Rangers earned their place in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals with the returning Nico Raskin and Bojan Miovski scoring to see off Hibernian.
A first win in six was essential for head coach Russell Martin and his side with fan fury at boiling point coming into this tie.
Home supporters protested before and during the early stages in a far from full Ibrox, seeking the removal of their head coach and chief executive Patrick Stewart, with chairman Andrew Cavanagh casting his eye over events after jetting in from across the Atlantic.
Martin's side started brightly enough without creating glaring chances but the visitors looked more incisive. The first warning came as Martin Boyle fired narrowly over after Kieron Bowie got in behind.
Boyle then looked to have piled more misery on Rangers when he raced clear and the ball trickled just inside the post. As home fans vented their anger the goal was ruled out for handball by the video assistant referee (VAR).
The home side needed something big. They got it when Raskin, who had been left out the squad since before the international break, raced toward the front post and his header from James Tavernier's corner hit the net.
After being omitted from Rangers' last two squads, it was the perfect response and a fine finish.
Raskin was central again moments later when he released Mikey Moore and Miovski was on hand to fire his first goal for the club.
A perfectly timed two goal cushion entirely changed the vibe inside the stadium and from there, the outcome rarely looked in doubt.
After the break, Djeidi Gassama cut in from the left in typical fashion and clipped the cross bar. Hibernian momentarily fell into something of disarray with Grant Hanley's last-ditch clearance on the line denying Miovski a second. Moore then fired narrowly wide before substitute Youssef Chermiti failed to convert when played in.
Rangers did more than enough to earn a crucial win that Martin will hope provides a springboard to a vast improvement in their fortunes.
Stephen Craigan
