Rangers returned to winning ways in Scottish League One, but needed a stoppage-time penalty from Lee McCulloch to edge past East Fife.
Despite dominating the opening exchanges at Bayview Stadium, the Blues' best early chance fell to Dean Sheils who dragged his effort wide.
East Fife were happy to soak up pressure from the start and almost found a goal of their own when Gary Fisher took advantage of indecisiveness in the Rangers back line, but his half-volley was sliced and drifted past Cammy Bell's goal.
However, just before the half-hour mark, the visitors were denied a first-half lead when first Nicky Law then Bilel Moshni saw their efforts come back off the woodwork.
Rangers were largely subdued and their best opportunities to forge a lead came later in the second half as first McCulloch and then David Templeton were denied by Greg Paterson and it seemed that the Fifers were set for a well-earned point.
However, the league leaders were awarded a penalty when Templeton was tripped by Pat Clarke in the box and McCulloch calmly slotted away the spot kick in injury time to secure the victory that the Gers' performance might not have warranted.
Rangers now find themselves only two wins away from wrapping up the Scottish League One title, with a 24-point gap to Dunfermline in second.
Chris O'Keefe
