Steven Naismith, Nikica Jelavic and David Healy were all on the scoresheet for the champions who produced, arguably, one of their most impressive performances of the season. Walter Smith decided to hand on-loan Arsenal youngster Kyle Bartley in midfield alongside Steven Davis with Mo Edu and Jamie Ness dropping out.

© BBC Sport

Nikica Jelavic netted a hat-trick as Rangers hammered Motherwell in a 6-0 victory at Ibrox this afternoon.

It was much improved from Rangers after last week's performance against Celtic and some of the football today was an absolute joy to watch. At the heart of it, Steven Davis was like his old-self and kept everything ticking along in the middle of the park while Kyle Bartley was able to dominate that area of the pitch. There is such a difference around Ibrox when the team plays with pace and loads of movement and that was exactly what we got today. Well worth watching in my opinion.

Steven Naismith, in a central-midfield role today, popped up to score the opening goal on five minutes when he latched on to Vladimir Weiss' low cross and finished well with his right-foot. El-Hadji Diouf almost opened his Rangers account when he was sent through on goal by Weiss but Diouf was just inches away from collecting the pass. The good tempo and intensity from Rangers was continued for a decent spell of the first-half and Jelavic came close for the first time when his shot went just past the post.

However, the opposition were just creeping ever so slightly back into the game and McCall's men worked an excellent chance with some really good passing play but John Sutton's header went over the bar.

© Scotsman Sport

That chance quickly gave Rangers the boot up the backside and the home side doubled their lead with Jelavic on the scoresheet for the first time. Bartley moved the ball out well to Whittaker who cut the back ball for Jelavic to slot home from 13 yards out. The Croatian International got his second just three minutes later when he steered Vladimir Weiss' neat free-kick into the net past the helpless Randolph.

Rangers continued to create chances after the break but Allan McGregor was called into action at the other end and produced an excellent save to stop Ross Forbes' long-range effort finding the top corner.

The fourth goal came on 76 minutes when Davis and Fleck combined to force defender Shaun Hutchinson into diverting Fleck's low cross past his own goalkeeper. Jelavic finally got his well-deserved hat-trick with a neat right-foot finish that Randolph could not hold on to as the ball slowly sneaked over the line.

© Daily Mirror

Substitute David Healy came on in the second half to replace El-Hadji Diouf, who had recieved a standing ovation for a terrific display, and the Northern Irish striker took 19 minutes to net his first goal when he reacted quickest inside the box and slotted home past Darren Randolph. A nice finish from Healy who was bursting with joy to score for his boyhood heroes and so were the supporters who enjoyed the moment just as much.

Rangers will need to do without Jelavic for midweek against Sporting Lisbon at Ibrox in the Europa League. After that, back to SPL duties for the second trip to Celtic Park of the season.

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