Stuart McCall has concluded that too many of his Rangers team had "off-nights" in Thursday's 3-1 defeat to Motherwell in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership playoff final.

Goals from Lee Erwin, Stephen McManus and Lionel Ainsworth put the visitors into a commanding lead inside 47 minutes at Ibrox last night.

Darren McGregor pulled what could prove a crucial goal back on 82 minutes to throw the hosts a lifeline in their bid to return to the top flight, but the Rangers boss says that it was not good enough overall.

"I was pretty pleased with how we started but I think in possession of the ball that's probably as poor as we've been since I have been at the football club and I'm disappointed," he told Sky Sports News.

"We are better than that on the ball and we didn't create enough until late on in the game. It's so frustrating but take nothing away from Motherwell. I thought they hit us on the break well. I'm sure had they played like that for the majority of the season they wouldn't have finished 11th.

"We gave the ball away cheaply too much. I cannot criticise the players because they've given everything since I've been here and have done well in the majority of the games. But tonight too many of us had off-nights. Darren's goal gives us a lifeline but Motherwell will be clear favourites and quite rightly so."

The second leg takes place at Fir Park on Sunday.