The Croatian would go on to miss another spot kick late in the game but it mattered not as Rangers dismissed any talk of superstition by extending their unbeaten run to 13 matches.
Hibs, as expected, made it difficult for Rangers. A much-improved side under the guidance of Tony Mowbray and, having held Celtic to a draw here earlier in the season, they showed no fear at the prospect of containing an in-form Rangers’ side.
In a match that started at break-neck speed and then accelerated, Hibs passed up the best opportunity of a scoreless but incident-packed first period.
Garry O’Connor, on his return from injury, was the luckless protagonist of the piece. After winning a duel with Jean-Alain Boumsong and facing the whites of Stefan Klos’ eyes, O’Connor elected for precision rather than power and somehow contrived to lift the ball onto the junction of post and crossbar from a matter of yards.
As the ball dropped onto the goal line, Michael Ball – in for the injured Gregory Vignal for his first match since May 8 – reacted quickest to thump the ball away to clear the danger.
That, however, would not prove to be the main talking point from the first half following the dismissal of Novo.
There seemed little ado when ref Willie Young waddled over to consult his far side linesman, Steven Craven, after 28 minutes after another Rangers attack had broken down in midflow.
There was a hushed reverence, however, as Young first trotted back to the centre circle jabbing a finger accusingly at a group of players before dramatically flourishing a red card at Novo.
It seemed an extraordinary decision – not one Hibs player had complained to the officials – but television pictures seemed to show the Spaniard aiming a kick at Craig Rocastle after the pair had contested a loose ball deep in the Hibs half.
Rangers, remarkably, enjoyed their best scoring chances of the first half after they were reduced to 10 men.
Just two minutes after Novo’s dismissal, Peter Lovenkrands could only head a Dado Prso cross into the midriff of goalkeeper Simon Brown when it seemed easier to score.
Moments later and Boumsong was unable direct a header on target after Pros had cushioned Malcolm’s free kick into his path, the ball somehow sliding wide of the far post.
Before his shock red card, Novo had passed up Rangers’ best chance of the early stages, shooting wide with Prso and Lovenkrands both howling for a pass inside.
That aside, the best of the scoring opportunities before the break belonged to the home side. Seconds before O’Connor’s glaring miss, Colin Murdock had headed a Shiels cross over the bar while Klos had to look alert to tip around his post a fierce drive from Derek Riordan.
Having survived with Klos’ goal still unbreached, McLeish tactically tinkered with his team at the interval to try to combat their numeral deficiency, sending on Rae for Lovenkrands and asking Ricksen and Namouchi to support Prso down the flanks.
Hibs continued to enjoy the bulk of the possession and chances – Rocastle couldn’t direct a half-volley on target after Boumsong had failed to properly clear Steven Glass’ cross – before the match turned spectacularly in Rangers’ favour after 63 minutes.
Malcolm and Ricksen combined to send Namouchi scampering in on goal but, before he could unelash a shot on target, he was dumped on his backside following a wild challenge from Gary Caldwell.
The decision saw Young once more fish the red card out of his pocket – this time for the Scotland defender – before Pros coolly converted the penalty to send Rangers into an unexpected lead.
The goal seemed to burst Hibs’ ballooning confidence and, with numerical parity restored, Rangers looked more comfortable as they strove to hang on to their lead.
Substitute Jamie McCluskey blazed a shot well over the bar after a smart pass from Whittaker with 10 minutes remaining before Brown pulled off a great block to deny Namouchi’s fierce drive.
Rangers should have wrapped up the victory in the final minute. Boumsong’s visionary ball sent Ricksen running clear and as he strode into the penalty box Ian Murray chopped him down.
Prso stepped up to the mark once again but this time struck the outside of the post with his side-footed attempt.
The Light Blues nearly paid for that miss in the dying embers of this scintillating clash when Hibs rushed up the field, McCluskey sent over the cross and Murray’s header nudged the post before being eventually scrambled away for a corner.
It was a hectic end to an enthralling match with Rangers holding on for a vital and well-earned three points.
RANGERS (4-4-2): 1 Klos; 15 Khizanishvili (Hutton 82), 4 Boumsong, 5 Andrews, 18 Ball; 31 Namouchi, 2 Ricksen, 12 Malcolm, 26 Lovenkrands (A Rae 46); 9 Prso, 10 Novo
Subs not used: Smith, Arveladze, McKenzie, Hughes, Vanoli
Booked: Khizanishvili (79)
Sent Off: Novo (27)
HIBS (4-4-2): 1 S Brown; 15 Whittaker, 4 Caldwell, 5 Murdock (McCluskey 70), 11 Glass; 6 Murray, 22 Shiels, 14 Beuzelin, 26 Rocastle (Smith 66); 9 O’Connor (Morrow, 66), 10 Riordan
Subs not used: A Brown, Fletcher, Murphy, Orman
Booked: Shiels (32), S Brown (64), Smith (72)
Sent Off: Caldwell (63)
Rangers’ Man of the Match: Dado Prso