Late goals from Michael Mols and Shota Arveladze made it absolutely safe for Rangers in what had been a quite frustrating day at times but overall it was a pleasing day for Alex McLeish after the disappoiting draw at Pittodrie last week.
Possession may be nine tenths of the law, but it was not enough to give Rangers the early advantage they hoped for against Dunfermline.
The knocked the ball around very nicely for long spells in the first half, but found it virtually impossible to find a way through the well-organised Pars defence.
And on the few occasions that they managed to find space for goal-scoring opportunities they spurned them all.
Fernando Ricksen had a decent chance in nine minutes when Neil McCann produced a terrific back post cross which curled away from Derek Stillie but the Dutchman headed into the side netting.
There was an even better opportunity in 19 minutes and, again, it was McCann who instigated the move. The Scotland winger, back in the starting line-up for the first time since the opening day of the campaign, found Michael Mols with a cute cross.
Mols unselfishly knocked the ball into the path of Shota Arveladze who seemed certain to score but his header struck the middle of the right hand post and Dunfermline escaped.
There was more misery to come for Shota as he contrived to fluff another excellent chance just before half-time and it neatly summed up the punchless nature of Rangers’ first half efforts.
For once the Georgian striker found some space on the edge of the box and Ricksen found him with a precision pass. Arveladze turned onto his left foot but screwed his shot weakly wide.
It had been a frustrating first 45 minutes for Rangers. They had all of the play but could offer little in the way of an end product.
It seems fair to suggest that the Ibrox men missed the invention of Ronald de Boer who was a surprising omission, although McCann did his best with some decent deliveries from the left.
Fortunately, there was much more to come from the 28-year-old. Much more!
There was more urgency about Rangers in the early moments of the second half and the eager Ibrox fans thought the breakthrough had come in 57 minutes.
Mols laid the ball back for Numan who drove a left foot shot which was diverted into the net by Ricksen but he had moved into an offside position.
The disappointment of the supporters lasted just over a minute, however, and was replaced by joy, relief and sheer admiration for one of the great goals of the season.
McCann won a corner when his angled cross was headed behind by Andrius Skerla and he opted to take it himself.
He worked a short corner with Arveladze and then curled a fantastic left foot shiot into the top left corner from the angle of the penalty box.
It was a sublime piece of skill and reminiscent of a goal scored here by Ian McCall against Hibs some 14 years ago.
Remarkably, Dunfermline substitute Sean Kilgannon proceeded to give Rangers and even greater advantage when he was sent off for an act of gross stupidity although it was not until the last 10 minutes that Rangers really made the numerical advantage count.
Muscat went in late on Kilgannon – who had only been on the field for two minutes – and the Dunfermline player lost the plot as he lashed out at Muscat with his right boot.
Referee John Underhill got little right all day but he had little option but to send off Kilgannon. He also booked Muscat.
It was really a question of when Rangers would make Dunfermline pay and after a few near things, Mols eased the situation with a super goal 10 minutes from time.
Muscat played the ball into him on the right side of the box and Mols showed fantastic skill to spin away from Gus McPherson and slot a left foot shot into the net for his fourth goal in six games.
Two minutes later the former Utrecht star set up a third goal for Shota Arveladze when he rolled the ball across the face of the box after Arteta had played him in and Shota scored easily from six yards.
The scoreline was maybe a bit tough on Dunfermline but Rangers were unconcerned as the clinched the win they needed.
RANGERS: Klos; Muscat, Malcolm, Moore, Numan; Ricksen, Ferguson, Arteta; Arveladze, Mols (Dodds 89), McCann (Caniggia 71).
Subs not used: McGregor, Latapy, Hughes.
Bookings: Muscat (60)
DUNFERMLINE: Stillie; Skerla, McPherson (Hampshire 82), Wilson; Bullen, Nicholson, Thomson, Dempsey (Kilgannon 56), Dair (McGroarty 76); Brewster, Crawford.
Subs not used: Ruitenbeek, Walker.
Sent off: Kilgannon (60)
Bookings: Wilson (87)
Ref: John Underhill.
Att: 48,431.
Man of the Match: Neil McCann