Rangers 2-1 Hibernian: Rangers hold on for 17th straight home league win
- Published
Highlights: Rangers 2-1 Hibernian
Rangers are four games from an unbeaten Scottish Premiership season after holding on for victory over Hibernian.
Joe Aribo's volley and a Ryan Kent strike were enough for Steven Gerrard's side, who secured the title last month with six matches to spare.
Kevin Nisbet's header halved the deficit in the closing stages.
But Hibs could not prevent Rangers extending their 100% home record in the league with a 17th win prior to a visit from Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
The visitors' first Premiership defeat in three leaves them with a four-point cushion on Aberdeen in the battle to finish third.
Hibs had already run Rangers close this season, with a 2-2 home draw followed by 1-0 defeats at Ibrox and Easter Road.
They limited the hosts in a low-key opening before Kemar Roofe slid home a delivery from his Rangers strike partner Alfredo Morelos, but he had strayed a yard offside.
Hibs' reprieve lasted barely a minute. After Ofir Marciano palmed away a Roofe header the visitors failed to clear their lines and when the ball fell to Aribo he lashed home an angled volley from six yards.
Rangers had conceded just two league goals at Ibrox this season, yet Hibs should have been level by half-time.
Nisbet was inches from an equaliser with a strike he sent whistling past the far post. Martin Boyle did likewise moments later, with Allan McGregor deemed to have tipped it wide.
And from the resultant corner Paul Hanlon had the best chance of the lot when he rose unmarked to put a header the wrong side of the post.
Gerrard's side were below their best, but doubled the lead with a terrific Kent strike. The winger darted along the edge of the box, leaving Joe Newell and Alex Gogic trailing, to arrow a drive past the helpless Marciano into the bottom corner.
McGregor parried a Boyle effort then tipped a 25-yard Nisbet free-kick away from the top corner as Hibs sought a response.
Ryan Porteous had a headed goal disallowed for a foul in the penalty area, but Jack Ross' men got the goal they deserved when Nisbet superbly glanced home a deep Paul McGinn cross.
Their push for an equaliser came to nothing as Rangers comfortably held out to ensure a winning warm-up for Saturday's Old firm showdown.
Man of the match - Ryan Kent
The tireless winger put the game beyond Hibs with a quality strike
What did they say?
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard: "We deserved to take the lead. Joe controls his finish really well and then Ryan has scored a world-class goal. It's another contender for goal of the year.
"James [Tavernier] has again had a good couple of days and he's pushing hard to be involved at the weekend. We'll only do that if he is ready. He's been out too long for us to force that."
Hibs head coach Jack Ross: "I got the opportunity to see the disallowed goal again and it's not a foul.
"Some decisions go for you, some don't. But I don't think anybody watching it would think it's a foul."
What's next?
Rangers host Celtic in the Scottish Cup on Saturday (16:00 BST), with Hibs also on fourth-round duty when they visit League 2 Stranraer (12:15).