Big Bert produced a header and a stinging shot as Rangers rose to the challenge of their considerable injury problems to crush Dunfermline and send out a clear message that they are not about to fold under pressure.
The prophets of doom who headed to Fife preparing to see injury-ravaged Rangers suffer a major setback to their title ambitions were in for a major surprise as the Ibrox men dug deep to produce an excellent performance.
Quite simply, Dick Advocaat’s patched up team steam-rolled all over Dunfermline as they roared tow a two-goal lead inside the first 16 minutes which effectively ended the game as a contest.
There were no fewer than nine players unavailable to Advocaat for one reason or another, but the side he put out rose to the challenge in some considerable style.
Despite missing Barry Ferguson, Claudio Reyna, Christian Nerlinger, Lorenzo Amoruso, Claudio Caniggia, Neil McCann, Craig Moore, Jesper Chrisrtiansen and Peter Lovenkrands, Rangers romped all over Dunfermline who were a poor imitation of league leaders.
There was clear purpose about the performances of Russell Latapy, Michael Mols and Tore Andre Flo up front and the Fifers were unable to cope never mind pose any problems of their own.
Having been unable to create many decent chances in their last two matches, Rangers had three decent efforts inside the first six minutes, Mols volleyed over the top, Flo haf a shot deflected for a corner and Latapy shot too high after being set up by Mols.
It was a clear indication of what was to come and Rangers took the lead in 13 minutes thanks to a quite excellently executed freekick by Latapy.
The little Caribbean star may have been late for last week’s Livingston game but there was nothing wrong with his timing today. He was fouiled just outside the box by Gary Mason and with Dunfermline expecting a Bert Kpnterman shot, Latapy curled the ball past the wall and into the left corner.
Three minutes later Rangers went two ahead and there was an equal amount of quality about the strike. Konterman took off down the left side and then found Flo in a central position.
The tall Norwegian eased past Pars skipper Scott Thomson and drove a low right foot shot into the left corner to claim his fourth goal of the season. Crisis? What crisis?
However, with every silver lining there seems to be a cloud for Rangers these days and Stephen Hughes became the lataste casualty in the astonishing catalogue of injuries.
He seemed to hurt his right thigh in two separate challenges and was removed in 33 minutes, with Andrei Kanchelskis coming on to replace him. Hopefully it will not a serious problem for Hughes, who has been outstanding since coming into the side.
It made little difference to the shape of the game as Rangers continued to completely dominate and should have scored a third goal two minutes later. Mols won a corner on the right, Latapy delivered a good ball to give Tony Vidmar a gift of a header but he sent his effort over the bar.
Marco Ruitenbeek then spilled Mols’ right foot shot in 41 minutes and Jimmy Calderwood must have wondered what had happened to his side, such was Rangers’ control.
Barely two minutes into the second half and Calderwood had even more to think about when his former charge Konterman gave Rangers a third goal to cement their superiority.
It all stemmed from Ricksen’s excellent pass which released Flo with a one-on-one situation with Ruitenbeek which the Dutch keeper won as he pushed Flo’s shot past for a corner.
Latapy swept over the flagkick and Konterman rose well to power a header into the net from close range. Game over, it seemed, but Stefan Klos gave Dunfermline a glimmer of hope with a highly unusual error in 52 minutes.
Former Rangers star Barry Nicholson drove over a corner from the left side and Klos inexplicably punched the ball into his own net when it seemed he had time to pluck it out of the air.
It was an extraordinary gaffe from the normally reliable German but it looked as though the wind caught the ball just as he made contact. In any event, it mattered little as Rangers had the game already won.
Advocaat was able to introduce Ronald de Boer for some much needed match action, bringing him on for Mols just short of the hour mark but it was the first substitute Kanchelskis who provided most of the fireworks in the second half.
The Russian winger might have scored FIVE times had it not been for the agility of Ruitenbeek. In 65 minutes, he cut onto his left foot and the Dunfermline keeper pushed his shot round the the right hand post.
In 73 minutes he played a cute one-two with Latapy but Ruitenbeek made a terrific blocking save to deny him again.
Then in 78 minutes Kanchelskis raced away from Chris McGroarty and rounded the keeper but again his shot was blocked. Ruitenbeek also made excellent stops from shots in the 80th and 88th minutes to completely frustrate the Russian star.
Rangers, however, had not finished with Dunfermline and Konterman completed an excellent evening’s work with a thunderous strike eight minutes from time.
Justin Skinner was sent off for using his hand to stop Latapy setting up Flo for a scoring chance and Rangers worked the freekick brilliantly. Arthur Numan slipped the ball to Konteman who drove a low shot into the left corner.
It sparked a chorus of “Bertie Konterman” from the Rangers supporters and not many would have predicted that before this game. He deserved it. His performance was excellent and his two goals simply topped it off.
The question was asked of Rangers and they answered it in emphatic style proving there is a spirit and togetherness about this squad.
DUNFERMLINE: Ruitenbeek; Skinner, Skerla (Nish 79), Thomson; Bullen (Hampshire 75), Nicholson, Nicholls (Dair 69), Mason, McGroarty; Crawford, de Gier, Bullen. Subs not used – Thomson (GK), Potter.
Sent off: Skinner (81).
Bookings: McGroarty (29)
RANGERS: Klos; Ross, Wilson, Vidmar; Ricksen, Hughes (Kanchelskis 33), Konterman, Numan; Latapy; Flo (Dodds 86), Mols (de Boer 59). Subs not used: Smith, Pentilla.
Bookings: Konterman (4)
Ref: Dougie McDonald
Att: 10.902.
Man of the match: Bert Konterman.
Moment of the match: Latapy’s freekick which gave Rangers the lead.