Nikica Jelavic's controversial penalty helped Rangers secure a 2-0 victory at Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday as both teams finished with 10 men.
Ally McCoist's side were struggling to find a way past Caley's resolute rearguard until referee Euan Norris ruled that Ross Tokely's 60th-minute tackle on Steven Naismith was worthy of a penalty and a red card for the defender.
Jelavic stroked home the spot-kick and although he missed a second penalty eight minutes later Maurice Edu was on hand to seal the points as he buried the rebound.
Edu was later sent off himself but the Scottish champions had done enough to clinch their second win of the season.
McCoist handed a starting role to Kyle Bartley after the Arsenal defender agreed a second loan spell at Ibrox and he partnered Dorin Goian, another new signing, at the heart of the Rangers back-four, while Jamie Ness made his first league appearance of the season.
Jelavic had the ball in the back of the net with just three minutes gone after pouncing on a Maurice Edu pass, but the Rangers striker's effort was ruled offside.
The visitors threatened again when Lee Wallace's free-kick was blocked by the wall and Ness drove a deflected effort just wide from the rebound.
Inverness's sight of goal came when Jonny Hayes picked out Aaron Doran and his shot was saved by Allan McGregor.
McGregor was called into action again when Gregory Tade burst through on goal and he responded with an alert block.
Rangers suffered a blow after 33 minutes when Bartley was forced out of the action following a challenge from Tade and he was replaced by youngster Ross Perry.
Tade went close with a 25-yard drive that dipped just over the crossbar early in the second half.
But the match swung in Rangers' favour when Tokely was harshly dismissed for a challenge on Naismith that resulted in a penalty for McCoist's team.
Tokely appeared to make clean contact with the ball, but Norris pointed to the spot and Jelavic kept his cool to convert the penalty.
Rangers were awarded another spot-kick eight minutes later, this time for a Graeme Shinnie foul on Goian.
Jelavic was denied his second goal of the day by Ryan Esson's save but Edu was first to react and rifled home the rebound after 68 minutes.
However, the American's joy turned to despair with 75 minutes gone when he was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for a challenge on Nick Ross.
Source: AFP
