It was the first match in charge for head coach Danny Röhl and it was a difficult evening in Norway as the home side secured the three points in the league phase.
Rangers lined-up with Jack Butland in goal behind a back four of captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Nasser Djiga and Jayden Meghoma.
Nico Raskin and Joe Rothwell were in midfield alongside Thelo Aasgaard, while the head coach opted for Youssef Chermiti to lead the line this evening, and he was supported in attack by Oliver Antman and Djeidi Gassama.
It was Nico Raskin who got the action underway in Norway as Rangers looked to secure their first points of this league phase. It was an even start to this fixture with Raskin seeing a shot blocked inside the SK Brann box , before John Souttar was alert in the Rangers area to deny Eggert Guðmundsson.
A corner opened up another opportunity for the home side as Eivind Helland got a strong connection on the set piece, but he could only send his header wide of Butland’s left-hand post.
SK Brann were having a good spell with around 15 minutes played, and Butland was called into action for the first time in this match as Ulrik Mathisen sent a header towards goal, but it was straight at the Rangers number one, and he was able to push away the close-range effort.
With 24 minutes played, Butland was forced into another good save as he got a strong hand to a powerful hit from Bård Finne, before Noah Holm fired high on the rebound.
Joe Rothwell did well to win the ball back for Rangers shortly after, as he combined with Antman and Aasgaard before it was played out to James Tavernier on the right. The captain took a touch beyond a SK Brann player, before finding Aasgaard just inside the box. The Norwegian international was unable to get the connection he wanted on the ball to test the keeper as the home side cleared the danger.
Youssef Chermiti had a good chance shortly after as Nico Raskin delivered a lovely ball into the box with the striker heading it down off the ground towards goal, but it was gathered by Mathias Dynegeland.
With five minutes to go before the break, it was the home side who had the advantage. Bård Finne launched the attack as he raced into space down the left, before sending the ball across the face of goal with Emil Kornvig on hand at the back post to tap home.
SK Brann doubled their advantage from a set-piece with 55 minutes played. A free-kick was swung into the box by Finne, and Jacob Sørensen glanced a header into the back of the net to double the advantage.
Rangers looked for a quick response, as Mikey Moore fired just over the bar after a good delivery from Jayden Meghoma on the left.
However, it was three for the Norwegian outfit with 79 minutes played as Rangers failed to deal with another attack from the home side as a ball was sent into the box and Noah Holm took advantage sending a right-footed shot into the back of the net.
RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Djiga (Cornelius, 75), Meghoma, Rothwell (Barron, 64), Raskin, Aasgaard (Miovski, 64), Antman (Moore, 56), Gassama, Chermiti (Danilo, 75).
Subs: Kelly, Fernandez, Aarons, Rice, McCallion, Curtis, Cameron.
SK Brann: Dynegeland, Knudsen, Kornvig, Finne (Haaland, 67), Mathisen (Pedersen, 67), Sørensen (Sande, 78), Guðmundsson, Dragsnes, De Roeve (Hansen, 78), Helland, Holm (Remmem, 86).
Subs: Bramel, Klausen, Boakye, Sery Larsen, Soltvedt