The man who earlier in the season contributed greatly to Celtic's Fir Park demise did like wise to Rangers.
James McFadden's 64th minute touch, coupled with a late match-winning save from home goal keeper Francois Dubourdeau, provided the Motherwell contingent with some richly deserved festive cheer as Teddy Butcher's side moved off the bottom of the SPL courtesy of a 1-0 success against Rangers.
The result was also gratefully received in the East end of Glasgow where Martin O'Neill's Celtic overcame their Edinburgh opponents Hearts to move within a point of the league leaders.
In truth Motherwell thoroughly deserved the win. Rangers lacked sharpness and shape throughout and were all too easily brushed off the ball by the Lanarkshire side.
McFadden's goal was the perfect example of this. A long free-kick from Steven Hammell found Dirk Lehmann at the far post and when he out-jumped Lorenzo Amoruso to head across the face of goal the teenage marksman needed only the simplest of touches to tap the ball past Stefan Klos.
Rangers will argue that Amoruso was only beaten in the air as result of a misdemeanour on the part of Lehmann, but in response it can be said that match referee Willie Young had already done the Ibrox side a turn by not dismissing Craig Moore for what appeared to be a second bookable offence on McFadden.
The match was frantic throughout and chances tended to even themselves out at either end. McFadden and Lehmann were troublesome in their duties while Fernando Ricksen, Kevin Muscat, Ronald De Boer and Claudio Caniggia all went close for the Ibrox side.
Rangers' best chance of a goal came in the very last minute, substitute Billy Dodds connecting beautifully with a Peter Lovenkrands cross from the left only to watch his header be superbly turned around the post by the diving Dubourdeau.
The French keeper was immense for the entirety of this clash, his man of the match performance ensuring that Rangers failed to score for the first time in Scotland this season.