Robert Malcolm's late goal enabled Rangers to come from behind and record a 2-1 victory at Motherwell.

Don Goodman had put the home side ahead in the second minute but substitute Fabrice Fernandes smashed an equaliser within seconds of making his debut.

Early in the match Said Chiba saw a goalbound shot deflected on to a post and Goodman had a penalty appeal turned down for the home side, while Rangers mustered just one shot on target in reply in the first half.

But Fernandes and Malcolm both struck in the second period to claim a smash-and-grab victory and keep the Gers on target for the second Champions League qualifying spot.

Both sides made wholesale changes from the last time they took to the field with Motherwell making five switches and Rangers three.

The home side gave debuts to the two internationals signed earlier in the week until the end of the season.

James Okoli, a Nigerian formerly with Watford and Hertha Berlin, slotted in at the back and Moroccan Chiba, borrowed from French club Nancy, made his bow in midfield.

Billy Davies' options were limited anyway with the sales of Ged Brannan, Steve McMillan, Lee McCulloch and John Spencer in recent weeks.

Benito Kemble, Derek Townsley and Derek Adams were all suspended and Kevin Twaddle was unable to celebrate his new three-year contract because of a virus, with a bug also ruling out Steven Hammell.

James McFadden, Goodman and Stuart Elliott filled the other gaps as an attacking trio in a 3-4-3 line-up.

With Fernando Ricksen and Craig Moore suspended and Lorenzo Amoruso on the ever-lengthening injury list, Dick Advocaat also rang the changes with Kenny Miller and Malcolm restored to the starting line-up and Jani Kauppila handed a full debut.

Steven Carson dropped out after a first start in midweek but youngsters Peter Leven and Andy Dowie were handed places on the bench alongside new loan signing Fernandes.

All this also meant Scotland striker Billy Dodds was stuck on the bench once again, this time just days before his country's vital World Cup qualifier with Belgium.

It took little more than a minute for the home side to put Rangers under pressure when Scott Leitch's throughball put Don Goodman goalside of Bert Konterman.

A strong penalty appeal followed when Goodman went down in the box in mid-shot under the Dutchman's challenge.

It looked as though Rangers had been lucky to escape but just two minutes later the former Wolves man had scored.

Chiba played a free-kick in from the right and Goodman flicked a near post header past Stefan Klos.

Rangers' makeshift defence was pulled apart again soon afterwards but Chiba fired an inviting chance wide.

Rangers had taken a while to recover and started to put the home side under pressure.

New signing from Wimbledon Marcus Gayle crossed into the box from the left but both Kenny Miller and Tore Andre Flo failed to connect.

Flo missed a great opportunity to equalise when Well were twice guilty of poor defending.

Firstly they could only clear as far as Barry Ferguson on the edge of the box, who nooded the ball back to Flo.

No challenge came in and Flo was able to take aim and fire from the edge of the six-yard box but found only the side-netting.

Well replied with a fine move that saw Douglas Ramsay cross from the right and Elliott get in front of his marker in the box to win a header that went straight at Klos.

Konterman headed a corner over at the other end and Miller saw a shot from an angle saved by Andy Goram before Well went close yet again when Chiba saw his on-target shot deflected on to a post for corner.

Rangers came close when Miller controlled Ferguson's pass and fired just wide on the turn.

Ferguson and Leitch tussled in the middle of the park and when the Well man went down Ferguson appeared to aim a kick in his face.

Scott Wilson's long ball found Miller in the box, but his first touch let him down and the chance was gone.

Flo fell over in the box but recovered to continue a turn that ended with an off-target shot.

Ferguson fired wide as Rangers pressured and Keith Lasley did the same at the other end.

Rangers should have equalised when a Gayle header from Allan Johnston's corner was cleared off the line only as far as Sergio Porrini, who, with the goal at his mercy, screwed his shot wide.

Malcolm was booked for a high tackle that felled Chiba.

Rangers made a double substitution with Miller and Porrini replaced by Billy Dodds and Fabrice Fernandes.

Within seconds of making his much-anticipated debut, the Frenchman had blasted an extraordinary equaliser.

Receiving the ball for the first time less than a minute after coming on he took a stride forward and smashed the ball into the net from 25 yards.

Ferguson had a chance to put Rangers ahead, arriving in the box to accept a throughball, but his finish was weak and straight at Goram.

Chiba was booked for a foul on Malcolm and Well went on to replace Ramsay with Steve Nicholas and Elliott with Martin Wood.

Motherwell made their third change with Stephen Pearson replacing Lasley, who had earlier been booked.

Goodman went down in the box under Wilson's challenge but play went on and Wood stabbed a shot into Klos' arms.

Then Goodman headed a Chiba corner at Klos as Motherwell finished strongly.

But Rangers had the last word when Malcolm scored the winner with a minute to go when Johnston sent in a corner, Gayle flicked on to the far post where Flo hooked the ball back into the six-yard box where Dodds and Konterman challenged with defenders and the ball bounced loose for Malcolm to tap in.

Klos was still needed to protect the lead, saving from Nicholas in stoppage time.