Neil Lennon's side dropped seven points against County last season and they fell behind after only four minutes when Dutch midfielder Darren Maatsen beat Fraser Forster with a fierce drive from 20 yards which struck the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line.
Former Celt Mark Brown was the busier goalkeeper, though, saving well from debutant Derk Boerrigter and Kris Commons before Anthony Stokes restored parity in the 27th minute, forcing the ball home from point-blank range after Brown could only turn a shot from Joe Ledley against his right-hand post.
Commons and Charlie Mulgrew both struck the woodwork but the winner did not arrive until the 84th minute, when Stokes cut inside to score with a low drive from 15 yards. Inverness Caledonian Thistle moved to the top of the Premiership table on goal difference following a comprehensive 3-0 home victory over St Mirren.
Saints full-back David van Zanten had an afternoon to forget. Following a goal-less first half, the Irishman was punished for deliberate handball (collecting a caution) with James Vincent converting the resulting penalty-kick.
New goalkeeper David Cornell's poor clarance presented Aaron Doran with an open goal for Thistle's second.
Doran then crossed for Billy McKay to head home before van Zanten was dismissed for fouling Nick Ross. Aberdeen began with a victory over visitors Kilmarnock, albeit one of the more hard-fought variety.
Johnny Hayes opened the scoring after goalkeeper Craig Samson failed to hold a shot from Calvin Zola. New signing Willo Flood doubled their advantage with a rare goal, a header from Niall McGinn's cross but they endured a nervous final 17 minutes after Kris Boyd scored an opportunist goal.
On Saturday morning Charles Green, the former chief executive who has returned to Ibrox as a consultant, warned manager Ally McCoist that winning promotion from League One would not be enough to keep him in a job and that, given the investment made in new arrivals, a cup win was also expected.
Unfortunately for McCoist, who has yet to reach even a semi-final in three seasons in charge, his team fell at the first hurdle yet again in the Scottish Communities League Cup against Forfar at Station Park.
Gavin Swankie gave the home side a first-half lead but, when Fraser Aird equalised with only six minutes remaining, Rangers' superior fitness should have told. It did not, however, and Swankie struck again two minutes from the end of extra time. Astonishingly, McCoist blamed Green for the defeat.
"His contempt and total lack of respect for my players, for our football club, for our support and Scottish football in general is appalling - and he is an embarrassment," he said.
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