Rangers boss Ally McCoist has backed Kris Boyd to grab a glut of goals after finally breaking his seven-game duck.

The former Scotland striker was brought back to Ibrox this summer to lead the attack. But, while he struck five goals in early-season cup ties, he was made to wait until the ninth Scottish Championship game of the campaign before netting for the first time on league duty.

The 31-year-old bagged the fourth in a 6-1 victory over Raith at Ibrox - but even then owed his long-awaited strike to a clanger by Rovers goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw.

But McCoist said: "I never had any fears about Kris' run of form. It was bizarre, though, how things work. Obviously the goalkeeper should have done better with it.

"Sometimes you need a wee break and then you are off and running. I just hope that is the case for Kris.

"I think he was fairly pleased with himself and the goalie.

"It's crazy how it works sometimes. He has had far better chances than that over the last four or five games in the league, and for one reason or another he's been unlucky and hasn't finished them.

"Now he has and I hope to see many more."

Rangers were desperate to keep pace with league leaders Hearts after they moved nine points clear at the top.

A bullet header from Lee McCulloch and a clever scooped finish over Laidlaw by Nicky Law had them two up at the break.

Raith pulled one back through Martin Scott's close-range header to set nerves jangling among the 33,000 Govan crowd.

However, there was no need for panic as Kenny Miller - back in the Gers' starting line-up after six weeks out with a calf tear - finished off after being played in by Boyd, who then claimed his first league goal at Ibrox since May 9, 2010 - his final appearance of his first Rangers stint - when Laidlaw spilled a tame shot into the net.

Having beaten the Fifers 4-0 at Stark's Park last month, Rangers confirmed Grant Murray's men would suffer another drubbing as Jon Daly fired home his first two goals of the season after Richard Foster twice teed him up from the right.

McCoist added: "The performance at Kirkcaldy was our best of the season, but some of the football we played today was as good as we have played in a long time."

Murray, in contrast, was angry that his side had let the hosts off the hook so easily.

"We got a goal back which I thought we deserved," the Rovers boss said. "But we never gave ourselves a chance.

"When you come to a place like this, you have to be ruthless - you have to make no mistakes.

"We didn't do that, and we allowed Rangers back in just when we had looked like we were putting them under pressure."