THERE are far greater prizes up for grabs for Rangers this season than the Petrofac Training Cup.

In fact, of the four competitions they are involved in, it is the least prestigious by some distance.

Nevertheless, the 2-0 win over East Fife in the quarter-final at New Bayview last night was highly satisfying for everyone associated with the Gers. For the painful memory of the final defeat to Raith Rovers at Easter Road back in April remains fresh in their minds.

They produced one of their poorest performances last term against Raith - and paid the price when John Baird netted a late winner in extra time.

So, victory in this tournament in the 2014/15 campaign would be highly satisfying for manager Ally McCoist and his charges.

The triumph in Methil sets up a semi-final meeting with SPFL Championship rivals Alloa at the Indodrill Arena.

Having drawn with their part-time opponents on that artificial surface last month, nobody at Ibrox will be taking anything for granted.

However, the result in this re-arranged fixture took Rangers one step closer to achieving one of their objectives this season.

McCoist made three changes to the side that took to the field against Raith Rovers at Ibrox on Saturday for the game against East Fife. He dropped strikers Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller - who both netted in the emphatic 6-1 victory at the weekend.

In their place he selected Nicky Clark and Jon Daly, who had come off the bench to bag a double three days earlier, up front.

The manager had spoken of his delight at having four fit and in-form players to chose from in attack in the build-up to this game. He clearly felt this outing on the Fife coast was the perfect opportunity to give Clark and Daly some competitive action.

Lewis Macleod was also left out and David Templeton was given an opportunity to show what he was capable of from kick-off.

East Fife manager Gary Naysmith had bemoaned the fact that he would only have 13 fit outfield players to choose from before the game. And his concerns about his players' ability to cause an upset were easy to understand after referee George Salmond got the game underway.

The home team seemed ill-equipped to deal with their illustrious opponents and Daly and Templeton both had good chances to score early on. Yet, it took Rangers nearly half an hour to find a way past East Fife keeper Allan Fleming.

They bundled in a scrappy effort - not that they were caring - in the 29th minute to finally take the lead. Clark supplied Ian Black in the six-yard box and his sclaffed shot was bundled over the line from close range by the opportunistic Daly.

Black made an important intervention a few minutes later at the other end of the park when Allan Walker's free-kick took a deflection. The central midfielder cleared the ball to safety from a dangerous position a few yards in front of his own goal-line.

Skipper Lee McCulloch had the ball in the opposition net a few minutes before half-time. However, assistant referee Andy Milne correctly ruled him offside.

Clark went agonisingly close to building on his side's lead in 54 minutes when he met Black's curling free-kick with a glancing header. His effort left Fleming stranded only to whistle just past the right post and out for a bye kick.

Clark, though, won a free-kick that led to the second goal of the evening just moments later when Ewan Moyes hauled him down on the edge of the area.

Black stepped up to take it and opted for power. It was a wise choice. The keeper was unable to hold his low piledriver and fumbled the ball into his own net. It was a strike that looked to have put the Glasgow giants in the semi-finals of the Petrofac Training Cup.

Still, the home team battled to get back into the match. Jamie Beaton tried his luck from 25 yards out only for his optimistic effort to be safely gathered by Steve Simonsen.

Rangers pushed for the win. Clark forced a decent save with a looping header from a Black chip and Fraser Aird hit the woodwork with a cross from wide on the left.

Surely sensing that victory was secure, McCoist made two substitutions in the 72nd minute. He brought on Dean Shiels for Nicky Law and replaced Daly with Miller. The changes gave two men who have not had a huge amount of game time in recent weeks and Miller showed his quality immediately with some clever touches and flick-ons.

Boyd took over from Clark with six minutes remaining and helped his team to see out a victory that should perhaps have been more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.

All in all, then, it was a satisfying night's work for the League One champions, who now turn their attention to a league match against Dumbarton away on Saturday.

Given the ease with which they brushed aside their adversaries last night they will be optimistic of collecting another three points and maintaining the pressure on league leaders Hearts.