Rangers returned to the top of the SPL with an overwhelming 5-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox this afternoon, with all the goals coming in a devastating first-half - the goalscorers being Kris Boyd with a hat-trick, Nacho Novo and Kenny Miller with a spectacular volley.
Manager Walter Smith made three changes from Tuesday with Kevin Thomson, Novo and Kenny Miller replacing Maurice Edu, Kyle Lafferty and Jean-Claude Darcheville.
Rangers got off to the perfect start in six minutes when Novo netted the rebound after Boyd's twenty-yard free-kick had been parried by Inverness goalkeeper Michael Fraser.
Seven minutes later it was 2-0 when Fraser's kick-out was intercepted by Pedro Mendes who released Miller with a slide-rule pass, the Ranger unselfishly squaring to Boyd who slotted the ball home.
It looked like a rout - and a Steve Davis corner in fifteen minutes, flicked on at the near post by Boyd, saw Novo's shot blocked on the line.
The third goal was merely delayed for a further three minutes however - Boyd going through on a Mendes pass after Don Cowie had been dispossessed to stroke the ball home.
This was turning into a nightmare for the visitors, and Boyd completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in 27 minutes after Miller had been upended by David Proctor.
Rangers were in devastating form - and it should have been five in 38 minutes when a delightful Mendes pass found Boyd who laid the ball into the path of the unmarked Miller who, with the goal at his mercy, shot over.
It seemed that the striker might never break his Ibrox duck since his return - but in fact he did the business on the stroke of half-time with a magnificent goal, created firstly by Kirk Broadfoot's long pass down the right to Novo who did well to hit a first-time cross from the goal-line, finding Miller who volleyed a raging shot into the net.
Rangers Football club were honoured by the presence of of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Battalion, 5th Royal Regiment at The Stadium - and at the interval they received a standing ovation from the crowd. Newly returned from Afghanistan where they served their country with pride and distinction, more than one onlooker present today reflected on the sickening irony that such an event could never have happened across the city at Parkhead where those brave and courageous soldiers would be regarded as legitimate targets by the terrorist vermin who populate the east end of Glasgow.
Perhaps understandably the second-half was very much an anti-climax as Rangers stepped down the gears.
Barry Ferguson returned to the fray ten minutes after the restart for his first game in five months when he replaced Kevin Thomson whilst at the same time youngster Rory Loy made his first-team debut when he substituted for Miller.
Allan McGregor was at last tested on the hour when he tipped Ian Black's volley over the bar.
Boyd was denied a fourth goal for the first time in his Ibrox career in 71 minutes when he headed home Broadfoot's cross only for Referee Crawford Allan to mysteriously chalk the goal off.
Five minutes later Ian Black saw his twenty-yard shot parried by McGregor.
The Light Blues were coasting - with Novo inches away from connecting with a Steve Davis cross in 78 minutes.
To no great surprise Boyd was named man-of-the-match, although many onlookers felt that the superb Mendes was deserving of such an accolade, as indeed would Novo whose pace had run the Caledonian defence ragged.
Afterwards a happy Walter Smith looked back at the game:
"It was a great first-half - we played very well. We have been playing well without scoring enough goals. Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller played very well together, and it was great to see Kris getting a hat-trick."
RANGERS McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra; Davis, Mendes, Thomson (Ferguson 55), Novo; Boyd (Beasley 73), Miller (Loy 55)
UNUSED SUBS Lafferty, Alexander, Edu, McMillan
INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE Fraser; Tokely, Proctor, Munro, Hastings, McBain (Duff 45); Cowie, Duncan,Black, Imrie; Barrowman (Wood 45)
UNUSED SUBS Vigurs, Esson, Djebi-Zadi, Wilson, Rooney
REFEREE Crawford Allan