Hibs, who went in to the game five games unbeaten and with striker Garry O’Connor scoring six times in their previous four fixtures, made it tough for the Champions and both sides had chances before the hour mark to break the deadlock.
It was Lafferty, however, that was the matchwinner and he celebrated in typical style in front of the Gers fans who, having watched Steven Whittaker miss a penalty, were understandly delighted to hear the final whistle after an action-packed 90 minutes.
With the rain battering down on the lush Ibrox surface the opening ten minutes of this crucial clash were surprisingly low key with very few goalscoring opportunities created.
This would no doubt have pleased Hibs boss Colin Calderwood who had watched his side ship 17 goals in the league going in to today’s clash.
Ironically it was in the 17th minute that Rangers had their first chance to test Easter Road number one Graham Stack.
Steven Davis received the ball and he waited and waited before playing a perfectly weighted pass through to Gregg Wylde who had darted in from the left wing.
The youngster was one-on-one one with the former Plymouth Argyle keeper who made a fine block and the ball went out for a corner.
Before the 20 minute mark Wylde again had his head in his hands. Nikica Jelavic laid the ball perfectly into the path of the Scotland under-21 starlet who blasted over from 16 yards in front of the Broomloan Stand.
The game was now coming to life and at the other end a teasing delivery from Hibees right back Victor Pelsson was inches away from picking out the brilliantly-named Junior Agogo who had made a good near post run.
With half an hour played Kenny McDowall could be seen urging the Gers players forward and at this stage it was Wylde that posed the biggest threat to the visitor’s backline.
The jet-heeled teenager produced two brilliant crosses in a row to test Hibs’ centre backs Sean O’Hanlon and Ian Murray who, just seconds later, almost handed Jelavic a gift when a sloppy header back to Stack was almost intercepted by the Croatian.
Rangers were now looking like the side that had won their last eight league games and on 35 minutes a delightful pass from Lafferty was calmly brought down by Jelavic but his right foot shot was brilliantly stopped by Stack who was having an inspired game up to this point.
This was highlighted again when he dived low to his left to palm away a curling 30 yard free-kick from Lafferty which looked to be creeping inside the post.
With just seconds of the half remaining, however, he made his first mistake when he sprinted from his line and brought down Lafferty who had latched on to clipped pass from his countryman Davis.
Stevie O’Reilly had no hesitation in pointing to the spot but former Hibs star Steven Whittaker stepped up and blazed his effort over the bar.
Ally McCoist must have been wondering how his side had failed to get their noses in front before the break but the signs were there that Rangers could get the three points they were after before the international break.
For the restart the manager made one change with Jamie Ness replacing Alejandro Bedoya who had taken a couple of knocks.
It was Ness’ second appearance this season – he also featured against Inverness CT on August 13 – but as the game restarted it was Hibs that flew out of the traps.
With not even 60 seconds played Sproule made a trademark burst down the left and his first time cross was a yard in front of O’Connor who had ran 40 yards through the heart of the Gers defence.
This passage of play finished with a corner for the Leith men and when the ball was headed out to Martin Scott he curled it back in and Paul Hanlon should have hit the target with his near post header.
On the 54th minute the Ibrox faithful burst into song as their side tried to shift through the gears but this stopped momentarily when O’Connor found his striker partner Agogo unmarked in the 18 yard box and McGregor had to react swiftly to make a great save.
Gregg WyldeThe Scotland ace was then in the thick of things in the next attack when Sproule sprinted past Dorin Goian but Greegsy’s handling from his left footed cross was assured.
On the hour mark the Champions did have the ball in the net with Ness slotting it home but Jelavic was adjudged to have been in an offside position before he played it into the midfielder’s path.
But with 23 minutes remaining the first goal arrived and it was Lafferty who notched his fourth goal of the season.
Wylde, who had switched to the right flank, was the provider with a dangerous, inswinging cross and Lafferty guided the ball home beyond the helpless Stack from six yards.
Calderwood had one last throw of the dice by putting David Wotherspoon and Leigh Griffiths on from the bench but it was Rangers that came closest to adding to their advantage.
Jelavic had the ball in the net but was ruled offside and Stack had to make a terrific one-handed save to deny the industrious Davis a deserved goal.
In the end McCoist’s men could, and probably should, have scored more but he will be delighted his side have maintained their impressive SPL form which has now produced 28 points from a possible 30.
Man of the Match: Gregg Wylde – Youngster’s pace was a constant threat and he produced the all-important cross for Lafferty’s winner in what was Rangers’ 500th SPL game.