Andrei Kanchelskis silenced his doubters with an astonishing volley to fire Rangers on their way to success against Dunfermline at East End Park.

The Russian international struck after 56 minutes with the kind of opportunism which too often has been absent during his short Ibrox career as he provided a welcome reminder of his Manchester United past.

The £5.5million capture from Fiorentina put his team on course for an ultimately emphatic win was completed by an impressive brace from Jonatan Johansson.

The Finn struck from distance after 59 minutes, then added his second and Rangers' third in the final minute to seal a win which lifts Dick Advocaat's men 12 points clear at the top.

Yet the evening was tinged with a sour aftertaste for the Dutch boss, who was sent to the stand by referee Willie Young for voicing protests at a late penalty award.

Dunfermline skipper Andy Smith had already fired wide from the spot with 15 minutes remaining when Advocaat was ordered away from the dugout with his team two ahead.

Rangers offered youngster Barry Nicholson his third consecutive start in defence with the experienced Colin Hendry and Arthur Numan injured and Scott Wilson suspended.

Johansson was preferred to Stephane Guivarc'h in attack alongside 20-goal Rod Wallace with Neil McCann only making the bench.

Dunfermline manager Dick Campbell, in his first home game in charge, kept faith with 18-year-old winger Chris McGroarty with Scott McCulloch banned.

Kanchelskis almost put Rangers ahead with a mere 46 seconds on the clock after Johansson and Wallace combined well, but keeper Lee Butler was equal to a powerful angled drive.

Derek Ferguson, whose brother Barry was in the Rangers team, fired wide when in a position to do better after seven minutes as Dunfermline responded positively.

Two minutes later, home skipper Smith forced Stefan Klos into action in the Rangers goal after he was given a free header to meet a McGroarty cross.

Jorg Albertz was a dominant figure in midfield from the outset and he tested Butler from fully 30 yards with a fierce strike the keeper needed two attempts to grasp.

Butler produced an even better stop shortly afterwards to deny Rangers' most flowing move of an often scrappy opening half to deny Johansson.

Tony Vidmar burst down the left before delivering a precise cross for the Finn whose glancing header looked goalbound before Butler pushed it away one-handed.

The quality of the save seemed to unsettle Rangers whose next attempt at goal was rushed by Giovanni Van Bronckhorst who failed to steady himself before firing over.

Dunfermline were growing in self-belief as the contest remained goalless and it needed a point blank save from Klos to deny Graham's close range stab after a Gavin Johnson corner caused havoc.

Albertz fizzed a 25-yard effort narrowly wide just before the interval as a potential warning Rangers were far from finished but the match was proving surprisingly well-balanced.

Rangers manager Advocaat clearly thought so and took off Nicholson replacing him with McCann for a more attack-minded formation which was soon to pay dividends.

Dunfermline did however enjoy a brief flurry, Klos first brave at the feet of George Shaw, then blocking a close range lunge by Smith to deny the home team again.

The possibility of a break upfield was evident though and so it proved as the Pars paid the price for their adventurous approach.

Wallace made ground on the left and his deep cross was met with a stunning first-time volley by Kanchelskis which left Butler powerless only able to watch the ball into the top corner.

The Russian has rarely looked quite the player of old but there was no denying the quality of a strike that will be a goal of the season contender.

Rangers doubled their advantage just three minutes later when substitute McCann touched the ball to Johansson who without hesitation rifled in from the edge of the area.

Dunfermline were shaken as out of virtually nothing it was effectively game over, Barry Ferguson curling a shot wide that might have made it three with the home team reeling.

Rangers were now firmly in charge but had reckoned without Dunfermline's resilience and with 15 minutes remaining the Fifers were given an opportunity to launch a recovery.

Referee Young awarded them a controversial penalty for an apparent Kanchelskis push on substitute Colin Nish but Smith stepped up and dragged the spot-kick badly wide.

That Smith missed hardly seemed to appease Advocaat and within minutes he was sent to the stand for dissent, clearly unhappy with official Young.

Smith almost partly redeemed himself with a header that again prompted a fine Klos save, but the match had gone and Rangers had triumphed even before Johansson slotted in a last-minute third.

Teams

Dunfermline: Butler, Shields, Tod, French, Huxford, Smith, Johnson, Shaw, Graham, Ferguson, McGroaty (Nish 74).

Subs Not Used: Westwater, Fraser, McDonald, Squires.

Rangers: Klos, Porrini, Amoruso, Ferguson, Kanchelskis, Van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Wallace, Johansson, Nicholson (McCann 45), Vidmar.

Subs Not Used: Guivarc'h, Miller, Riccio, McGregor.

Booked: Van Bronckhorst.

Goals: Kanchelskis 56, Johansson 59, 90.

Att: 11,500

Ref: W Young (Clarkston).