It was by no means pretty and at times it was clear the title holders still have much to do to find the same form they displayed at the end of last season.
Nevertheless, they did more than enough to win 2-0 and McCoist will hope that lifts confidence ahead of the crucial European return game in Sweden four days from now.
For all that it hasn’t been the flying start to the campaign Ibrox fans have hoped for, Gers have taken four points from their first two domestic outings.
As such, they will lead the standings for a few hours at least and they are now 12 games unbeaten in the league.
Added to the good result, new signing Dorin Goian showed some good touches at the back and it looks as though he can become a fixture in the team.
After the central pairing of Lee McCulloch and Maurice Edu failed to click in the first two competitive games, the latter was shuttled out to the right wing in exchange for Steven Davis.
Sasa Papac was deployed in an unfamiliar left-midfield role, while new signing Goian replaced the injured David Weir in defence beside Madjid Bougherra.
Lee Wallace also made his first league start at left-back as McCoist went with a 4-4-2 formation and he sought a much needed victory to inject life into the team’s season.
Rangers began brightly, with Steven Whittaker forcing Peter Enckelman to tip over and Goian almost nodding home before play was stopped for a foul.
Back came the hosts with the first real opportunity through Callum Davidson, who cut inside and brought out a decent save from Allan McGregor.
Goian was showing up well in the early stages and as well as a smart defensive header at one end, he almost set up a chance for Naismith at the other.
But after a precise flighted ball upfield caught out the home back line, Naismith was also out of sync as he lost his footing at the crucial moment and Enckelman gathered.
As the first half progressed, Saints got more comfortable and Murray Davidson, the subject of a failed Gers bid earlier in the month, might have scored the opener.
He played a neat one-two on the edge of the box before creating an opening for himself in the right channel but he pulled his shot across goal and wide.
It took time for Gers to muster any sort of response but when it came, they very nearly went ahead themselves.
Papac did well on the wing and fired in a good cross for Jelavic to get on the end of and he did little wrong as he powered a strong header towards goal.
Enckelman was equal to it though and threw himself to the right to paw wide before Davis’ deep corner was flicked away to safety.
Jelavic had another chance moments later when Davis sent in a hanging ball in to the back post but on this occasion it fell a little beyond him and he couldn’t connect properly.
On the half hour mark, however, Rangers were in front with a simple but ever so well executed goal.
Naismith was the scorer as he leapt highest at the back post to nod Wallace’s inswinging free kick into the corner of the net following a foul by Murray Davidson on Jelavic.
And as the Scotland star ran towards fans in celebration, it was clear to all within the ground what a relief it was to take a lead for the first time this season.
The goal settled nerves and Papac tried to find Jelavic again as the visitors chased a second but this time the pass was too high.
McCulloch was also off target when he met another Wallace free kick after Whittaker was hacked to the ground.
With that, the rest of the half fizzled out somewhat and that suited McCoist’s men far more as it gave them an opportunity to take stock at the midway point.
They re-emerged unchanged but were on the back foot immediately, with Marcus Haber’s half volley deflected wide from 20 yards for a corner which made no impact.
Gers bounced back with real ruthlessness and before the 50-minute mark, they had extended their lead to 2-0.
David Robertson was disposed by Davis and he played inside to Naismith, who then played in Jelavic.
The Croatian still had work to do as he was marshalled by Callum Davidson but broke away well and pushed the ball wide before firing beyond Enckelman from just inside the box.
Falling further behind visibly deflated Saints and it took them more time than home boss Derek McInnes would have liked to get going again.
He eventually threw on Chris Millar and he drove just over, while fellow replacement Carl Finnigan might have had a penalty when he fell under Edu’s clumsy challenge.
Otherwise, Rangers were comfortable leaders and Naismith, having scored one and set up the other, was growing in confidence.
He had a great opportunity to make it three before being blocked as he prepared to pull the trigger.
All the same, the away team was enjoying a sustained period of pressure and with quarter of an hour to go, it seemed a mere case of playing out time.
Jody Morris tried to change that with a fierce drive but while it arrowed through a ruck of bodies and past McGregor, it also went by the post.
Juan Manuel Ortiz came on for McCulloch and he had one chance to score but spurned it before having another and being flagged offside when it looked as though he wasn’t.
It didn’t matter by then though and with that all important first three points in the bag, attentions now turn to the task facing the Light Blues in Scandinavia this midweek.