RESPITE from the angst generated by off-field travails was once more provided by on-field action as Rangers moved to the top of the SPFL Championship on goal difference with their most impressive performance of the season in Kirkcaldy.

Two goals within a minute shortly before the break broke their hosts' resistance but they were already well in charge at that stage, the balance of play best summed up by the decision of the home club's sponsors to give their man-of-the-match award to a goalkeeper, Ross Laidlaw, who had let in four goals, but performed well to prevent it from being worse.

"It's not really a surprise because we know they can play at that level but just to get everybody performing on the night it's fantastic," said Kenny McDowall, the Rangers assistant manager. "That's the standard. We can talk about it but they [the players] set the standard. We've got a high standard of player it has to be said. They have been knocked over the last couple of years, a lot of the boys, but they've shown it tonight, live on TV as well, when they've had a great opportunity to perform."

Talk of boycotts was left for another day with the 6250 fans, close to full capacity, relishing something of a special occasion as Stark's Park played host to opponents in a match in which the winners could move to the top of the table, both having won three of their first four matches.

Admittedly, as the pain is piled on for Rangers supporters, the memory was bittersweet for those who had been at this ground for their last competitive visit 17 years ago, when they were homing in on matching Celtic's record of becoming national champions nine times in a row.

It is, of course, a very different Championship they are seeking to win this season and they were given the latest reminder that they will not be allowed to coast up to the Premiership as teethy tackles flew in, while the first threat of the evening was provided by one of their former players, Ross Perry, with a shot that Steve Simonsen blocked well.

Thereafter Rangers asserted themselves, Fraser Aird having already made a lively start on his return to the side before setting up the opening goal with a cross met by Nicky Clark. He rose above Ross Perry to glance it perfectly beyond the diving Laidlaw to the goalkeeper's right for his third goal of the season.

Perry looked to be at fault again when he failed to clear a cross from the left, Kris Boyd uncharactersitically failing to react in time and allowing the ball to bounce off him to safety before Laidlaw was again in action, diving high to his left to push a bending Lewis MacLeod attempt round the post soon after.

Their lead may have been slender but Rangers were very much in control, and that was made complete when they registered two quickfire strikes just five minutes before the half-time break.

Boyd earned the first opportunity, working hard to win the ball midway inside the Raith half wide on the left and slipping the ball infield to Black. He drove forward to the edge of the box before unleashing a shot which was going to test Laidlaw even before Perry got in the way to deflect it over his helpless goalkeeper.

From the restart Rangers went for the jugular and the ball was again worked infield from the left before Nicky Law gathered it on the edge of the box, wrapped his right foot around it and left the diving Laidlaw with no chance as the ball flew past his outstretched left hand.

Stung by the way the game had been taken beyond their reach so close to half-time, Raith resumed purposefully, Lewis Vaughan charging up the centre of the pitch before a Mark Stewart cross from the left was too high for Martin Scott to get any power on his header at the far post.

However Rangers should have gone further ahead, when a Macleod header sent Boyd racing clear into the box on the left only for the striker to slice his shot wide.

He did better when sliding and stretching to get his right foot to a cross from the left at point-blank range a few minutes later, but Laidlaw reacted as sharply and athletically to turn his shot away, then made another fine save almost immediately as Boyd turned provider from the left, Clark again directing his header on goal but too close to the goalkeeper who grabbed it gratefully at the second attempt.

Darren McGregor was next to come close, a snap shot from 10 yards out grazing Laidlaw's right post after Raith had failed to clear a corner from the left, while Boyd spurned another one on one with Laidlaw after Black had neatly released him again.

The goal the visitors required to wrap things up arrived from the penalty spot in 73 minutes. Grant Anderson's offence owed more to carelessness than malice as he tripped Lee Wallace as he headed into the penalty area on the left, but there was little doubt about the decision and Lee McCulloch stepped up to fire it to Laidlaw's right.

The job well and truly done, Jon Daly could come off the bench for a relaxed introduction to a season which will doubtless bring him and his team-mates more stressful days and nights as they chase their long-awaited return to the top flight.