Rangers cruised to a 4-0 win over Raith Rovers at Ibrox this afternoon courtesy of goals from Nicky Clark, Haris Vuckic and a Nicky Law double.
With Hibs taking all three points in the Edinburgh derby courtesy of a 2-0 win over Hearts, it was imperative that Rangers kept pace by taking the points at Ibrox and there was never any real suggestion that they wouldn't achieve that given the manner in which they started this game.
When the dust had settled on today's games, Rangers remain in third place, directly behind Hibs, who are two goals better off, although the teams are tied on points. Rangers have one game in hand still to play.
The obvious frailties that remain in Stuart McCall's side were exploited in the meek midweek capitulation to Queen of the South �- 1-0 winners over Falkirk today - but they barely had to break sweat to take the points from Raith Rovers.
The Ibrox side took an early lead when Clark rose to meet Law's corner and power a header past Kevin Cuthbert. From then on there was never going to be a road back into the game for Raith Rovers.
The Kirkcaldy side struggled to hold the ball for any length of time and, when they did, they were relatively toothless in possession.
By the time that Vuckic netted his sixth goal in seven games shortly before the half hour mark the game was all but over as a contest.
Rangers emerged from the break keen to add to the scoreline, but a mixture of poor finishing and some desperate defending prevented further goals coming.
However, with Rangers pushing forward in numbers, it was an inevitability about the third goal.
Law's shot originally cannoned off the crossbar before the midfielder met the rebound and tapped it into the net.
As the game drew to a close, Law completed the rout with a rasping effort from the edge of the box to seal an emphatic victory.
It ended a straightforward afternoon for Stuart McCall's side, who now have four league games remaining.
Next up is Livingston on Wednesday night.
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