Cowdenbeath 0-3 Rangers

Nicky Law shot Rangers into an early lead at Central Park

Rangers closed the gap on Championship leaders Hearts with a dogged victory over Cowdenbeath.

The performance was plain but the prize was precious since only four points separate the title contenders.

An early Nicky Law strike, an own goal by Kyle Miller and a late David Templeton finish secured the win.

Cowdenbeath were often the more impressive side in the opening half but were eventually undone by a side winning their seventh consecutive game.

Rangers immediately exposed a frailty in their bottom-of-the-table opponents.

A moment's hesitation was enough for Law and Kris Boyd to take advantage, with the midfielder bustling past two challenges, swapping passes with his team-mate and drilling a shot beyond the reach of Robbie Thomson.

The game was only two minutes old, and the expectation was of an emphatic display from the visitors.

It turned out, though, that it was an isolated moment of attacking poise from Rangers, with Cowdenbeath capable of holding onto possession and in Kudus Oyenuga the hosts had a player of pace, intent and trickery.

One run from Oyenuga - who was full of devilish style - saw the ball being hooked off the line.

It was a measure of the frustration of Rangers manager that Ally McCoist ended one lambast at his players by immediately sending the substitutes out to warm-up. Only 17 minutes had been played.

Cowdenbeath's Kyle Miller diverted the ball into his own net

Rangers have struggled in previous away games through a lack of tempo and conviction, but their best moments in the opening half tended to come from simple ploys. A kick-out by Steve Simonsen saw Kenny Miller burst in behind the Cowdenbeath defence, with his shot deflected over.

Cowdenbeath's Lewis Milne was given a fortunate sight of goal when an Ian Black tackle sent the ball through to the midfielder, who unchallenged, pulled his shot wide.

The interval allowed Rangers to regroup and there was a noticeable increase in the pace and the purpose of the visitor's play. Resourcefulness was also evident, since Lee McCulloch took advantage of the ball breaking to him to lash in a shot that Thomson had to block with a diving save.

There was reward soon enough for the renewed application. Boyd was mostly peripheral to the play and often looked forlorn but one foray down the right flank was productive.

His cross was aimed at Miller, but landed instead on the forehead of the Cowdenbeath defender Miller. He might have lost his bearings, or been rash in his decision-making, and instead of clearing, he headed at his own goal and it bounced in off the underside of the crossbar.

Cowdenbeath remained ambitious, but their game began to toil. Rangers were able to take advantage and, when Black won the ball high up the field, he slipped it into Templeton's path and the substitute stabbed a shot underneath Thomson.