Shota’s strike came from the penalty spot after Ulrik Laursen deliberately stopped Fernando Ricksen’s shot with his hand. The Dane was sent off and then Tam McManus joined him for complaining too much.
Rangers had not won here for two years so it was a big result in more ways than one for McLeish, whose side thoroughly deserved it.
The welcome back was, as anticipated, of the unfriendly variety for McLeish but certainly not as ferocious as it might have been. Other than a chorus of boos and a few choice chants it was nothing to write home about and it all mattered very little by the end of it all.
It was certainly water off a duck’s back for McLeish, who made three changes to his side with Craig Moore, Claudio Caniggia and Peter Lovenkrands all coming into the side.
And his choices were well made as Moore gave Rangers the lead – and he might have had a first half hat-trick – while Lovenkrands added a new dimension on the left side and might have scored twice.
Moore, back in the side after suspension, had not scored for nearly two years – against Morton in the Cup in February 2000 to be precise – but he caused chaos in the Hibs box to give Rangers an early breakthrough.
Caniggia won a corner in the 15th minute, Lovenkrands whipped the ball over and Moore powered a header which Nick Colgan pushed onto the bar and then Gary Smith cleared for another corner.
Hibs had clearly not learned their lesson. Ricksen delivered from the left side and Moore got above Paul Fenwick to send a downward header into the net.
The Aussie star, however, almost contrived to let Hibs back into the game in 20 minutes. He gave the ball away to Paco Luna who should have scored but dragged the ball too wide and Stefan Klos was able to make a smothering save.
It was a let-off for Rangers, but they regained a grip of the game and young Dane Lovenkrands had two excellent chances to increase Rangers’ lead while Moore had an even easier one but all three opportunities were passed up.
It was skipper Barry Ferguson who created the first opportunity for Lovenkrands in 32 minutes with a fabulous pass but the youngster shot straight at Colgan with the outside of his left boot.
Three minutes later it was Shota Arveladze who picked out the Dane in a similar position – running into the box on the left side. This time Lovenkrands tried to chip Colgan but the Irishman managed to claw the ball away for a corner.
Time for Moore to cause havoc again and Hibs were desperately fortunate to survive. Ricksen swung the corner over from the left and Moore had a free header but sent his effort wide from six yards.
Remarkably, Moore got another chance from a corner in 56 minutes when he connected with Lovenkrands’ ball in but Smith got a foot in the way and the ball was deflected for a corner.
Three minutes later, Rangers should have made the game safe when Lovenkrands skipped away from Colgan and cut the ball back for Caniggia but the Argentinian star struck the left hand post with the goal gaping.
It gave Hibs hope and that led to some anxious moments for McLeish as Luna and Fenwick both had decent chances while Klos had to make a smart save from Grant Brebner’s freekick.
Flo eased the tension with his 18th goal of the season five minutes from time to make sure of the win but it was certainly not the end of the action.
It was Ferguson who set up the Norwegian star, who had come on as a sub for Lovenkrands 11 minutes earlier, with a superb left foot pass which found the striker alone in the box.
Flo moved to his left, easing past Smith and then drilled a low shot into the right corner before celebrating in front of the joyous Rangers supporters.
Time to go home then? Not a bit of it. Two minutes later Rangers won a penalty and two Hibs players were sent off as the game finished in explosive style.
Sub Neil McCann’s cross broke to Ricksen and his shot was deliberately handled by Ulrik Laursen as it headed for the net. Mike McCurry awarded a spotkick and sent off the Danish defender.
It was a decision which Tam McManus did not like but he argued so much that McCurry sent him off as well. Even then McManus would not leave the field at the first time of asking.
Eventually, Arveladze spotted the ball and smacked the spotkick into the right corner to give Rangers a win they thoroughly merited on chances created.
The fans chanted “Alex McLeish’s Blue and White Army” as the final seconds ticked away. Not a bad night at his old stamping ground, you could say.
HIBS: Colgan; Orman, Smith, Fenwick, Laursen; de la Cruz (McManus 67), O’Neil, Brebner, Murray (Zitelli 77); Luna, Arpinon (Hurtado 75). Subs not used – Caig, Jack.
Sent off: Laursen (87), McManus (87)
Bookings: Orman (7), Luna (45), Murray (65)
RANGERS: Klos; Moore (Vidmar 85), Konterman, Amoruso; Ross, Ricksen, Ferguson, Numan; Caniggia (McCann 58), Arveladze, Lovenkrands (Flo 74). Subs not used – Christiansen, Dodds.
Bookings: Konterman (25), Ricksen (90)
Ref: Mike McCurry.
Att: 14,021
Man of the match: Barry Ferguson
Moment of the match: Ferguson’s pass to release Flo for the second goal.