Attendance 49,481
But it was a dire performance in a grim match that did little to inspire hope that the Light Blues can overtake their Edinburgh rivals over the course of the remaining five fixtures.
Manager Alex McLeish fielded an unchanged team from Tannadice with Ronald Waterreus retaining his place despite recent controversy – and within seconds of the restart the Dutch goalkeeper was being booed by his own fans.
The visitors needed a win to retain any hopes of a top six finish and were adventurous in outlook from the opening minutes – but it was Barry Ferguson who had the first effort on goal in when his eighteen-yard left-foot drive from a Peter Lovenkrands lay-off was just wide in fourteen minutes.
Sixty seconds later, at the other end, Ritchie Foran had a clear sight of goal when the ball broke to him only for Waterreus to turn his shot over the bar.
There was a growing unease amongst the 49,481 spectators as new filtered through from Tynecastle that Hearts were 3-0 up against Dunfermline – but the tension was eased in 26 minutes when Boyd opened the scoring following a Ferguson – Buffel move, the Belgian turning inside before cutting the ball back to the striker.
Eight minutes later it might have been 2-0 when Lovenkrands' left-foot volley from a Buffel cross was just wide.
A dreary 45 minutes ended with Rangers leading by just the one goal, and ‘Well might have levelled the scoreline in 51 minutes when Foran went through on a Kevin McBride long ball after the winger had dispossessed Steven Smith only to be denied by Waterreus once again.
Three minutes later Ferguson and Boyd split the Fir Park defence only for former Rangers' goalkeeper Graene Smith to prove equal to the task in holding the Ibrox Captain's eighteen-yard shot.
The game had deteriorated by a considerable degree – but it was Motherwell who were looking more and more likely to produce something, illustrated in 72 minutes when Foran's twenty-yard volley from a Scott McDonald head-flick flashed just wide.
Immediately afterwards Nacho Novo replaced Boyd – and the little Spaniard came close to sealing the points in 84 minutes when his turn and shot from a Prso headflick was just too high.
Waterreus had started the game as the villain of the piece – but sixty seconds later he kept Rangers' Champions League dreams alive with an instinctive save from substitute David Clarkson following a Brian Kerr cross.
There was more drama to come in 87 minutes when Lovenkrands suddenly collapsed in the middle of the park, limping off with what appeared to be a groin injury to be replaced by Ian Murray.
Rangers played out time for a crucial three points, and afterwards Alex McLeish reflected:
“It was a good win. We reached the heights last week, but today was about the three points. Ronald Waterreus showed his professionalism – recent quotes have done him a disservice. Barry Ferguson looked at his best.
It's been a traumatic season, but everyone has shown resilience.”
Motherwell Manager, and former Ibrox legend Terry Butcher tellingly commented:
“The Rangers crowd booed their goalkeeper – but how many booed him at the end? He had two wonderful saves. That's the best we've played here, and we still got nothing.”
RANGERS Waterreus; Hutton, Kyrgiakos, Rodriguez, Smith; Lovenkrands (Murray 86), Ferguson, Hemdani, Prso; Buffel (G. Rae 85), Boyd (Novo 72)
UNUSED SUBS Malcolm, Klos, Andrews, N'Guessan
MOTHERWELL Smith; Corrigan, Craigan, Kinniburgh, Paterson; McBride (Hamilton 77, McCormack (Kerr 84), O'Donnell, McGarry (Clarkson 77); McDonald, Foran
UNUSED SUBS Fitzpatrick, Meldrum, Leitch, Thermeus
REFEREE Kenny Clark