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Motherwell have two-goal advantage in playoff

Lee Erwin and Stephen McManus scored in first half

Lionel Ainsworth added a third after half-time

Darren McGregor pulled one back for Rangers

Second leg at Fir Park on Sunday

Motherwell grasped the initiative in the Scottish Premiership play-off by taking a confident and emphatic two-goal lead from the first-leg at Ibrox.

Lee Erwin scored through a deflection from Darren McGregor, before Stephen McManus headed in a second.

Lionel Ainsworth struck a third just after the interval as Motherwell raced forward on the counter attack, with Rangers in a state of deep anxiety.

Rangers fought back with McGregor heading a late consolation.

That leaves a little hope, but Motherwell are in control of the tie. The two meet again at Fir Park in Sunday's second leg, with Rangers facing the very real prospect of another year in the Scottish Championship.

The visitors relied on their flexibility. Scott McDonald dropped back into midfield whenever Rangers had the ball, so that visitors employed a 4-5-1 shape when chasing possession. Yet Rangers were initially buoyant, and made progress on the flanks with their two full-backs overlapping.

The sense was of the visitors living on the edge of their wits, and the Motherwell goalkeeper George Long had to push a Lee Wallace cross away from danger. Kenny Miller then turned away from Stephen Pearson, nutmegged Keith Lasley and curled a shot from 20 yards just wide.

A moment of resourcefulness completely altered the nature of the game. There looked to be no imminent danger when Erwin gathered the ball just to the right of the penalty area. The striker was full of intent, though, and shifted his feet and his body to evade a challenge, then hit a left-foot shot that deflected off McGregor on its way past goalkeeper Cammy Bell.

Motherwell fans were in dreamland as their side went 3-0 up at Ibrox, a ground they had not won at since 1997

The goal rattled the home side, whose poise drained, and Motherwell were carried forward on waves of zeal and confidence. They still needed Long, who was on reliable form, to block a Nicky Clark effort but it was the visitors' counter-attacks that became the game's defining feature, thanks to the pace of Ainsworth and Marvin Johnson.

One led to a free kick that Johnson delivered from the right and McManus glanced a header into the far corner.

The second goal left meant Motherwell could afford to sit off Rangers, strike on the counter and leave the home side under pressure to change the game.

Rangers had to hold their nerve, but they committed so many players forward at the beginning of the second half that when Andy Murdoch gifted possession to Pearson deep inside the Motherwell half, the break upfield saw a three v two in the visitors' favour. It ended with Ainsworth drilling a shot past Bell.

Ainsworth might have effectively finished the tie as a contest later in the half, but blasted over from close range. Motherwell were still comfortable, though, with McDonald and Pearson working hard and effectively in central midfield.

Long was also on hand when required, stopping a Haris Vuckic effort with one hand hand pushing a Kris Boyd header over from close range.

Rangers discarded any remaining caution, with Tom Walsh and Shane Ferguson coming off the bench to attack from wide. They slung crosses into the penalty area, and it was from a set-piece that the pressure eventually told, with McGregor heading powerfully into the net.

There were other close calls, with Vuckic pulling a shot just wide and McManus slicing the ball behind his own goal, but Motherwell carry a significant advantage into Sunday.

Rangers went into the game as favourites, with two wins and a draw in the previous rounds

Motherwell supporters lit flares early into the game

Lionel Ainsworth put Motherwell 3-0 ahead just after half-time