Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has admitted to being left in a state of shock at Jermain Defoe passing up a chance to score to let Scott Arfield put the ball in the back of the net for his hat-trick.
Arfield scored all three goals at Fir Park on Sunday as Rangers put Motherwell to the sword 3-0 to close the gap on Celtic to eleven points at the top of the Scottish Premiership standings.
Defoe, who has been given the striking role up top in the absence of the suspended Alfredo Morelos, had a chance to score Rangers' third, but instead put the ball on a plate for Arfield to net his third.
And Gerrard, who was watching on from the stands, admits he was shocked that a natural goalscorer such as Defoe passed up the chance to ripple the back of the net.
"I nearly passed out in the stand – that’s not the Jermain Defoe I know!" Gerrard told Rangers TV.
"But I think he has respected his team-mate by giving him his hat-trick, and I’m sure Scotty would have done the same thing if the shoe was on the other foot.
"So that was excellent and it’s Scotty Arfield’s day, but I am sure he would recognise it was a fantastic team performance that helped him get his hat-trick."
Motherwell defended poorly throughout the 90 minutes and found a Rangers side ready to be ruthless and punish any mistakes.
With the Premiership now splitting in two, Rangers will next by up against sixth placed Hearts, while Motherwell travel to Hamilton.
