Rangers re-gained top spot, at least temporarily, with this low key performance over a poor Dumfermline side. With Thomas Buffel and Bojan Djordjic making their home debuts there was much anticipation amongst the home crowd, but it was Steven Thompson who gave Rangers the lead.
A further goal from Marvin Andrews put the home side two up by half time, but Rangers had to be content with a solitary goal in the second half from Alex Rae, his first since joining Rangers last summer.
Rangers took an early lead when Thompson side-footed home from close range after Hamed Namouchis' cross deflected to him .
Barry Nicholson, the former Rangers player, was prominent as he tried to rally Dunfermline, and his glancing header from Lee Makel's cross was not too far away.
The game became bogged down in mid field with neither side able to play a telling pass.
Thompson, however, should have made it two for Rangers when he anticipated Andy Tod's headed pass-back, but the keeper did well to smother the ball at the striker's feet.
Rangers did get their second goal shortly afterwards. From Fernando Ricksen's corner, Thompson went up in a challenge on Derek Stillie and Marvin Andrews volleyed home, even though it sounded as though the referee's whistle had blown earlier.
Djordjic should have opened his goal account but somehow managed to hit the cross bar from no more than six yards out after Ricksen's pass had presented him with an open goal.
Namouchi headed Rae's cross narrowly over shortly after the restart before Gary Dempsey's free-kick was just too high for the visitors.
Ricksen missed a glorious chance to put Rangers three up when a Djordic free- kick found him unmarked at the back post, but from no more than three yards he headed wide.
There was an element of comedy about Rangers' third goal when it finally arrived. Andrews advanced into the box before totally missing the ball with a wild swipe, but it broke to Ricksen, whose astute cross was powerfully headed home by Rae.
Rangers took the opportunity to give Chris Burke and Stephen Hughes a run after this goal, but the Ibrox side were mostly happy to play out time.