Walter Smith hoping injured Steven Naismith can recover for Old Firm clash

Naismith looks likely to be unavailable for Wednesday night's trip to St Johnstone but manager Walter Smith has not given up hope of the player being able to return in time to face Celtic.

"We'll have to wait and see how it is in the morning when we should have a clearer idea of how long he will be out," said Smith. "He is certainly doubtful for Wednesday but hopefully it will settle down in time for the weekend."

Naismith, who pulled up sharply as he raced on to a throw-out from goalkeeper Allan McGregor five minutes before half-time, was involved in a car crash on Christmas Eve which left him shaken but unhurt.

"I don't think it is anything to do with that," added Smith. "He just felt pain in his hamstring, coming from the base of his back."

Naismith's injury was the only sour note of an impressive result and performance from Rangers, who remain two points clear of Celtic at the top of the SPL, having played a game less than their rivals.

"I felt we played well today," observed Smith. "We started the game very well, something we have been guilty of failing to do for much of the season. We had a blip when we lost a poor goal at the start of the second-half which got Motherwell back to 2-1, but that aside we played very well."

Vladimir Weiss left Fir Park clutching the man of the match champagne, the Slovakian international responding well to a heart-to-heart chat with Smith last week. The 21-year-old, deployed in a more central position, scored one and set up two more of Rangers' goals. "I hadn't been doing well in our recent matches," said Weiss, "so I went to speak to the manager last week. I'm really happy he gave me another chance today. I knew he could help me and he gave me a lot of confidence with what he said to me. He told me he believes in me and I tried to show him today that I can do better than I had been doing."

Weiss, on loan from Manchester City for the season, is regarded as an out- and-out winger but Smith's decision to move him infield paid dividends.

"All players of that type can struggle for consistency," said Smith, "and it can also be awkward for a young lad like Vlad being on loan from another club.

"It was a different position for him today and it gave him more freedom.I was delighted to see him play in the manner he did."

Motherwell caretaker manager Gordon Young oversaw a second successive defeat since the departure of Craig Brown and Archie Knox to Aberdeen and saw a decision to include Tom Hateley in his side backfire when the midfielder was forced to leave the action before half-time.

"The gameplan was based around Tom," said Young, "and I decided to take a chance on him, although he was ill before the game.

"It soon became apparent he wouldn't be able to be the influence we hoped. I take full responsibility for that.

"We could have passed the ball better and kept it better today, but Rangers were the better team and certainly deserved to win."

Motherwell hope to have a new manager in charge in time for Wednesday night's trip to Celtic Park.

"I know the club were speaking to candidates today," said Young. "I've enjoyed the responsibility of being in charge but obviously would have liked to win games.

"But there's no reason why the players can't bounce back and perform as they were earlier in the season."