There was a distinctly end of season feel to this match with both sides not appearing to care terribly much about the result even though there are still five games of the season left.
In the end Rangers won with goals either side of half time from Steven Thompson and Gavin Rae.
This win for the home side confirmed second place in the league race and hence qualification for the Champions League next season, but it was a hollow victory, other than the opportunity to blood youngsters such as keeper Allan McGregor and Alex Walker.
Rangers threatened first when a good build up ended with Michael Mols' flashing header being touched over by James Langfield in the Thistle goal.
There were muted appeals for a penalty when Grant Murray appeared to handle a Chris Burke cross before Mikel Arteta's powerful run into the box ended with his cross just falling behind Thompson.
It was a lacklustre match played in a steady drizzle throughout though Derek Fleming was booked for nearly pulling Burke's jersey off his back.
From a Burke corner the ball reached Rae on the edge of the box and his powerful left-foot drive was only inches wide.
It was typical of the afternoon that after Burke's quickly-taken free-kick found Arteta, the Spaniard slipped in the act of shooting.
Rangers made the breakthrough which they just about deserved shortly before the interval.
Arteta's free-kick was met by Thompson at the near post but his header was deflected to Alan Hutton who headed back across goal allowing Thompson to slide the ball home from close range.
Langfield then made a superb save diving to his right to deny Arteta's curling free-kick. Rangers made the points safe when Hutton's early pass into the box released Rae and the midfielder had plenty of time before blasting his shot high past Langfield.
The Thistle keeper did well to race from his box to deny Mols as he was about to swoop on Rae's astute pass.
McGregor at the other end must have envied the activity of his counterpart as the only action he was involved in was to gather a couple of wayward crosses.
Frank de Boer's free-kick drifted wide before a 50-yard pass found his brother Ronald who controlled the ball with his chest before flicking a shot with his left foot which Langfield did well to touch over.