Klos keeps Rangers in touch

Dado Prso gave Rangers a vital lift in confidence before their midweek Uefa Cup trip to Poland to face Amica Wronki, but it was Stefan Klos who was the true hero as he produced another performance which underlined why he was given the captain's armband during the summer.

Dado Prso gave Rangers a vital lift in confidence before their midweek Uefa Cup trip to Poland to face Amica Wronki, but it was Stefan Klos who was the true hero as he produced another performance which underlined why he was given the captain's armband during the summer.

The German goalkeeper denied Motherwell with a series of saves that edged him closer towards the Scottish Premier League clean-sheet record held by Chris Woods, who, of course, was a team-mate at Ibrox - and with England - of Terry Butcher during the late 1980s.

"Klos was different class," declared the Motherwell manager. "He is on a par with Chris Woods and he also has that great ability that Peter Shilton had in one-on-one situations."

Klos has now gone over 600 minutes since conceding a goal and it seemed as if he would have an easy afternoon after Prso put Rangers in front after just seven minutes with a sublime finish, the Croatian showing great pace to burst past the Motherwell defence before scooping his shot over goalkeeper Gordon Marshall.

Motherwell responded and Scott McDonald created a chance after cutting inside Marvin Andrews, but Klos beat away a venomous shot. Then Klos rescued his side again as David Clarkson went clear with just the keeper to beat, but the Rangers man produced a remarkable, one-handed save.

After the interval Butcher's side continued their quest and Scott Leitch thought he had equalised just after the hour with a low shot from the edge of the area until Klos flew across to touch it wide.

Motherwell's desperation was their undoing. They were hit on the counter-attack in the 83rd minute as Nacho Novo raced 60 yards before threading a pass to Prso, whose right-foot shot sealed the contest to keep Rangers five points behind leaders Celtic.

Goals: Prso (7) 0-1; Prso (83) 0-2.

Motherwell (4-4-2): Marshall; Corrigan, Craigan, Partridge, Hammell; McBride, Leitch, O'Donnell (Paterson, 89), Foran; Clarkson, McDonald. Substitutes not used: Corr (gk), Quinn, Kinniburgh, Fitzpatrick, Fagan, Burns.

Rangers (4-4-2): Klos; Khizanishvili, Andrews, Boumsong, Vignal; Novo, Ricksen, Malcolm, Burke (Namouchi, 89); Prso, Thompson (Arveladze, 55). Substitutes not used: Smith (gk), Hughes, McLean, Davidson, Fetai.

Referee: J Rowbotham.

Booked: Rangers: Thompson, Burke, Malcolm.

Man of the match: Klos.

Attendance: 10,946.