In a one-sided first half Paddy McCourt gave the Hoops the lead with a drive from 16 yards but the night was spoiled in the closing moments when Brown, booked earlier in the second half for a foul on Chris Humphrey, picked up a second yellow and a red for a challenge on Steven Hammell which left the Fir Park player prostrate.

Lennon, who also saw Olivier Kapo and substitute Daryl Murphy go off injured, said: "If you see it again, I think Scott tried to pull out of the tackle and Hammell kicked him on the follow through.

"He is pulling away and he slipped so it was totally accidental and I am very disappointed with that decision - among many that I was disappointed with tonight.

"It's two yellow cards so I don't know if we can appeal or not but if you think I am going to talk about referees then you can forget it.

"You all saw the performance tonight and you will have your opinions on it, I will keep mine to myself.

"Brown was immense. He is frustrated and it will be a blow to him and us."

Lennon is confident he has the squad to go to Ibrox with confidence.

The Irishman said: "It was a big win for us and obviously we will have a few casualties for Sunday.

"We have lost Murphy but Georgios Samaras will be fit, he pulled out a virus and we still have attacking options in James Forrest, Niall McGinn, Anthony Stokes and obviously Paddy, who was fantastic.

"Kapo tweaked his hamstring, I thought he was excellent and we will see the extent of that injury.

"Beram Kayal got a fat lip but and we were worried he might need stitches but I think he will be okay."

Lennon admitted it felt like Groundhog Day as his side created and missed a barrowload of chances.

"I think the substitutions disrupted the fluency,we lost Murphy and we weren't as fluent as in the first half," he said.

"Some of the play in the first half was fantastic and we should have been comfortably ahead and once again it was a bit of magic again from Paddy.

"It is a huge boost being top of the league, we know Rangers have two games in hand but it will give the players a bit of momentum.

"I am very pleased we won the game tonight. Very pleased."

Hammell denied over-reacting to get Brown sent off.

"I don't really remember much about it," the Fir Park left-back said.

"It was a Keith Lasley short pass and I seen the tackle coming, I cleared the ball and he came through.

"You see that tackle 10 times every game

"It wasn't the tackle, that wasn't too bad, it was sore when I hit the ground. I haven't seen it again but it wasn't as if I was trying to get the boy sent off.

"It was late in the game and we were looking to get the equaliser so I the last thing I wanted to do was stay down."

Motherwell caretaker manager Gordon Young revealed Stuart McCall, who will be confirmed as new Fir Park boss in the morning, introduced himself to his new charges after the game.

He said: "Stuart came in and introduced himself after the game and reiterated what I said, that we were nervy in the first half but it was a pleasure in the second half and he is delighted to be working with that group of players.

"The players won't need any lifting.

"The longer the game went the more we grew in stature even thought we didn't start the game well.

"We seemed nervous but after half-time I felt we were certainly the better team."