Rangers totally dominated the game but lost a bad goal and even although they came back to equalise and huffed and puffed in front of the Hibs goal, they succumbed to their second home draw against the Easter Road side.
McLeish found out after just 21 minutes just how tough his new job is going to be as he watched two players he had signed combine to give Hibs the lead on what was day one of his managerial reign.
Although sitting powerless in the director’s box, McLeish was obviously hoping for a comfortable beginning to his Rangers career and a decent final night in the dugout for Dick Advocaat but messrs Zitelli and Luna had not read the script.
French star Zitelli broke away on the left side and had time and space to measure an excellent outswinging cross into the box where Spanish striker Luna appeared to direct a great header past Stefan Klos.
McLeish should have known something like this might have happened, although the Hibs goal was against the balance of play which was clearly with Rangers.
The Light Blues swamped Hibs early on but not for the first time this season they failed to convert their pressure into goals.
In just four minutes Arthur Numan started an excellent move with a great ball wide left for Shota Arveladze. The Georgian found Ronald de Boer in the box and he laid the ball back for Tore Andre Flo but his shot was blocked by Nick Colgan.
It broke back into the path of Russell Latapy who struck a sweet shot but it was deflected wide for a corner. Latapy took the kick and Maurice Ross fooled Colgan with a looping header but Ian Murray was on the line to clear.
Even after Hibs scored, Rangers had the bulk of the game. De Boer produced a great cross from the left for Flo in 23 minutes but in keeping with his recent luck, his header flew just wide.
Rangers might have had a penalty in 39 minutes when Alan Orman looked to have handled Latapy’s cross from the right but referee John Rowbotham was not convinced. Then a minute later a Latapy freekick broke to Ricksen but he hammered the ball over the bar.
There was, however, better to come for Ricksen and Rangers but not until after Advocaat shook things up at half-time, bringing on Stephen Hughes and Neil McCann.
McCann almost had an immediate impact as he won a corner three mintues after the break. Latapy found Tony Vidmar in loads of space with the flagkick but he glanced his effort wide when it seemed easier to score.
However, Rangers did draw level in 58 minutes although there was an element of fortune in the goal. McCann was involved again, whipping in a low cross from the left. Arveladze touched it back for Ricksen and his shot was deflected into the net by Paul Fenwick.
McCann was then clean through on Colgan in 62 minutes when de Boer’s pass beat the offside flag but he pushed the ball too far past the Hibs keeper and the chance was lost.
A minute later Shota played in Numan with a cute touch but he blasted straight at the Irishman andf then in 65 minutes the Dutch fullback hammered a right foot shot just over the bar after Arveladze had again set him up.
Hibs made it plain they were settling for a draw when they sent on Ulises de la Cruz for striker Tam McManus but Rangers kept piling on the pressure.
Remarkably, Hibs managed to hold firm to make a disappointing end for Advocaat and only make the task of Alex McLeish that much more difficult.
RANGERS: Klos; Wilson (Hughes 45), Moore, Vidmar; Ross, Ricksen, Latapy (Caniggia 71), Numan; de Boer, Flo (McCann 45), Arveladze. Subs not used: Christiansen, Lovenkrands.
Bookings: Orman (64)
HIBS: Colgan; Smith, Fenwick, Murray; Orman, Brebner, Jack, O’Neill, Zitelli (Arpinon 87); Luna (Hurtado 71), McManus (de la Cruz 67). Subs not used – Caig, Townsley.
Bookings:
Ref: John Rowbotham.
Att: 46,179
Man of the match: Craig Moore
Moment of the match: On another disappointing night, there wasn’t one.