David Melvin reporting from Ibrox

Rangers maintained the pressure on Celtic at the top of the SPL with a 3-1 Boxing Day win over Mark McGhee's Motherwell at Ibrox.

Gers domination of possession in the first half failed to produce any goals until the 41st minute when Daniel Cousin found the net with a low drive from 15 yards.

Motherwell started the second half as the brighter team and forced their way back into the match shortly after the hour mark when Paul Quinn's goal levelled matters.

But Well could only hold Gers for six minutes as Charlie Adam's inswinging corner was turned into his own net by Chris Porter. And with substitute Boyd rolling in a 90th minute third, Gers kept up the challenge at the league's summit.

Walter Smith's side had looked firmly in control in the early stages without creating any clear cut chances and it was just four minutes from the interval when Cousin finally made the breakthrough with a left foot shot from 15 yards that curled into the bottom corner of Graeme Smith's net.

The striker's first SPL goal for two months came just seconds after Rangers had seen two efforts cleared off the line in as many minutes.

Carlos Cuellar's thunderous header cannoned off the bar from Chris Burke's inswinging corner and Kevin Thomson saw a clipped near post effort cleared by Stephen Craigan.

Rangers had enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half, but despite bright displays from Burke and Steven Naismith they couldn't find an opening in the early stages.

Burke began his first SPL start since April in a positive mood with a series of forays down the right flank.

His neat dummy in the 5^th minute set Hutton clear on the right, but the defenders return pass to Burke couldn't be collected as the 24-year-old tangled with Well left back Jim Paterson.

Just 6 minutes later Burke earned a free kick in the same position and from the resulting set piece Charlie Adam curled a left foot effort narrowly beyond Smith's far post.

Burke was clearly enjoying his return to SPL action and grew in confidence as the game progressed, giving the Well midfield and defence a torrid time.

His 16th minute run from just inside his own half saw him ghost past a couple of Well players before driving his shot narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box.

Steven Naismith was also keen to get in on the act as he paired Cousin up front. The former Killie man was constantly willing to chase long balls, and when he collected one in the 21st minute his neat footwork earned him room for a shot from 18 yards that was well collected by Smith.

With Gers dominating possession, Well were struggling to make an impact in the home side's half until a quick break in the 28th minute released Steven McGarry on the right.

His low cross to the edge of the six yard box found former Ger Ross McCormack and Ibrox keeper Allan McGregor did well to block the youngster's glancing header.

With Mark McGhee's side showing glimpses of the form that has taken them to third spot in the SPL Rangers responded well, driven on from the touch line by an animated Ally McCoist.

Burke needed little encouragement though as he stepped round Paterson again and angled a left footed effort towards the far post from 20 yards that Smith did well to get down low to his right and push round the post.

The Gers number trotted over to the opposite wing to deliver the resulting corner and his inswinging delivery was perfect for Cuellar.

However the Spaniard was denied his 4th goal of the SPL campaign when his header cracked off the underside of the bar and was cleared off the line.

However with the pressure mounting, Gers finally made the breakthrough when Cousin's 7th goal of the season sent Walter Smith's side in ahead at the break.

Well returned from the break with renewed vigour and looked the more likely team to score in the early stages of the second half.

McCormack had two good chances in the opening five minutes of the second period. Both times he found himself clear in the right channel but chose to shoot when a square ball to Porter would surely have produced an equaliser.

And just three minutes later it was Porter who sent McCormack behind the Gers defence again, only for the former Ibrox man to see his shot blocked by McGregor's feet.

Well took confidence from their bright start and forced their way back in to the match when Quinn met McCormack's corner to turn the ball past McGregor in the 63rd minute.

However Rangers fans had just six minutes to wait to see their side restore the advantage. Cousin again did well inside the Well box and forced a corner when his right foot drive was deflected wide.

Charlie Adam's corner evaded its intended targets in light blue jerseys, but found Well forward Porter who bulleted a header beyond a helpless Smith into his own net.

And Boyd made sure of the points in the closing seconds when his neat finish through the legs of Smith ensured a more comfortable gloss on the scoreline.

Rangers: McGregor; Hutton, Weir, Cuellar, Whittaker; Burke, Ferguson, Thomson, Adam; Naismith (Buffel, 63), Cousin (Boyd, 75).
Subs: Carroll, Ehiogu, Hemdani, Lennon, Furman.

Booked: Hutton.

Motherwell: Smith; Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Paterson; Hughes, O'Donnell, McGarry (Smith, 63); Porter, McCormack, Clarkson (Murphy, 82).
Subs: Meldrum, Corrigan, McLean, Lasley, Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Craigan.