Hibs picked up full points from their first game in hand on second placed Falkirk and sent out a cup final warning to Rangers at the same time when they ran out 3-2 winners at Easter Road tonight. Alan Stubbs' side made the most of their opportunity as Rangers let their standards slip after knocking old rivals Celtic out of the Scottish Cup on Sunday. With Hibs winning against Dundee United on the Saturday, the two championship sides will meet again on 21 May in the Scottish Cup final final and the first part of the physiological points scoring went to Hibs. Jason Cummings' eighth goal against the visitors in the last two seasons gave Hibs an early lead before a gaffe by Wes Foderingham saw the Ibrox men fall two down for the first time on league duty this season.
There was no guard of honour from the home side for Mark Warburton's champions but another mistake from Easter Road goalkeeper Mark Oxley - restored to Alan Stubbs' line-up despite Conrad Logan's Hampden heroics in their semi-final win on Saturday - did gift the visitors a goal back as Jason Holt prodded home after the ball rebounded from the bar. However, a third for the home side from Norwegian full-back Niklas Gunnarsson ensured Barrie McKay's second wondergoal in the space of three days counted for nothing. The win moves Stubbs' team to within three points of the second-placed Bairns with a game in hand.
Rangers had praise heaped upon their shoulders for the attacking game-plan they deployed while overcoming Ronny Deila's Celtic. However, the defensive focus which saw them past the Premiership leaders evaporated inside the opening five minutes as they handed Cummings the opener. James Tavernier only had to pick out a blue jersey as he took a throw in but instead lobbed in between Rob Kiernan and Danny Wilson, leaving the Hibs striker to steam through and smash his 24th goal of the campaign past Foderingham. Oxley denied Tavernier his chance to make instant amends as the keeper stood up to block the right-back's lob but a blunder by the stopper at the other end put Hibs two-up after 18 minutes. There looked little danger as Stokes threw over a cross from the right but Foderingham got his feet in a muddle and ended up clawing the ball into his own net. Oxley, though, in the other goal was just as culpable as the visitors grabbed themselves a lifeline four minutes before the break. Tavernier stood a high ball up to the back post but the Hibs number one's attempt to push it over his crossbar backfired as the ball cannoned off the woodwork leaving Holt to turn it in.
Rangers looked brighter after the break and a few words from manager Mark Warburton but it was Hibs who scored next on 57 minutes to lead by two goals for the second time. John McGinn's deep corner was headed back into the six-yard box by Paul Hanlon. Tavernier tried to nod it clear but the ball only reached Gunnarsson who lashed home his first Hibs goal from five yards out. Stokes had Foderingham at full stretch with a free-kick but Hibs had to cling on in stoppage time after McKay rocketed home a 30-yard beauty for the visitors with five minutes to go.