Kris Boyd scored twice to bring his impressive tally to seven goals in four matches and secure three points for Rangers against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Marvin Andrews also scored for the Ibrox club but they did not have it all their own way, as goals from Craig Dargo and Dennis Wyness kept the match alive for Inverness, but the Scottish champions held on for a win that takes them above Hibernian into third place.

Ibrox skipper Barry Ferguson had suffered a broken nose in a freak training-ground collision with Andrews, leaving Alex McLeish to tinker with his squad.

Gavin Rae - fit again after 21 months out with knee injuries - may have been hoping to replace Ferguson in midfield, but Alan Hutton was drafted in instead, with Fernando Ricksen swapping right-back for midfield.

It was Boyd who looked set to grab the headlines again when he scored with just six minutes gone.

Chris Burke embarked on a superb run, which took him into the box, before he threaded the ball through to Thomas Buffel. He provided the short pass to the feet of Boyd and all that was required was to stab home from close range.

Peter Lovenkrands - another player who has been on fire in front of goal - then came close when he met a Burke cross only to nod just over the crossbar.   But, despite their early dominance, Rangers were stunned when Inverness equalised in the 13th minute.

Dargo inadvertently blocked a Ross Tokely shot, but he made the most of the unexpected possession by turning in the box and firing past Rangers goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus.

There was concern for Rangers when Burke appeared to pull up and indicated to the bench that he was in pain, but after receiving treatment he was back in action.

Rangers were determined to restore their lead and Lovenkrands was not too far away when he drilled a long, low effort at goal but Mark Brown managed to parry to safety.

However, the Ibrox side were back in front again after 27 minutes. A Lovenkrands corner broke off Tokely and struck the chest of Andrews, before he bundled it over the line.

Burke eventually limped out of the game seven minutes before the break and was replaced by Dado Prso.

Rangers would have added to their lead shortly after the restart had it not been for the heroics of Brown, firstly blocking a downward header from Boyd, then smothering the rebound from Lovenkrands.

Inverness could have hauled themselves back into the game again through Wyness but the striker's header was just off target.

It was Rangers who found the net again when Lovenkrands went to ground under pressure from Stuart Golabek and Richard Hastings, and referee Alan Freeland immediately pointed to the penalty spot.

Boyd kept his cool to convert from 12 yards with 58 minutes gone.

Inverness set up a tense finish after 72 minutes when they pulled a goal back. Wyness threw himself in front of a Barry Wilson ball into the box, sending a diving header past a stunned Waterreus.

The home side then demanded a penalty when the ball appeared to strike the arm of Ian Murray but the pleas were ignored by the referee.

Rangers could have put the game beyond Inverness when they were handed a free-kick on the edge of the area. Lovenkrands fired straight into the hands of Brown but they managed to hold on for the three points.