ANOTHER win, another three points and another step towards the Premiership. If Rangers can keep up that sequence, they will be champions sooner rather than later.

Victory over Raith Rovers last night was their seventh in succession and they remain eight points clear of second-placed Hibernian after they beat Morton by the same margin.

The action in Kirkcaldy and Greenock could have been a key moment in the title race but both challengers escaped unscathed from tricky ties against two sides that have their sights set on a top four Championship finish this term.

The score line didn’t reflect Rangers’ dominance at a freezing and windswept Stark’s Park, but the three points they collected for their efforts and endeavours were valuable. They could, and should, have won by more but Mark Warburton’s side were comfortable throughout as Andy Halliday’s strike just before the break proved the difference on the night. There were nerves late on, but no real danger to Rangers’ bid for a crucial win.

Having seen their advantage whittled away late last year, Rangers are very much in the driving seat in the second tier. Their form has improved, as have their performances.

The challenge now is to maintain the momentum and avoid another blip. If they can, they will be confident that they can go all the way as they look to continue to chalk off the matches and overcome the hurdles that remain this term.

Warburton made two changes to the side that left it late to see off Falkirk on Saturday but neither of his latest recruits were handed a starting spot in Fife.

After marking his debut with that late header at Ibrox, Billy King again took a seat on the bench and he was joined by Michael O’Halloran after he completed his move from St Johnstone on deadline day.

The return of Andy Halliday to the side following his controversial suspension was a welcome boost for the Gers, although Jason Holt missed out once again through injury as Gedion Zelalem returned in the middle of the park.

Keen to avoid the need for another dramatic finale, Rangers started positively and on the front foot as they controlled the game from the off. They saw plenty of the ball but found Rovers hard to break down as Ray MacKinnon’s side defended deep and in numbers.

The hosts found themselves continually pegged back as Rangers moved the ball across the park, forward and back again in search of an opening. Warburton had praised his side’s perseverance and patience following the win over Falkirk at the weekend and this was another occasion where Rangers would have to press and probe for long spells in search of a breakthrough.

Clear chances proved hard to come by in the first half as the Gers headed for the dressing room with just one goal to their credit. It was a lead they more than deserved, though.

Keeper Kevin Cuthbert had to be alert early on to deny Martyn Waghorn as he weaved his way into the box and was blocked at the front post before a Halliday cross came to nothing for Rangers.

One of the Gers’ best moves of the half almost lead to the opening goal after 22 minutes. James Tavernier advanced down the right flank and fed Kenny Miller, who shifted the ball across to Barrie McKay on the edge of the area. The winger saw his shot at the near post well held by Cuthbert, though.

Rangers continued to pile forward as they looked to unlock the Raith rear guard but too many attacking phases of play came to a premature end without Cuthbert being tested.

Halliday almost gave Rangers the lead just before the half hour mark but his free-kick from the edge of the area deflected off the Raith wall as the travelling Light Blues were left to wait for a goal.

When it finally arrived, it was the midfielder who gave them something to cheer about just seconds before the interval. A reverse pass from Miller split the Rovers defence and Tavernier picked out Halliday from the just inside the area.

He made no mistake as he converted to give Rangers a deserved lead and then celebrated with handshakes all round. After his bizarre red at Cappielow, it was better safe than sorry.

There was no chance of the home crowd being incensed by Halliday’s celebration but Raith were certainly unhappy with themselves as their resistance was broken and Rangers ended the half with a spring in their step.

Warburton’s side picked up where they left off after the interval but the goal that would have clinched the points didn’t arrive as Raith struggled to make an impact on the game.

When the Gers boss looked to his bench just after the hour mark, it was to O’Halloran and Harry Forrester that he turned. In the reshuffle, Forrester replaced McKay on the left and O’Halloran took over from Miller to assume a wide right berth as Waghorn was restored to a more familiar central role.

It was Raith who had the ball in the net next but Harry Panayiotou was denied by the linesman's flag after he finished into the bottom corner following a free-kick.

The longer the game went on, the more Rangers needed to make sure of the victory and ease any nerves heading into the final minutes. Raith had rarely threatened, but it would only take one moment of magic or costly mistake to deny Warburton’s side all three points.

After snatching victory at the death on Saturday, Rangers weren’t undone in the final minutes here. It was job done once again.