Todd Cantwell isn't at Rangers apex yet but playmaker knows what position is primed to get him there

It wasn’t all about attitude and application as the heavens opened and the wind howled on a Lanarkshire Christmas Eve.

Rangers’ victory at Fir Park had a fair smattering of ability welded to the attributes that Philippe Clement demands as non-negotiables. Right from the start, they blew away a Motherwell side which looked like it believed more in Santa Claus than they did in their chances of beating a Rangers side on a rampant run of 16 games unbeaten.

Of course, Stuart Kettlewell’s side's failure to win any of their previous 14 games - now 15 - had something to do with that. And by the time they had shrugged off their inferiority complex they were two goals down in 16 minutes to strikes from Kieran Dowell and Todd Cantwell and the points were halfway to Ibrox. Cantwell was instrumental in everything Rangers did in that first period but afterwards was happier highlighting the contribution made by his former Norwich City team-mate Dowell, who has impressed in the last matches since coming back into the team after a lengthy injury absence.

The midfielder said: “I feel sorry for Kieran. He had a tough injury not long after he signed which is difficult because it changes what it looks like for him. He came in, looked good and has been injured since.

“Fair play to him for his consistency in training. Every single day he has been consistent. He is a top footballer, there is no secret to that. I’ve had the joy of playing with him at Norwich and we were successful there. That’s the plan here too.”

They certainly dovetailed well on Christmas Eve as Cantwell and his team-mates defied the conditions as well as a Motherwell side which started poorly but improved after the break. The Englishman added: “It was tough, about as