After a largely excellent performance from Steven Gerrard’s side, that final touch in front of goal just eluded the Light Blues on a night where they totally dominated their Edinburgh opponents.
From the side which defeated Hamilton 1-0 on Sunday to return to pole position in the Scottish Premiership, out went Ross McCrorie and Kyle Lafferty, with their places taken by Lassana Coulibaly and Alfredo Morelos, with the Colombian now free from suspension.
The opening stages were pretty even, with Oli Shaw shooting wide of target from just outside the area for Hibs before Eros Grezda tested Ofir Marciano from similar range after a lightning-quick move from the visitors.
That was to be the first and only save made by the home ‘keeper however, as he had to be replaced by Adam Bogdan on just 13 minutes after picking up a knock, seemingly while taking a by-kick or when collecting a cross.
Unlike previous meetings between the two which have never been slow to ignite, the opening stages were really rather tame, but then the 28th minute brought the first proper opening of the game for the Light Blues.
Borna Barisic charged down the left and spotted Morelos, who had drifted slighty to that side from his central berth. Barisic’s ball was perfect to run through into the Colombian’s path, and he checked inside Lewis Stevenson before bringing out a fine save from Bogdan to his right.
Minutes later, after Hibs gave up cheap possession in midfield, Scott Arfield picked up and played Morelos in one-on-one with Bogdan, just to the right of goal, but again the goalkeeper came out on top.
From the resulting corner, Tavernier’s ball in fell to Arfield in the six-yard box only for Stevenson to clear his effort off the line as far as Eros Grezda, before the Hibs full-back blocked a goalbound shot from the Albanian.
The chances, all of a sudden were mounting up, and Arfield shot straight at Bogdan from 18-yards while Efe Ambrose got a block on a Grezda shot inside the area after Morelos set him up, skinning Stevenson to do so.
Arfield’s game was ended at the interval, with Ross McCrorie taking his place in the XI, while Neil Lennon replaced Daryl Horgan with Mark Milligan.
James Tavernier blasted goalwards to again bring out an excellent save from Bogdan after being set up by a super backheel from Coulibaly on the edge of the area before the skipper sent a 30-yard free-kick just wide the right upright.
On the hour mark, Hibs got in behind Rangers for the first time in the match through Oli Shaw, but with Gareth McAuley breathing down his neck, he skied the ball high and wide from 12-yards out before doing similar four minutes later when the ball broke to him from a Vykintas Slivka cross from the right.
Superb skill from Morelos saw him lift the ball over the head of Ambrose before firing wide of Bogdan’s far post from the right edge of the area before he headed a Candeias cross over under serious pressure in the six-yard box.
Candeias had a shot blocked at the last possible moment when a Barisic cross broke to him before Morelos again got the better of Ambrose, this time on the left, and sent a shot inches wide of the far post.
It seemed a matter of time before Gers scored, but another huge chance came and went as again, they hit on the break through Morelos, who slipped it wide for Candeias for the Portuguese to setup Tavernier who had made the run onto the penalty spot only for the captain to miss his kick and the ball to trundle by for a throw on the far side.
It was a frustrating night for Gers, who now move on to face St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
RANGERS: McGregor; Tavernier, Goldson, McAuley (Worrall, 61), Barisic; Jack, Coulibaly, Arfield (Ross McCrorie, 45); Candeias, Grezda,(Middleton, 84) Morelos.
SUBS NOT USED: Robby McCrorie, Flanagan, Lafferty, Halliday.
HIBERNIAN: Marciano (Bogdan, 13), Whittaker, Horgan (Milligan, 45), Slivka, Mallan, Stevenson, Hyndman, Kamberi, Ambrose, Shaw (Boyle, 65), Porteous.
SUBS NOT USED: Maclaren, McGregor, Mackie, Allan.
REFEREE: Craig Thomson
ATTENDANCE: 18, 662