Kris Boyd and Dado Prso grabbed two goals apiece to secure all three points against Livingston in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

SPL bottom side Livi had briefly hauled themselves back into the game through Gabor Vincze, bringing back memories of their battling 2-2 draw the last time the two clubs met.

But, on the day Alex McLeish celebrated his 47th birthday, the victory proved to be easy for Rangers in the end.

Injuries had been blamed for the collapse of their SPL campaign earlier in the season and, now that so many of the walking wounded were back in contention, McLeish was faced with a different problem.

Fernando Ricksen was back in the top team, after recovering from the stomach muscle problem which had kept him out of action in recent weeks, and he took the place of Steven Smith.

Smith, who would have felt unfortunate to be left out following a string of decent displays, was joined on the bench by Nacho Novo, the striker who had complained earlier in the week of playing in midfield.

The ruthless streak McLeish had shown in his team selection was mirrored by his players on the park in the first half, as they quickly set about dismantling their beleaguered visitors.

Peter Lovenkrands had scored 10 goals in the last eight games and he was determined to add to that tally when he collected a Thomas Buffel ball but a weakly hit shot was comfortably smothered by Livingston goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie.

Instead, it was Boyd who managed to seize upon the opportunity to strengthen his position as the SPL's top goalscorer, netting his 21st of the season with eight minutes gone.

Again Lovenkrands was the danger and when his shot cannoned off the Livingston defence and fell kindly to the feet of Boyd, all that was required from the striker was to rifle home.

Buffel was the provider for yet another Lovenkrands effort, which the Dane had hooked wildly past the post, before drawing a top-drawer save from McKenzie with a shot of his own.

Boyd and Harald Pinxten wrestled for the loose ball but it was the man in gold who showed his mettle to clear the danger and let Livingston off the hook again.

The Rangers goalmouth had all but been unchartered territory so far but, with half an hour gone, Paul Dalglish punted into the path of Wesley Hoolahan only for the Irishman to nod well over.

Rangers knew they should have finished Livingston off in the first half and they were out of the traps quickly after the break, Lovenkrands sending a looping header just over the crossbar.

Instead, parity was restored against all odds when Livingston scored shortly after the restart.

The Rangers defence stopped, as though convinced the attacking move had to be offside, but there was nothing motionless about Vincze, who burst through the middle and slotted past goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus after 52 minutes.

The Ibrox side immediately tried to restore their lead when Lovenkrands unleashed a powerful, long-range drive which McKenzie just managed to touch past the upright to safety.

It was Boyd who eased the panic which threatened to seep into Rangers' play when he picked up a reverse pass from Buffel before lashing the ball home with 56 minutes on the clock.

Rangers were a team in need of more goals and fans' favourite Prso, a 63rd-minute replacement for Lovenkrands, was clearly seen as the solution.

Robert Snodgrass, who had grabbed the double against Rangers at Almondvale earlier in the season, was introduced to the game in place of Dalglish with 20 minutes remaining.

Boyd was then replaced by Novo, as McLeish attempted to use all the ammunition at his disposal.

A delicate touch from Prso was all that was required to send Buffel into the box in search of the goal which would kill off the threat from Livingston, but the Belgian international fired over.

It was left to Prso to hand his team-mates a lesson in finishing when he drilled home a free-kick from the edge of the area with a minute to go, before grabbing his second of the day seconds later.

Teams

Rangers Waterreus, Ricksen, Andrews, Kyrgiakos (Smith 45), Murray, Burke, Malcolm, Ferguson, Buffel, Kris Boyd (Novo 80), Lovenkrands (Prso 63).

Subs Not Used: Klos, Hemdani, Hutton, Lowing.

Goals: Kris Boyd 8, 56, Prso 89, 90.

Livingston McKenzie, Mackay, Tierney, Pinxten, Strong, McNamee (Walker 68), Brittain, Vincze, Hoolahan (Dair 86), Dalglish (Snodgrass 72), Hislop.

Subs Not Used: Roy, Scott, Boyd, Dorrans.

Booked: McNamee, Vincze, Strong.

Goals: Vincze 52.

Att: 49,211

Ref: E Smith (Scotland).