Paul Le Guen decided to stick with the same starting eleven that faced Dundee United at Ibrox last weekend and Lee Martin, who signed on-loan for the Gers on Friday, was on the bench as expected.
Dunfermline, who had failed to take a point from their opening SPL matches against Hearts and Falkirk, showed their intent from the referee’s first whistle and Mark Burchill fired a shot over Letizi’s bar after only 15 seconds.
The early scare sparked the visitors into life and Rangers should have taken the lead in the opening ten minutes but Buffel missed a couple of guilt edged opportunities.
Alan Hutton produced two excellent crosses into the box but, with the Pars defence all over the place, the Belgian hit his first effort wide and his second into Roddy McKenzie’s arms.
In what was an entertaining opening to the game Dunfermline midfielder Stephen Simmons had a free-kick well saved by Letizi on 11 minutes before Charlie Adam missed a sitter only seconds later.
Libor Sionko fired in a shot from the left wing but when the ball hit Dado Prso and fell to Adam in the six-yard box he could only send his shot high into the Norrie McCathie Stand.
The frantic early pace to the game would eventually die down and neither team had any clearcut chances before the half-hour mark although Sionko almost put his side in front in bizarre fashion when Phil McGuire’s attempted clearance hit his backside and trundled past the post.
On 31 minute, referee Charlie Richmond produced his first yellow card to Simmons for a poor challenge on Jeremy Clement and his side were reduced to 10-men when striker Andy Tod had to go off for treatment after taking a nasty head knock.
The makeshift striker walked up the tunnel with the club’s physio and stayed there until four minutes before the interval when he strolled back on to the pitch.
Rangers, however, were unable to make their numerical advantage count although Sionko should have done better with a free-kick from 20 yards that hit the Dunfermline wall with nine minutes of the half remaining.
Missed opportunites was the story of the opening period for the Light Blues and it seemed only a matter of time before prolific hitman Kris Boyd would get in on the action.
Le Gaffer, however, made no changes to his team for the start of the second period and the travelling support were in full voice as their side tried desperately to find the net.
Buffel looked to be the man capable of breaking the deadlock in the first-half and he was unlucky again six minutes into the restart.
Stevie Smith linked up well with Prso on the left before crossing for the 25-year-old playmaker who was adjudged to have handled the ball before blazing an effort inches over the bar.
Nervousness was starting to show in the Gers’ play and Sionko tried an ambitious first-time shot from inside the 18-yard box on 57 minutes when he had more than enough time to take a touch and compose himself.
Le Guen had obviously seen enough at this stage and acted swiftly by replacing Prso and Sionko with Boyd and Burke after an hour of play.
The move paid instant dividends as Rangers were to take the lead only three minutes later through Buffel.
Clement played a terrific through pass to his teammate who took one glance at goal before passing the ball low past McKenzie and celebrating with the Gers’ faithful.
If this was a moment of huge relief to the visitors they then produced a moment of madness to let Dunfermline back into the game on 68 minutes.
Greg Ross played a cross into the danger area and when Letizi and Rodriguez collided for the high ball, it fell to substitute Morrison who fired home from close range.
Le Guen could not hide his disappointment as the goal went in and he decided to make one more change to his team by taking off Adam and handing Lee Martin his debut with 20 minutes remaining.
The winger looked sharp as Rangers searched for yet another goal but the Pars defence held strong as the minutes passed by.
Boyd also looked menacing and was unlucky when Mckenzie made a fine one handed stop to deny the striker his first goal of the season.
In the end, Rangers had to setlle for a single point from a frustrating 90 minutes of football but it could have been worse as Calum Woods hit a stunning shot which rippled the side netting in injury time.
DUNFERMLINE: (3-5-2) McKenzie; McGuire, S. Wilson, Bamba; Muirhead (Ross 57), Simmons, Mason, Woods, McCunnie; Burchill (Morrison 65), Tod
Subs Not Used: De Vries, Campbell, Wilson, Phinn, Smith
Bookings: Simmons (31) Woods (82)
RANGERS: (4-2-3-1) Letizi; Hutton, Rodriguez, Svensson, Smith; Clement, Hemdani; Sionko (Burke 59), Buffel, Adam (Martin 70), Prso (Boyd 59)
Subs Not Used: McGregor, Rae, Sebo, Pierre-Fanfan
Bookings: None
Referee: Charlie Richmond
Attd: 8561
Man of the Match: Thomas Buffel