Sloppy Rangers missed the chance to punish Celtic because the champions capitulated at residence to Motherwell.
Objectives from Alfredo Morelos and Style Sakala put the Ibrox facet in full management till Jordan Roberts and Kaiyne Woolery earned the battling guests some extent.
Celtic had earlier been held to a goalless draw in opposition to Hibs however Rangers' failure to capitalise ensures the hole on the Premiership summit stays three factors.
For the second week operating, Giovanni van Bronckhorst's facet have been unable to construct on the euphoria of a shocking Europa League end result in opposition to Borussia Dortmund.
This was a special type of failure to that which plagued them at Tannadice seven days in the past, throwing away a wholesome benefit when the factors ought to've been nicely secure.
It is a end result that locations additional significance on a difficult midweek journey to St Johnstone, preventing for his or her lives on the backside finish of the desk.
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As was anticipated, Rangers began like a facet recent from recording one of many biggest leads to the membership's historical past.
Barely a minute had handed when Morelos turned an effort onto the crossbar after powering his means into the Motherwell field.
It set the tone for early Rangers stress as Tavernier's curling shot produced a superb save from Liam Kelly earlier than John Lundstram headed large.
Kelly was it once more simply shy of the 20 minute mark, palming away a robust Lundstram strike because the site visitors continued to movement a method.
A breakthrough felt inevitable and Rangers duly helped themselves to not one, however two swift objectives.
Morelos stooped to satisfy a cross from the best that went past the attain of Kelly and broke Motherwell's resistance.
The onslaught shortly continued with Ryan Kent twisting and handing over off the left, and his low ball throughout objective discovered Sakala on the again submit to smash residence with aplomb.
Motherwell' s ultra-conservative early strategy had been smashed to bits they usually responded with three half-time adjustments.
Jordan Roberts, Liam Shaw and Justin Amaluzor changed Joe Efford, Mark O'Hara and Ross Tierney for the restart.
It appeared to have made little distinction to the movement of the match till Kaiyne Woolery burned previous Lundstram on the best flank and rifled over a superb cross for Roberts to faucet residence from shut vary.
All of a sudden Rangers wanted to rediscover their first-half urgency however their was solely frustration for Morelos as he headed residence once more however was instantly thwarted by the offside flag.
That wasn't the top of the Colombian's misfortune, both. A elegant reverse cross from Kent put the striker via however once more the flag had gone up by the point he battered a trademark lashed end into the roof of Kelly's internet.
These shut calls created an air of tension round Ibrox that proved to be justified when Woolery pounced on some hesitant defending from James Tavernier and Connor Goldson to fireside below Allan McGregor and earn the guests an unlikely level.
Rangers' startling capitulation
The primary 45 minutes of this contest have been about as easy because it comes for Rangers as they blasted their means right into a two-goal lead that would nicely have been prolonged.
They'd an additional two dominated out for offside within the second interval, however in some way conspired to lose two desperately poor objectives that present an additional setback to their ambitions of retaining the title.
The zip and verve that characterised their first-half play and left the Steelmen on the ropes abandoned Rangers after the restart they usually paid a heavy value for it.
Margins stay extremely skinny on the prime finish of the desk however Rangers cannot carry on taking these physique blows in the event that they need to flip the tide of their favour.
Title race takes one other twist
Celtic supervisor Ange Postecoglou predicted final week there might be extra twists to come back within the spring to the flag and, certain sufficient, it has.
The Parkhead facet may have been six factors clear come kick-off at Ibrox had they not turned in such a limp efficiency at Easter Highway.
That originally appeared to galvanise Rangers as they raced right into a two-goal lead, solely to throw it away throughout a bizarrely slack second interval.
Twists and turns inside the twists and turns, it appears, as this fascinating battle for the title simply retains on throwing up surprises.
Motherwell rally fantastically
A two objective lead is a notoriously precarious one however this match confirmed all of the indicators of being over when the half-time whistle went.
Motherwell hadn't threatened in any respect and Rangers appeared razor sharp in assault, making their dominance rely the place it matter.
However credit score to Alexander, he rung the adjustments at half-time and his crew responded.
Sure, Rangers had two objectives dominated out for offside, however the Steelmen refused to be breached once more and took their alternatives ruthlessly once they appeared on the different finish.
And all that with out essential man Kevin van Veen, lacking via damage.
An excellent end result and energy from the Fir Park facet.