Forfar, the only side to beat Rangers so far this season, found last night’s SPFL League One clash at Ibrox a very different experience as the ruthless hosts took their revenge.
The Loons came out on top in a League Cup tie at Station Park in August but could do little to prevent Rangers cruising to their 19th consecutive win as they found Ally McCoist’s men in formidable form.
Nicky Clark was the star of the show after helping himself to four goals.
Gavin Swankie had earlier equalised for the visitors but that proved to be nothing more than scant consolation for Dick Campbell’s side as Lee Wallace and skipper Lee McCulloch also contributed to the home goals haul.
The win also allowed Rangers to maintain their 100% record in the league this season and took them past the post-war record created by the original club.
McCoist made one change from to the team that beat Falkirk in the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday, with Fraser Aird drafted into the starting line-up in place of Arnold Peralta, who dropped to the bench.
Like the cup ties at the weekend, a minute’s silence was observed at Ibrox ahead of the game in respect of those affected by Friday’s helicopter crash in Glasgow.
Once the match was under way, Rangers required just five minutes to open the scoring, having left it late against the Bairns in their last outing.
Wallace was the architect with a superb cross that picked out Clark for a powerful header that left goalkeeper Darren Hill with no chance.
The forward was threatening again moments later after collecting from Lewis Macleod and trying his luck with a shot the keeper managed to block this time.
Rangers kept up the early pressure and the Loons keeper was forced to be alert again, blocking an angled drive from Aird at the near post.
Fans group, Sons of Struth, had staged a protest against members of the current board outside the stadium before the game and some supporters continued to voice their unhappiness at those running the club in the first half.
On the pitch, Forfar were forced to make a change when Dale Hilson limped out of the action after 21 minutes and was replaced by Paul McManus.
The Station Park, who earned a Scottish Cup replay with a late equaliser at Brechin on Saturday, side were back on level terms four minutes later when Swankie unleashed an unstoppable shot from distance into the top corner, with Cammy Bell left helpless in the Rangers goal.
However, the Gers were back in front just a minute later when Clark grabbed his second of the night with a strike that took a deflection off Darren Dods and into the back of the net.
Wallace took his place among the scorers after 37 minutes when he cut inside from the left and dispatched a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
With half-time approaching, only a brilliant save from Hill prevented Clark from claiming his hat-trick, as the Forfar keeper clawed the close-range header to safety.
But the striker had his treble two minutes before the break when Ian Black’s 35-yard strike smacked off the crossbar and fell for Clark to rifle beyond Hill.
Rangers looked determined to add to their goal tally in the second half and Bilel Mohsni saw a header skim the top of the crossbar two minutes after the restart.
The defender then contributed to Rangers’ fifth and Clark’s fourth of the night when he nodded Aird’s corner into the goalmouth where the forward was waiting to tap home from a couple of yards.
The goals kept coming for the home side when substitute David Templeton was felled in the box and McCulloch stepped up for the penalty. The skipper had failed to convert from the spot at the weekend but was on target on this occasion and side-footed home after 71 minutes.