A solitary Thelo Aasgaard goal was enough for Rangers to leapfrog Motherwell into third in the Scottish Premiership with a narrow but breathless win at Ibrox.

Nico Raskin had earlier found the net only for an offside Youssef Chermiti interfering with play resulting in the strike being ruled out.

Yet the tale of the game was undoubtedly both goalkeepers, with Jack Butland and Calum Ward pulling off a string of impressive saves.

In the first half Butland had to deny Lukas Fadinger, Callum Hendry and Elijah Just, while he also produced quite a sublime reaction stop to a Hendry strike moments before his side went ahead.

At the other end, Ward was on hand with a tremendous first-half double save and a flying block to a Jayden Meghoma shot. He then denied Connor Barron at the death with a dramatic stop.

But Motherwell's resistance was eventually broken on 67 minutes when Djeidi Gassama's curling shot could only be parried by Ward into the path of Aasgaard, who rolled in the rebound from a tight angle.

Well pushed for a leveller but could not find a clinical edge, while appeals for a trip from Emmanuel Fernandez on Fadinger in the box went unanswered.

Rangers boss Danny Rohl deserves credit for this one. He made three changes from the team which lost to Hearts, with Chermiti, Gassama and Aasgaard coming in.

He can be content with the showings of the latter two, who combined for the winner.

Gassama was easily the brightest spark, creating four chances while also had three shots on target. Aasgaard also contributed, and should have scored with a calm finish he put just wide in the first half.

Chermiti continues to frustrate in attack, though. From a Rangers perspective he frustratingly got in the way for what would have been an opener for Raskin. It's just not happening for him.

It wasn't pretty all the time from the home side, who looked shaky as they retreated under Motherwell pressure.

But this was a big win for Rohl's team, with it taking his side up into third spot. They created plenty chances, but they need to find a way of putting games to bed. If it wasn't for Butland, this could have been so different.

Motherwell's 10-game Premiership unbeaten run comes to a halt, and they will leave Govan knowing they missed an opportunity for a statement result.

While their keeper was possibly their best player, the Fir Park side still created a bounty of chances, particularly in the first half, but they either fluffed their lines or found Butland in heroic form.

Jens Berthel Askou's team started the season by playing well but not creating many chances. They're now finding that spark, but their killer touch evaded them at Ibrox.

The way Motherwell controlled swathes of this game shows that they have no fear, but, they have to take their chances.

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl: "I'm very happy for the group. Except for the first 15 minutes we were good, especially at the end we had so many chances.

"It's about the next game and the next three points. It's a long, long way, a long journey and a lot of games to go. It's about the next challenge we have.

"We are still in the race but a lot of games to go. I think after the Hearts defeat the question was different, today we have this question. I understand but it's about the next game and the next three points."

Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou: "We did everything we could to win, and even at the end when we were 1-0 down we did our best to at least get a draw.

"At times, it was an absolutely outstanding performance. I think we did everything we could and created a few opportunities in the end and also an opportunity that should, any day, have led to a penalty.

"He takes a very smart move between the legs of Fernandez and tries to get past him, Fernandez lets his leg hang a little bit and trips him. I think it's quite obvious."

Rangers host St Mirren on Tuesday (19:45 GMT), while Motherwell welcome Celtic to Fir Park on the same night (20:00).