (Scotland).