SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Motherwell 1 Rangers 1: IT WOULD be dangerous to deposit too much money on Celtic at 3 to 1 on to be crowned champions on Thursday night, given the fluctuating nature of this season's title race.

What can now be said with certainty, however, is that the destination of the trophy will be decided in the sort of nail-biting fashion that ended the 2002-03 campaign. On that occasion a 6-1 mauling of Dunfermline Athletic ensured Rangers claimed the flag by a single goal; a similar goal rush may be needed if Walter Smith's charges of 2008 are to regain the title.

A victory at St Mirren tonight would see Rangers join Celtic on 86 points, but Smith's team trail by seven goals. Perilous away games at Aberdeen and Dundee United follow for Rangers and Celtic respectively, so Parkhead officials are unlikely to put in a champagne order just yet.

"I don't think we can start looking at scoring five or six goals against St Mirren," the Rangers manager insisted. "We have to try and win the game, that's it."

Smith will be without the defender Carlos Cuellar, who is suspended tonight, but he is probably aware that the match at Tannadice is likely to be the pivotal one, when Dundee United will seek to round off an impressive season of their own in good touch.

Rangers, far from looking like a side capable of abundant goals, resemble a horse that has run its race. The start of May, when a four-trophy haul was a possibility, is a distant memory. Three weeks earlier, after Motherwell won at Celtic, the champions sat seven points adrift of Rangers having played a game more. Rangers' subsequent run - they have taken only five points from a possible 12 away from Ibrox - has contributed to Celtic's new status as favourites.

Daniel Cousin typified Smith's troubles, the Gabon international striker wasting a glorious chance to put Rangers 2-0 up at Motherwell. He shot tamely when sent clean through with only the goalkeeper Graeme Smith to beat.

Cousin's miss aside, Rangers should have capitalised more on an utterly dominant early spell. Christian Dailly headed them in front after 29 minutes, with Motherwell offering precious little in reply. But the hosts were seemingly boosted by the wastefulness of Cousin and 30 seconds after the interval Chris Porter levelled with a close-range finish.

• Guardian Service

MOTHERWELL: Graeme Smith, Brian McLean, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, Darren Smith (Fitzpatrick 66), Lasley, Hughes, McGarry, Porter, Clarkson (Murphy 74). Subs not used: Daniels, Lappin, McCormack, Connolly, Meechan. Booked: Craigan, Lasley.

RANGERS: Alexander, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker, Adam (Darcheville 77), Dailly, Ferguson, McCulloch (Davis 66), Cousin, Novo (Boyd 82). Subs not used: Graeme Smith, Furman, McMillan, Fleck.

Referee: J Underhill(Scotland).