Rangers claimed their second home win of the season with a magnificent four-star display against Preston North End.

Adel Taarabt gave the R's the lead in some style, bending a lovely shot into the top corner to give Rangers the opening advantage.

And Taarabt was involved in the R's second when he was brought down for a penalty after the break.

Akos Buzsaky made no mistake with the spot-kick, drilling home into the bottom left-hand corner in front of the watching Flavio Briatore.

And the points were safe not long after when Jay Simpson finished off a brilliant move, slotting home when played in by Buzsaky.

Wayne Routledge added a fourth with a stunning drive to complete the rout.

Rangers boss Jim Magilton made four changes from the side that suffered a 2-0 defeat at Swansea City last time out - though all were enforced adjustments.

Martin Rowlands, of course, missed out after learning that he will miss the remainder of the campaign with a serious knee injury, whilst Ben Watson was absent through suspension.

So with that, Alejandro Faurlin and Gavin Mahon came into the middle of the midfield. Elsewhere, Rowan Vine was rested, meaning Taarabt slotted into the side.

Peter Ramage replaced Mikele Leigertwood, who missed out with a virus.

Radek Cerny lined up in goal for Rangers, behind a back four of Ramage, Kaspars Gorkss, Damion Stewart and Gary Borrowdale.

In midfield, Buzsaky and Taarabt occupied the wing positions either side of Faurlin and Mahon.

Simpson partnered Routledge - who was taking up an unfamiliar role in attack - up front for the R's.

This was going to be no formality for Rangers, especially given the start that high-flying North End have had under Alan Irvine, lying 5th in the Coca-Cola Championship before the match.

And given that, you could understand why the opening exchanges were tight to say the least.

Though Rangers, who were keen to diminish any memories of a defeat last time out in South Wales, were unfortunate when they fashioned the first opportunity of the game.

Mahon was in the instigator, sending a delightful through ball from 25-yards out for Taarabt. Though, unfortunately for the Spurs loan man, Andy Lonergan in the Preston goal did well to claim the ball just before he could get to it.

The R's were showing signs that they were starting to stamp their authority on the match, none more so than when they took an 11th minute lead - and how.

After a goal kick from Cerny, Taarabt chested the ball down before turning, and the rest was pure class from there on in.

Fully 30 yards from the goal, Taarabt sent in a curling shot that beat Lonergan all ends up before finding the top right-hand corner of the net.

It was reminiscent of Buzsaky's second against Barnsley in the R's last encounter in W12, and the home side were a goal to the good.

Buoyed by their opening goal, Rangers set about increasing a 1-0 lead. Lonergan did well to get down low to this left after an initial mistake from Michael Hart allowed Routledge to shoot.

Routledge was playing more than a part in the encounter. And, after a dazzling run down the left saw the winger beat a countless number of players, only a Neill Collins block could prevent him finding the net from close range.

The home side were now finding their groove - none more so than when Taarabt sent a low effort just wide after good play with Buzsaky.

And moments later, the hosts had their best chance to date to increase their lead. After a North End free-kick was cleared, Taarabt broke at pace.

Running at the visitors' defence, he played what looked to be an expert pass to put Routledge through on goal, though the ball just evaded the midfielder and was cleared to safety.

Soon after, it was Preston who had their first real opportunity to score, but Neil Mellor could only fire straight at Cerny when played in by Richard Chaplow.

North End were not giving Rangers too much to worry about at the back, though Ross Wallace was unlucky when he sent a shot from just outside the box over after a pass from Velice Shumulikoski.

At the other end, the R's should have put the game firmly in their control - especially when Routledge, after being played through on goal by Buzsaky, could only fire straight at Lonergan.

Just before the break, Buzsaky could have given Rangers a second when he sent in a thunderbolt of a shot on the half volley from fully 25-yards out, but his effort shaved the top of the crossbar and went to safety just before half time.

This was a case of so far, so good from Rangers. Magilton, therefore, would have looked for more of the same from his charges in the second half.

And he got just that. After some neat passing, Borrowdale received the ball some way from goal before sending in a rasping effort, though Lonergan expertly dived to his right to palm the ball away for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, the ball again fell to Borrowdale after a clearance. The left-back sent over a pinpoint cross to Gorkss, but the Latvian international could only head wide.

The match was becoming somewhat of an end-to-end encounter, and that was highlighted when, after breaking at pace from a Preston corner, Simpson could only fire straight at Lonergan after good work again the down flank from Routledge.

Moments later, this time it was North End on the attack, and only a brilliant, low save from Cerny could prevent Chris Brown from equalising for the away side.

It was a save that proved all important for Rangers, as not long after that block from Cerny, they were two goals to the good in the 65th minute - this time from the penalty spot.

Some good work from Routledge down the right saw him send over a centre that was headed away, but not entirely clear.

On the edge of the area, Taarabt received the ball before being felled when trying to beat his man.

In the absence of Rowlands, there were a whole host of R's players who were keen to try and take the spot-kick - none more so than Buzsaky.

And it was the Magical Magyar who stepped up, coolly thumping the ball past Lonergan to put Rangers two up.

If the game wasn't safe by then, it certainly was come the 75th minute when Simpson added a third.

Again, some neat, slick passing from Rangers saw the ball fall to Buzsaky, who flicked on for Simpson. The Arsenal loanee wasn't going to pass on this opportunity, sliding his effort past Lonergan.

The rout was then completed in the 86th minute thanks to the superb Routledge - and it was probably just rewards for his instrumental part in the match.

Driving from midfield Routledge fired in a rasping, low drive that gave Lonergan simply no chance, as Rangers took the points.