Motherwell’s defensive fringe players fared better than their attacking colleagues in their quest to work their way into Ian Baraclough’s play-off plans after the relegation-threatened Steelmen played out a goalless draw with Partick Thistle, yesterday.

Manager Baraclough made nine changes as he rested most of his experienced players ahead of Thursday’s first leg, which they discovered shortly before kick-off would be at Ibrox after Rangers secured a 2-1 aggregate win over Hibernian.

Baraclough’s team was a mixture of young players who were given an opportunity to shine, possible starters on Thursday who were given the chance to stake their claim, and some who are unlikely to feature.

The final game of Well’s regular Scottish Premiership season was a predictably low-key affair with home striker John Sutton and Thistle midfielder Gary Fraser the only players to seriously threaten a goal.

Baraclough is unlikely to deviate much from his usual formula on Thursday but some of his defensive players did themselves no harm.

Goalkeeper Dan Twardzik, who was dropped for unconvincing loan signing George Long four months ago, made good stops in each half from powerful long-range strikes from Fraser before doing well to hold another shot from the midfielder in the latter stages.

Earlier, Rangers moved within two games of ending a three-year exile from the Premiership after holding off Hibernian in their play-off semi-final at Easter Road.

Two goals up from Wednesday’s first leg, the Glasgow side could afford to concede Jason Cummings’s late strike in the Leith return and hold on for a 1-0 defeat which sees them through to a final showdown against Motherwell with a 2-1 success over both legs.

Ten years on from celebrating the most dramatic of their 54 top-flight title triumphs in the east end of Edinburgh, Rangers survived 90 tense minutes at the same venue as they took another huge step back towards the top flight.

Hibs, beaten play-off finalists last year, had chances – notably two efforts from striker Dominique Malonga – to put the Gers under pressure earlier but will now be locked out of the Premiership for at least another year.

Scottish Premiership
Hamilton-St Mirren - 1-0
Kilmarnock-Ross County - 1-2
Motherwell-Partick Thistle - 0-0

Playing today – 13.30
Aberdeen-St Johnstone
Celtic-Inverness CT
Dundee United-Dundee FC

Scottish Championship
(Promotion play-off SF, 2nd leg)
Hibernian vs Rangers - 1-0 (Rangers win 2-1 on aggregate and play Motherwell in two-legged final)

Standings