Rangers 1-1 Hibernian: Steven Gerrard's side held by Darren McGregor goal
- Published
Highlights: Rangers 1-1 Hibernian
Darren McGregor's late equaliser earned Hibernian a draw and prevented Rangers from moving to within a point of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
Alfredo Morelos's 20th goal of the season had put Rangers in front, but they are now three points behind Celtic going into Saturday's Old Firm game.
Hibs' goalkeeper Adam Bogdan stopped a late Kyle Lafferty effort to secure the draw.
However, Hibs slipped to eighth before their weekend derby against Hearts.
With goal difference in their favour, Celtic will remain top of the league going into the winter break unless Rangers win by four goals or more at Ibrox.
Rangers suffered a first-half injury scare as defender Connor Goldson required treatment for an injury just before the break and he was replaced in the second half by Nikola Katic.
Hibs, who have won only two of their last 12 games, lost Lewis Stevenson to injury ahead of the visit of their city rivals on Saturday.
McGregor's central role on Ibrox return
Former Rangers defender McGregor found himself at the heart of the game's pivotal moments.
When a high ball upfield landed at McGregor, he sent his clearance straight to Daniel Candeias, and his header sent Morelos through on goal. The Colombian clipped the ball into the far corner of the net.
It was McGregor, too, who rose to contest a header with Goldson, who landed heavily and had to be helped from the field.
Although he returned to action after the break, Goldson looked to be moving cautiously and was replaced.
Rangers will rue Lassana Coulibaly failing to direct a header on target, and Hibs goalkeeper Bogdan saving in quick succession from Glenn Middleton and Ryan Jack.
Those missed opportunities paved the way for McGregor to equalise three minutes before the end, when the defender rose to send a powerful header past Allan McGregor from Sean Mackie's cross.
Rangers centre-back Connor Goldson is an injury doubt ahead of Saturday's Old Firm game
'We're too reliant on Alfredo' - reaction
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "I don't think we played particularly well but we got ourselves five minutes away from the finish line and could have come away with three points.
"We're reliant on Alfredo at the moment, too much. I've asked other people to stand up and be counted and opportunities did present themselves to kill the game off and we paid the price for that."
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon: "It would be a confidence booster at any time. To come here with Rangers in a title race and take points off them is important.
"They played so well at Easter Road last week and we played really well here today. The level of performance was a lot better."