STEVEN GERRARD admitted Rangers paid the price for their profligacy in the final third as a '3-0, 4-0 game' turned into two dropped points at home to Motherwell.

The champions missed the chance to move six points clear of Old Firm rivals Celtic as they were held by the Steelmen on the day the league flag was unfurled at Ibrox.

Fashion Sakala set Rangers on course for what should have been a straightforward home win after 12 minutes.

But a succession of missed chances cost Gerrard's side dear and a Kaiyne Woolery effort would earn Motherwell a battling point on their travels.

The inability to kill teams off permeated Gerrard's first two campaigns in charge and and the Light Blues boss was frustrated with a disappointing draw.

Gerrard told RangersTV: "Look it's two points dropped. there's no getting away from that.

"I think box to box today we played some outstanding stuff. We got there on numerous occasions but our last pass, our final cross and us taking our chances just wasn't there today. We've only got ourselves to blame.

"When you don't get the second goal you lose that control and you've always got that chance to be vulnerable at the back.

"We haven't defended that situation well at all so we've got ourselves to blame for today.

"No-one will remember [the attacking play]. We're at Rangers. I thought Joe Aribo, Glen Kamara, Steven Davis, a lot of players from box to box today played some incredible stuff.

"Our preparation to build the attacks was up there with the best we've had but when you get past the box you need someone to find those moments of quality to create goals, to assist goals and then to go score them.

"That for me today was a 3-0, 4-0 game. When you don't get the second you leave yourself vulnerable at the back. We haven't defended one situation well in the second half and we've paid for that.

"We've had these lessons before. That's the concern. We give the players the detail and the detail doesn't really change. We have to take ownership of it.

"That was a straight-forward home win for me and we should be three points clear at the top. Instead we're only one and that feels frustrating right now.

"We'll put it in context at the end but right now it doesn't feel like there's anything positive from today."

The goal from Sakala was one of the few plus points for Rangers on a forgettable afternoon that saw them stumble in the title race.

The striker headed home from close range after meeting a Joe Aribo flick-on and could have added to his tally in a bright performance.

Gerrard said: "He looks lively, he looks ready. He had another effort where Liam (Kelly) pulls a great stop off.

"I thought he looked dangerous throughout. But we need back up, we need other people...

"We had another fantastic chance where Kemar Roofe which would have obviously put the game to bed.

"But at 1-0, I've seen it so many times. We've played the movie so many times. If you don't defend well you leave yourself vulnerable."