At his pre match press conference, the manager demanded a reaction from his players following last weekend’s Scottish Cup exit and he didn’t have to wait long to get it.
New signings Thomas Buffel and Bojan Djordjic received the early applause but it was old boy Steven Thompson who stole the limelight after only five minute
Namouchi’s low cross from the right was scuffed clear by Andrius Skerla and when the ball landed at Thompson’s feet he was left with an easy tap in from six yards out.
In the 13th minute ex-Ger Barry Nicholson had the visitors’ first effort on goal but he headed Makel’s free kick just past the right hand post.
Djordjic showed a glimpse of his qualities with a quarter of the game gone when he beat three players down the left flank and despite delivering an excellent cross Stillie intercepted well.
Minutes later Buffel got in on the act when he broke into the box to head Rae’s cross goalbound, but again the Pars stood firm and Tod blocked.
Up until now Davie Hay’s men had been forced to depend on some desperate defending to keep the scoreline at just 1-0, but slowly the home side started to pick up the pace.
In the 36th minute Gregory Vignal played in Buffel on the edge of the Pars box and as the Belgian playmaker shaped to pull the trigger he fed the ball to Djordjic.
Although the former Man United winger’s shot was blocked, Gers doubled their lead from the resulting corner.
Ricksen’s in swinging cross was headed away from Stillie by Namouchi and Marvin Andrews steamed into the six-yard box to smash the ball home.
Despite still sporting the battle scars and stitches from last weekend’s clash at Parkhead, the towering T&T international was never a doubt for this match and lapped up the celebratory song “I’m a Believer” when it blared over the tannoy.
Three minutes later it should have been three when Ricksen’s low drive deceived the out-rushing Dunfermline keeper and broke to Djordjic. But his fierce shot missed the empty net and could only graze the bar as it rose high into the Broomloan Stand.
The half time interval may have given Dunfermline a chance to regroup, but Gers started where they left off and in the 48th minute Namouchi came close with a powerful header after connecting with Alex Rae’s cross.
Just before the hour mark Fernando Ricksen was left with his head in his hands having putting a header wide from just five yards out, but he soon forgot about that after turning provider two minutes later.
His cross from the right dropped perfectly for Alex Rae and the former Wolves midfielder opened his Light Blue scoring account with a bullet header to make it 3-0.
With the game winding down Chris Burke and Michael Ball were both introduced to play to make their long awaited return to top team action and round off a good day’s work for the Light Blues.
Although it wasn’t a spectacular Rangers performance, it’s points that mean prizes in this game and it was good to start 2005 at home by putting another three on the board.
RANGERS: Klos, Ross, Andrews, Malcolm, Vignal, Namouchi, Ricksen, Rae, Djordjic (Ball 78), Thompson, Buffel (Hughes 82)
SUBS: McGregor, Khizanishvili, Hutton, Burke, Prso
BOOKINGS: Djordjic 74
DUNFERMINE: Stillie, Ross, Tod, Skerla, Scott Thomson, Nicholson, Dempsey, Mason, Makel, Darren Young (Hunt 46), Christiansen.
SUBS: Langfield, Campbell, Scullion, C Wilson, Dunn
BOOKINGS: None
REFEREE: Charlie Richmond
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fernando Ricksen