Rangers 6 Raith Rovers 0

Kris Boyd finally ended his seven-game scoring drought as Rangers romped to a 6-1 win over Raith Rovers at Ibrox. The Light Blues hitman was expected to lead the scoring charts after returning to the club in the summer but despite finding the net five times in cup action, he had failed to live up to expectations in the Scottish Championship. However, he was given a helping hand by Rovers keeper Ross Laidlaw as he finally netted his first league goal of the campaign. With Lee McCulloch, Nicky Law and Kenny Miller already on the scoresheet, Boyd's left-footed strike was palmed into the Rovers net when it should have been an easy save.

Rovers had started the second-half well, pulling the score back to 2-1 with Martin Scott's header But after losing 4-0 to Ally McCoist's men at Stark's Park last month, they suffered another heavy thumping as substitute Jon Daly netted twice in the final five minutes. It was the perfect build-up for the Gers' Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final

with East Fife on Tuesday. More importantly, it keeps them within range of leaders Hearts, who top the table by nine points after playing a game more. Given their last match at Ibrox was the shock 3-1 humbling at the hands of Hibernian at the end of last month, the home side were desperate to make amends with a positive start. And they got just that as McCulloch's clever movement saw him wriggle free from Paul Watson in the box before he met Lewis Macleod's near-post corner with a firm header which rifled into the net. Boyd fired straight at Rovers keeper Laidlaw after a tidy combination with Law, while Aird will regret not picking out the striker soon after when he flashed a shot across goal as Boyd screamed for a cut-back.

Rangers were ahead but not totally in control and nearly paid the price for their casual approach at the back. First they let Watson head over from a Ryan Conroy corner on the left before letting the Raith defender go unmarked again as Conroy delivered another set-piece in from the opposite flank 11 minutes before the break. Watson sent his free header wide and Rangers made the most of the let-off as they added number two 10 minutes before half-time. Liam Fox's barge on Boyd handed the League One champions a free-kick 10 yards inside the Fifers' territory and the ex-Scotland hitman played a quick-free-kick to Miller. The veteran forward - back after six weeks out with a calf tear – was switched on to see Law darting into the box and the midfielder made no mistake as he scooped a composed finish over Laidlaw. The visitors, however, were quicker out of the traps as the match restarted after the break.

They should have scored in the opening seconds of the half but for a brave tackle by Darren McGregor on Grant Anderson. But they did pull one back after 54 minutes when Fox's diagonal ball into the box was headed back across by Anderson for Scott to head home from close range. The Rovers goal was only acted to wake up the sloppy Light Blues and they responded less than 60 seconds later as Miller collected a short pass from Boyd before holding off Thomson and sliding a low shot into the net. Miller passed up a couple of opportunities to add another but just after the hour mark came the moment the Ibrox crowd had been longing for. Macleod found Boyd on the edge of the box and the striker saw his long wait for a goal finally come to an end as Laidlaw spilled his weak left-footed strike into the net. It was the former Kilmarnock hitman's first league goal at Ibrox since May 9, 2010 - his final appearance of his first Rangers stint - in a 3-3 draw with Motherwell. And the 31-year-old's relief was evident as he threw his arms into the air to celebrate. Rangers were cruising now and added two more as Foster twice found Daly with crosses from the right for the Irishman to finish off from close range.