Rangers rout Raith to stick to Hibs
Rangers kept the pressure on Hibernian in the race for second spot in the Championship with a comfortable 4-0 win over Raith Rovers.
Hibs had secured a win over Hearts in the Edinburgh derby in the earlier kick-off and the Light Blues knew they had to respond.
They bounced back from Thursday's defeat to Queen of the South, with Nicky Clark and Haris Vuckic claiming a goal apiece and Nicky Law grabbing a double.
The win means Rangers and Hibs remain level on 61 points, albeit the Leith side have the better goal difference.
Stuart McCall had suffered his first defeat as Rangers manager against Queens last week.
So it was no real surprise to see him make three changes for the visit of Raith.
Goalkeeper Cammy Bell was back between the sticks and Dean Shiels and Robbie Crawford were also added to the side.
The Light Blues enjoyed the best possible start to the game when they surged into the lead after just six minutes.
Clark found himself in plenty of space to connect with Law's corner and bullet a header home from 10 yards.
Law then carved out a chance of his own but his shot from just inside the box was weak and easily held by Kevin Cuthbert.
But the goalkeeper had no chance when Gers claimed their second of the day after 27 minutes.
Vuckic cut inside from the right before unleashing a powerful drive into the bottom corner to claim his seventh Rangers goal.
Raith could have pulled a goal back moments later but a well-struck free-kick from Ryan Conroy on the edge of the box was blocked by Bell.
The visitors fired out another warning to Rangers shortly after the restart.
Lewis Vaughan tried his luck with a snap-shot that fell inches past the upright as Raith tried to haul themselves back into the game.
At the other end, the hosts passed up a decent chance to all but secure the three points.
Vuckic released Crawford and he tried to tee up the shot for Law but he failed to connect in front of goal and the chance was lost.
However Law was celebrating when he added his name to the scoresheet after 72 minutes, putting the game beyond Raith.
Law's first attempt crashed off the crossbar but the ball fell kindly to his feet and he had the net bulging with the rebound from eight yards.
Tom Walsh then saw a terrific volley saved well by the goalkeeper, before Law completed his double when he curled home from the edge of the box with two minutes to go.
Source: PA
